Parks & Playgrounds in Cape Town

Big local park that has a fenced toddler area, bigger jungle gyms deeper in, and is dog-friendly. You can also occasionally get a coffee, ice cream and some snacks from a local vendor on the bottom school field.

Free playground on the promenade, with sea views, a bike track and public loos.

Green riverside strip along the Liesbeek with walking paths and open lawns for a run-around. Kids can play in the river and hunt for tadpoles.

Swings and play equipment right on the Fish Hoek beachfront, at the catwalk end near Jager's Walk. The reason it works with small children is everything around it: the calmest swimming beach on the peninsula, a flat paved promenade for a pram, and cafés a few steps away.

Huge, free and beautifully kept: multiple playgrounds, biodiversity garden, outdoor gym. The Tot Lot for 1–6s is fully enclosed, so it is one of the few big parks where you can let a toddler loose; the adventure playground next door is for the 7s and up.

Beloved Victorian park with giant shady trees, a fenced dog park, a playground and summer 'Concerts in the Park'.

Grassy park climbing the slopes above the city with a stream and jungle gym, big views, and the family-favourite Deer Park Café alongside.

The historic Company's Garden in the city centre — lawns, a lily pond, cheeky squirrels and museums on the doorstep.

Leafy riverside park with a much-loved treehouse. Free; park at the Shell garage next door.

Modern park built over a historic sea battery, with a skate bowl, lawns and harbour-and-city views.

Hidden little green glen in residential Camps Bay — jungle gym with a slide and monkey bars, a tree swing and shady lawns to relax on.

Open green parkland in Century City with lawns and easy walking paths.

Small neighbourhood park and play spot in Camps Bay.

A neighbourhood park off Parish Road. It is gated, which makes it easier going with a toddler who bolts.

A big public park in Wynberg with wide lawns for picnics and running about, walking paths under mature trees, and a playground. It is also home to the Maynardville Open-Air Theatre, which runs Shakespeare in the Park over summer.

A neighbourhood play park tucked into the streets of Kirstenhof — a handy stop for a play close to home.

A local neighbourhood park with three jungle gyms — a handy green space for a play and a picnic.

Neighbourhood bike track with something for toddlers, tweens and teens — plus a small shaded area.

A local neighbourhood park — a handy green space for a play and a picnic.

A local neighbourhood park — a handy green space for a play and a picnic.

Kalk Bay's playground, one street up from the Main Road and looking out over the sea. A very high slide, swings, a merry-go-round, a jungle gym and a see-saw, with a big tree for shade and a clean lawn to picnic on. The community looks after it. Read more

A local neighbourhood park — a handy green space for a play and a picnic.

A local neighbourhood park — a handy green space for a play and a picnic.

Harfield Village's biggest park, with swings, open lawn and a coffee shop right across the road.

Large riverside park on the banks of the Lourens River, with open lawns and paths for walking and running. It is especially popular with dog walkers and has a designated off-leash area.

The park with the train in it. A real 1896 steam locomotive sits in the middle for children to climb on — it worked the Dock Road and Table Bay power stations before it was retired here — surrounded by well kept jungle gyms and swings. Read more

Twenty-two hectares on the mountain side of Wynberg, with a children's playground, a duck pond to feed and a conifer garden. Room for a picnic or a braai, and the space to lose an afternoon in. Free to go in.

A big shaded park with separate play areas for smaller and bigger children, a small skate ramp, an outdoor gym, picnic tables and — the part that matters on a long morning — public toilets. There is usually a coffee van, and a craft and food market on weekends. Read more

Bellville's big district park, and the northern suburbs' answer to a whole morning out. A play area for the little ones, jungle gyms, an outdoor gym, ponds with ducks to feed, an amphitheatre and paved paths long enough to ride a bike on while someone else jogs. Read more

The play park in the old village at Bloubergstrand, a minute back from Small Bay — the smaller, calmer beach next to Big Bay. Somewhere to let them play when the wind has ended the beach part of the day, with the restaurant strip in walking distance.

A little gem tucked into the Newlands backstreets. It is securely fenced with a guard at the gate, the old trees shade most of it so it stays cool through summer. It has a toilet. Dogs do come in off the lead.

A hidden little park on the Deurdrif border between Plumstead and Constantia, with the Diep River running through it and plenty of shade. Read more

A small Claremont park with a jungle gym, swings and a seesaw.

The Rosebank park with the tractor, The playground itself is fenced, there is a rope hanging from one of the trees for the braver ones, and the rest is big, clean, shady grass for a picnic, with a dog park alongside. Dogs are often walked off the lead here.

The biggest park in Plumstead and the one set up for a whole family at once: a play area for the little ones, a separate one for bigger kids, an outdoor gym for the adults and a circular walking track of about half a kilometre with benches along the way.

A sweet playground at the tidal pool end of Main Road, with a big jungle gym, swings, slides and a see-saw, and views across the ocean to Lion's Head. Parents get a bench and one of the best sunsets in the city. Read more

Watch for dog mess in the grass.

Just over the harbour bridge in front of the Robben Island Ticket Centre, with a smaller jungle gym for little ones (low monkey bars, short slides) and a bigger one alongside with a climbing wall and bridge. Soft fake-grass surface they can play on barefoot. Read more

A beautiful open common with mountain views, a stream, picnic areas and a dog park, about seven minutes from the beach. The children's area has swings hung from the trees, and there's plenty of space for picnics, sunset walks and kids' parties. Horses graze nearby. Read more

A space to be in rather than a place with facilities — bring a picnic.