Camps BayCape Town, South Africa

Camps Bay Beach is a famous white sand stretch along Cape Town's Atlantic Seaboard, renowned for its coastal beauty, dining, and vibrant summer atmosphere.

TypeSandy beach / coastal bay SandWhite sand Best forSwimming, surfing, dining, sunbathing Nearest townCape Town ProtectedBlue Flag Beach
© Matthias Bethke / CC BY-SA 4.0

Located on the west coast of the Cape Peninsula as one of Cape Town's ten Atlantic Seaboard suburbs, Camps Bay is a prime coastal destination in South Africa. Visitors reach this affluent area via scenic coastal and mountain routes like Victoria Road or Camps Bay Drive, which links across Table Mountain to central neighborhoods. In addition to motorists, travelers can utilize the local MyCiTi bus service along Victoria Road to access the neighborhood's bustling oceanfront corridor.

The shoreline features Camps Bay Beach, a Blue Flag destination established as the area's largest white sand beach. Positioned right opposite a bustling commercial hub, the main beach area offers wide open sand bounded by nearby surf breaks and picturesque coves. At the far right lies Glen Beach, renowned locally for surfing, while neighboring inlets like Bakoven offer sheltered coves and calm swimming spots off Beta Close set against dramatic coastal rock formations.

Camps Bay provides a vibrant, upscale atmosphere where luxury residences and small hotels line the coast beneath the Twelve Apostles. In summer, the beach and the array of cafes and restaurants along Victoria Road draw large crowds of local residents and international travelers. It caters exceptionally well to beachgoers, surfers heading to Glen Beach, scuba divers exploring nearby dive sites like Lui Bay, and families picnicking in sheltered areas like Oudekraal.

01 Highlights & things to do

What makes this stretch of coast worth the trip — from the water to the walks, wildlife and the views.

Swim
Camps Bay Beach
Relax on the largest white sand stretch in Camps Bay, holding Blue Flag status opposite lively shops and cafes.
Surf
Glen Beach Surfing
Head to the far right side of Camps Bay beach, widely recognized as the area's top spot for catching waves.
Dive
Lui Bay Scuba Diving
Explore a popular local dive location near the historical shipwreck site of the Antipolis.
Family
Oudekraal Picnic Area
Enjoy sheltered tiny beaches surrounded by boulders, featuring grassy lawns, braais, tables, and public facilities.
Highlight
Koeël Bay Curio Market
Browse an open-air African curio market offering handcrafted goods from across the continent.
Walk
Bakoven WWII Heritage Houses
See historic beachfront homes built in the 1940s for South African World War II soldiers, now national heritage sites.

Compiled from Wikipedia · conditions vary with weather, tides and the season.

Beach map & the area

The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the beach and its surroundings — the coastline, access roads, nearby towns and where to park. Zoom in for detail, or open it live in a full map.

-33.95 · 18.383333333333

Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free).

02 Getting there

OptionDetail
RoadVictoria Road follows the coast to connect Camps Bay with Clifton and Sea Point to the north, and Llandudno to the south.
RoadCamps Bay Drive connects through Kloof Nek Road to Higgovale and Gardens on the other side of Table Mountain.
Public TransitMyCiTi BRT system serves Victoria Road via Routes 106 and 107 with numerous local stops.

Getting there · Last updated: 2026-09-13 · always double-check access & ferries

03 Where to stay

Resorts, towns and areas near the beach — the closer you stay, the easier the early-morning and sunset hours when the light is best and the crowds are thin.

The Bay Hotel
Historic Coastal Hotel

Evolved from the historic Rotunda development originally established along the Camps Bay coastline.

04 Best time to visit & the water

SeasonWhenGood to know
SummerSummer seasonCamps Bay's beaches, cafes, and Victoria Road restaurants draw high numbers of local and international visitors during summer.

Conditions vary with weather, tides & season · Last updated: 2026-09-13

05 Nearby & around

Other beaches, coves, towns and sights within easy reach — worth stringing together into a coastal day.

CliftonSea PointLlandudnoOudekraalBakovenGlen BeachLui BayKoeël BayBalie BayHiggovaleGardens

Good to know

  • A seasonal lifeguard station with public toilets is located at the west end of Camps Bay Beach.
  • Oudekraal offers designated picnic areas with lawns, braais, covered seating, and public toilets.
  • Shopping facilities are concentrated on the southern side of the beach within Promenade Mall.
  • Bakoven features a sea rescue base stationed near its popular swimming beach off Beta Close.