Cape Town beaches – surfing, bars and football
Posted on 15. Mar, 2010 by admin in Cape Town
The city of Cape Town is home to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches and was one of the first non-European metropolises to be awarded blue flags for three of their pristine stretches of sand. There are two different styles of beaches in Cape Town, as the Indian and Atlantic Oceans are divided by a 1,000 metre-high peninsula. All the beaches in Cape Town have something different to offer, from whale watching to windsurfing, so it can be hard to make your mind up. Check out JF’s guide to the best beaches in Cape Town.
The west coast
The west coast is where you will find the fresh Atlantic Ocean, along with the equally cool inhabitants and visitors of the ‘Cape Town Riviera’. People come to see and be seen here, from the north shore of Table Mountian, along the V&A Waterfront and on to Hout Bay. The drive from one end to the other along Victoria road is also a breathtaking experience and some of Cape Town’s best beaches can be found on this side of the city.
The Cape Town beaches on the west coast are generally more sheltered from the city’s infamous wind, known locally as the ‘Cape doctor’, and those looking for maximum tanning time will find the sun stays just a little longer above the horizon on this side of town. In comparison, the sea is a little cooler than that on the Indian Ocean side and the unspoilt, white sand beaches are the best places to enjoy the sunset.
Cape Town’s Table Bay beaches lie to the north of this area. These beaches are mostly frequented by locals as well as kite-surfers who take advantage of the slightly stronger winds. There are also great views of Robben Island and Table Mountain from here, and a little farther beyond Hout Bay is where couples can locate Cape Town’s most secluded beaches. Noordhoek and Scarborough are among the best. Some of the best beaches for water sports in Cape Town can be found on the west coast.
Table Bay beaches: can be found in Clifton, around 20kms from Cape Town proper. Check out Blouberg’s Big Bay, Table View, Little Bay, Dolphin and Milnerton. Best for water sports, such as kitesurfing, waterskiing and swimming.
Atlantic Seaboard beaches: stretch from Hout Bay to the V&A Waterfront. Check out Clifton, Camps Bay, Llandudno, Bakoven and Hout Bay. Best for people-watching, tanning and sunset cocktails
South Atlantic beaches: lie between Cape Point and Hout bay. Check out Noordhoek, Long Beach, Misty Cliffs, Witsands and Scarborough. Best for surfing, walking, horseback riding and escaping the crowds.
The east coast
The east coast of the Cape Town peninsula faces the Indian Ocean. East Cape Town beaches are generally more family-orientated and tend to be a bit more laid-back than those in the west. These beaches are also popular with locals from the south and they can get very busy during the peak holiday season.
False Bay, which curves all the way from Cape Point in the west to the Helderberg beaches in the east, boasts some of the best family beaches in Cape Town. Cape Town beaches on the east peninsula tend to enjoy warmer seas than those on the Atlantic side, so they are well-suited to families with small children. Most Indian Ocean Cape Town beaches are also manned by lifeguards who keep an eye on the relatively shallow and calm waters.
False Bay beaches: can be found between Helderberg and Cape Point on the western coast on False Bay. Check out Muizenberg, Fish Hoek, Smitswinkelbaai, Boulders and Macassar. Best for surfing, sunbathing, swimming and body-boarding.
Cape Helderberg beaches: are located on False Bay’s eastern coast, around 45 minutes from the city centre. Check out Gordons Bay, Strand, Kogel Bay and Bikini beach. Best for families, windsurfing, fishing and swimming.
Hermanus beaches: are located outside of Cape Town, around two hours’ drive along the south coast of Western Cape. Check out Onrus Beach, Kammabaai, Grotto Beach and Langbaai Beach. Best for whale watching, swimming, fishing and surfing .
