Green Point (Mouille Point)
Suitable for: strolling along paved promenade, boulder-hopping surfing.

Green Point borders the V&A Waterfront, and city centre, to their south. While the coastal suburb feature many green areas, including a city golf course and multi-purpose athletics stadium, it has no beaches on offer. The coastline here is rocky and the only ones venturing into the water from here are boulder-hopping surfers.

The shoreline does feature a paved promenade linking the shoreline-hotels, V&A Waterfront and neighbouring Sea Point. The neighbourhood is also home to the Mouille Point Lighthouse and offers views towards Robben Island, offshore in Table Bay.

Sea Point & Bantry Bay
Suitable for: strolling along paved promenade, swimming in salt-water shoreline swimming pool.

The most used feature of the neighbouring coastal suburbs of Sea Point and Bantry Bay is a paved pedestrian promenade running all along its shoreline and extending into Green Point (see above) and on to the V&A Waterfront. The two suburbs are Cape Town's most built-up centres outside of the city centre. It features countless holiday apartment blocks, of which many offer great sea views. Of the two suburbs Bantry Bay is quite a bit more upmarket. Sea Point's main throughway offers a large selection of restaurants popular with the night crowd and close to the shoreline. It is also home to a couple of more sleazy joints (escort agencies, sex shops, etc.).

While there is a large shoreline public pool tucked in between the two suburbs the area has no real beaches to talk off. A miniature beach, accessed by a stairway, is located just of the promenade below the President Hotel in Bantry Bay but swimming is virtually impossible because of kelp infested seawater, a very healthy ecological feature but not good for swimming.

Graaff's Pool and gay (male) nudism
A short way onto the rocks, from the Sea Point promenade, Graaff's Pool is currently a bone of contention amongst various Cape Town interest groups. The historic tidal pool built by the Graaff Family in days gone by features a screening wall. Its original purpose was to provide privacy for Mrs. Graaff. Later on it became a preferred spot for gay men, some enjoying nude sunbathing behind the wall. However, residents believe that in contemporary times it has become a hangout for criminals and has asked that the tidal pool be renovated and "the wall of shame" be demolished. It would however rob gay nudists of privacy at what used to be a much-valued facility. Ironically many allege that the deterioration of the facility started when the city council declared it to be unisex and thus scared off many of the previous regulars. For the time being we would recommend all tourists (gay or straight) to rather avoid the facility until its problems have been solved. The only other (unisex) nudist beach venue in greater Cape Town is at Sandy Bay.

Clifton Beaches (1 to 4)
Suitable for: seeing & being seen, clothed or top-less tanning, the rich & famous, the beautiful, the young & hip, jet-skiing, sea-kayaking, surfing (1st Beach), informal beach games, landing spot for Lion's Head & Table Mountain paragliders.

While referred to simply as "Clifton", the extremely affluent and popular suburb hugging the Lion's Head mountainside does in fact feature four adjoining coves. Clifton's First to Fourth Beaches all offer white sand, backed by millionaires beachfront apartments and houses perched against the steep slopes of Lion's Head. The four coves are semi-divided by huge granite boulders. It's very popular with the young and hip "in" crowd and sun-tanning beauties. However, everyone is welcome! It is arguably Cape Town's most glamorous beach and is featured in countless fashion magazines as venue for swimsuit fashion shoots.

While sunbathing, beach sports and water sports are popular it should be noted that the water is very cold. Few older visitors would be interested in joining the beaches' young and middle-aged crowd but it should also be noted that access to the beaches are by various steep and winding staircases only.

Fourth beach is the most accessible and thus the most popular. It offers beach-umbrella and deck chair renting as well as refreshment stalls. In peak season when the beach is packed it may be worthwhile to stroll to the other three coves, which should offer less people and more peace and quiet. Walking from Fourth to First Beach and back makes for an enjoyable 30-minute stroll.

First Beach, on the Cape Town - Bantry Bay northern end of Clifton, is popular with ball-players and surfers, Second and Third beaches are split between teenagers and thirty-somethings. At times Third Beach also features a subdued gay scene. Lifeguards are on duty.

Camps Bay
Suitable for: clothed or top-less tanning, the beautiful, the young & hip, families, surfing, jet-skiing, sea-kayaking, beach volley ball & other beach games, landing spot for Lion's Head & Table Mountain paragliders, sea-side dining.

Enjoying a late afternoon at Camps Bay Beach

Camps Bay is very popular with Capetonians who flock there after work in the summer to cash in on the remaining up to fours hours of sunshine after clocking off from work. The Beach is located at the back of Table Mountain, the opposite side of the city. The Mountain and the Twelve Apostles, which extends from it, forms a spectacular backdrop for Camps Bay Beach.

The wide sandy beach also features a popular, palm tree-lined, grass embankment and braai areas. A beachfront road provides direct easy access to the beach and a number of coffee shops and bars as well as an up-market restaurant are located just beyond - all offering great beach and sea views. Beach-umbrellas and deck chairs are rented out. Beach volleyball is very popular at Camps Bay, it is a venue on the professional beach volleyball international tour. It is also not uncommon to sea paragliders heading for a beach landing after launching from nearby Table Mountain or Lion's Head.

