Camps Bay
Cape Town, ZAF
The rugged buttresses of the Twelve Apostles mountains back the white-sand sweep of Camps Bay Beach, making Camps Bay one of Cape Town’s fanciest suburbs—and a popular weekend getaway. Sun, sea, sand, food, and drink are the main attractions here, but you can also cycle the beachfront or hike up to Table Mountain or Lion’s Head.
The Camps Bay Tidal Pool or the tidal pools in Maidens’ Cove are often a better bet for swimmers than Camps Bay Beach proper, where surf can be heavy and currents strong. But there’s more than swimming to beach culture here. Camps Bay boasts a wide choice of restaurants, bars, cafés, and beach clubs, while the Theatre on the Bay offers drama, dance, comedy, and musicals.
Camps Bay is in western Cape Town, en route to Boulders Beach and the Cape of Good Hope, so many Cape Peninsula tours and Cape of Good Hope tours include a photo stop at Camps Bay Beach.
Camps Bay is a good choice for beach lovers, photographers, and party people.
Families planning a Camps Bay Beach visit should bring wetsuits for the kids and watch them carefully. The water can be very cold.
There is accessible parking in Camps Bay and some restaurants and hotels are wheelchair friendly.
Camps Bay is about a 4.5-mile (7-kilometer) drive southwest of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town. Hop-on, hop-off buses run the scenic coastal route, or you can catch the 108, 109, or 118 bus from Gallows Hill. If you’re driving, parking can be an issue during peak season.
Cape Town is sunny and warm between November and March, with the sea temperatures at their least chilly January through March; the wind often eases off in March. Camps Bay can get very busy during peak season (December–January) and on weekends, so plan to visit during the week. It’s worth staying for one of the spectacular sunsets.
Beautiful beaches sprawl along the Atlantic and Indian Ocean coasts around Cape Town, with the Indian Ocean waters noticeably warmer. Boulders Beach is known for its colony of African penguins; Muizenberg Beach features colorful beach huts and great surfing; Noordhoek Beach’s expansive white sands are perfect for beach walks; and Big Bay Beach has rolling dunes.
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