Cape Town
Camps Bay & Clifton
Quade du Toit / Unsplash
Cape Town's glamorous beach strip — Clifton's sheltered coves and Camps Bay's boulevard scene.
Camps Bay and Clifton are the Atlantic seaboard at its most dramatic: Clifton's four numbered beaches sit in sheltered coves beneath the Twelve Apostles mountain range and are the most beautiful (and most wind-protected) beaches in Cape Town. Camps Bay beach is longer and backed by a strip of restaurants and bars that is Cape Town's most social evening scene. Lion's Head looms above both. It's expensive, it's busy in summer, and it's spectacular.
Scores
Walkability
Transit
Price
Local feel
Nightlife
Family-friendly
Centrality
What you gain
- ↑Clifton 1st–4th beaches: the most beautiful beaches in Cape Town — sheltered from the SE wind, crystal clear water, backed by mountains
- ↑Camps Bay boulevard restaurants: Cape Town's most celebrated evening scene with Table Mountain behind and the sun setting over the Atlantic
- ↑Lion's Head hiking trail: one of the most spectacular urban hikes in the world, accessible directly from the neighbourhood
What you sacrifice
- ↓The most expensive accommodation in Cape Town: villas and boutique hotels at premium rates throughout the year
- ↓No Uber Pool or public transport: a car or Uber is required for everything, and traffic in summer is serious
- ↓Clifton beaches are cold even in summer (18–20°C Atlantic water) — spectacular but not tropical
Best for
Avoid if
Other Cape Town neighbourhoods
The local Atlantic seaboard — the promenade, the tidal pool, and Cape Town's most liveable neighbourhood.
The historic heart — Cape Malay culture, Company's Garden, and the cable car to Table Mountain.
Cape Town's tourist hub — working harbour, Table Mountain views, and the Robben Island ferry.
Know where to stay — now find when to go.
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