As elsewhere in the Cape the water can be quite chilly. Lifeguards are on duty. Outside showers are provided to wash the salt off your body after a dip in the ocean. A good selection of hotels and other accommodation are on offer, many within easy walking distance of the beach.

Llandudno
Suitable for: families, surfers, picnics, sunset cocktails.

The affluent secluded municipality of Llandudno, 20km from Cape Town's city centre, is located just below the very scenic Victoria (coastal) Drive. Victoria Drive extends from Camps Bay (see above) along the uninhabited Oude Kraal section of the Twelve Apostles Mountain Range and on to Houtbay, just beyond Llandudno.

Llandudno is not very accessible to tourists but the beach is worth the trouble it takes to get there. It is reached by a winding suburban road. The suburb is perched against a steep mountainside, so be prepared for steep up and downhills.

The smallish beach is hidden from view and well known for beautiful sunsets. Scattered boulders along the beach and concentrated at both ends of it, enhance the beauty of the place but also provide cover on windy days. The northern side of the beach provides strong surf, popular with surfers, while the southern side is more suitable for swimming. Lifeguards are on duty on weekends and in season. This is a good sunbathing spot and a choice one for bring-your-own sundowners.

Sandy Bay
Suitable for: nudists, hikers, surfers

Sandy Bay is best known as being Cape Town's only (non-official) nudist beach. Top-less sunbathing has become a common practice, fully tolerated by the police, at various Cape Town beaches (especially Clifton and Camps Bay), but nudism is not commonplace. While Sandy Bay's status as nudist venue is not official it is accepted by all and sundry and like-wise respected by the authorities.

The beach, which is quite isolated, is a 20-minute walk from neighbouring Llandudno along a sand footpath. While the actual sand beach is only reached later on many visitors and regulars enjoy sunbathing on granite boulders enroute to it, a short way from the footpath. These may also provide some privacy if required but you shouldn't try swimming until you reach the beach. At present the surrounding mountainside is a no-development zone and only the ignorant can claim having stumbled onto a nudist beach by accident! It also means that you need to bring any refreshments or other supplies with you. The area is not regarded as being unsafe but because of its seclusion we would advise that you don't wander in on your own if possible. While Sandy Bay is unisex, it is most popular amongst gay men.

Non-nudists can freely enter the area and you may also enjoy the beach and ocean nicely covered up. The footpath to the beach, and beyond, is popular with non-nudist hikers and more than worthwhile. In winter you are actually unlikely to stumble onto any nudity but obviously you should avoid the area in summer if public nudity offends you.

Hout Bay
Suitable for: hiking, surfing & Hobie Cats

While the inlet of Hout Bay is awesome in its beauty, the beach's location next to the small fishing harbour is not ideal. Most people heading this way do so to visit the working small boat harbour, buy or eat fresh seafood, take a cruise to the nearby Gannet Island (known as "Seal Island"), visit World of Birds or to continue further onto the very scenic Chapman's Peak Drive.

The beach's close proximity to the harbour means that on occasion you may find fish scales, from the day's processed catch, floating in the water. Walking along the beach is however quite pleasant. Surfers and associated sport addicts also frequent the beach.

Noordhoek - Long Beach
Suitable for: Hiking, surfing, horse riding, kite flying

From Hout Bay the very scenic Chapman's Peak Drive will lead you to Noordhoek's Long Beach, one of the most beautiful and desolate beaches on the Peninsula. It is popular for surfing, horse riding and hiking.

Long Beach, which stretches ±6km, virtually all the way, to Kommetjie, is also home to a 19th century shipwreck - the Kakapo. The beach is backed by a lagoon-wetland and small nature reserve. While surfers relish the rough waters around the rocks to the north of Long Beach swimming can be hazardous. The Red Herring restaurant provides beautiful views from an outdoor deck and is located about a ten-minute walk from the beach.

Kommetjie
Suitable for: swimming, picnics

Sea temperatures at Kommetjie tend to be a few degrees warmer than its neighbouring beaches and it is therefore a popular spot for swimming. The beach is also quite pleasant for picnics.

Scarborough
Suitable for: Hiking, Lagoon swimming

If you are based near to the Cape Town city centre this is the furthest village on the Peninsula to get to. The attraction of the village is its remoteness and the rugged coastline, however this does not make for great swimming. Just beyond the Schusters River Lagoon, at the far end of the village, there's a sandy beach, which is great for hiking but swimming here is dangerous. For swimming rather opt for the Lagoon.

Dias Beach - Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve
Suitable for: hiking, picnics, swimming, surfing

This beach lies right at the most south-western point of Africa, tucked in between Cape Point to the east and the Cape of Good Hope to the west - within the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve (small entry fee). While millions of people visit the Point annually most are in too much of a hurry to take the 10 minute footpath down to the beach. If your schedule allows it will make for a memorable excursion.

Other paths lead on from the beach, amongst others a 2.8km trail to the Cape of Good Hope. It is a beautiful area with geographical significance as well. The one point of caution relates to the large baboon troops found in the reserve. You should never leave backpacks or picnic baskets unattended, as a baboon is bound to sneak over and grab something. While baboons left alone don't pose a danger you should never confront them as that could potentially be fatal. Also don't feed them as this may threaten their survival in the wilderness.