The gold-standard family beach — long, gentle, lifeguards, shark spotters and a playground, with the Galley restaurant right next to the beach for ice creams or basic meals afterwards.
- Food
- Yes · on site
Beaches & Tidal Pools in Cape Town
Cape Town's best free outing: sand, sun, rock pools and swims.
18 listings
Great family-friendly beach where you can surf — warm water, shallow, gentle waves and surf schools that do kids' lessons, with the famous colourful huts for photos.
The iconic huts plus a small sandy beach with a tidal pool — lovely family spot that gets busy.
Popular family-friendly tidal pool with a small strip of sand and rock pools to explore at low tide. The water is slightly warmer and the pool is mostly sheltered from the wind.
Two-part tidal pool with a shallow splash pool for children and a separate deeper section for swimmers. Access is via a walkway beneath the railway line.
A hit with toddlers: shallow with a sandy bottom and not usually busy. No bathroom though, so plan around that.
The ‘insider’ move right next to Boulders: free, calm, boulder-sheltered swimming — and penguins regularly waddle across anyway.
Small, sheltered coves near Boulders — calm water and another spot where penguins turn up.
White-sand beach sheltered from Cape Town’s summer south-easter, with lifeguards during the Blue Flag season from December to March. The Atlantic water is cold, access is down steps and parking is limited, so arrive early.
Wide family beach with lawns for picnics, plenty of restaurants and ice-cream stops, and a calmer tidal pool at the southern end. The open sea has strong backwash, so swim in the tidal pool or between the lifeguard flags. Lifeguards are on duty in summer.
Warmer than the open sea, with lifeguards, a jungle gym nearby, shade under the trees and little fish for kids to find.
Small beach cove with a sheltered gully that is popular for paddling, plus a playground on the lawns nearby.
Safe, easily accessible family tidal pool with shallow water for younger children and adjoining rock pools to explore at low tide.
Little tidal pool with beautiful sunset views and surrounding rock pools children can explore at low tide. It is quieter during the week.
Postcard Table Mountain view, rock pools at low tide and the Eden on the Bay restaurant strip behind — but the water is properly cold, so wetsuit vests earn their keep.
- Food
- Yes · on site
Compact family beach with generally gentler waves, a grassed picnic area and a playground. Its smaller size makes it easier for parents to keep an eye on young children.
Warmer family beach with fairly small waves and several shallow swimming spots for less-confident swimmers, plus a beachfront walkway and plenty of sand for beach games.
Secluded tidal pool with sweeping views over the rocky bay, plus a small water slide, sheltered natural sea pools, braai areas and picnic spots.