Located along Cape Town's affluent Atlantic Seaboard between Camps Bay and Bantry Bay, Clifton is an exclusive coastal destination famous for its spectacular cliffs and sweeping ocean views. Tucked into the protective wind shadow of Lion's Head mountain, this set of four beaches offers an idyllic retreat along South Africa's southwest coast. Visitors reach these prized shores by descending narrow flights of stairs leading down from Victoria Road past historic bungalow properties.
Clifton consists of four primary beaches separated by massive granite corestone boulders, each featuring sugar-white quartzite sand. A seasonal fifth shore, Moses Beach, temporarily appears depending on sand movement. The chilly Atlantic waters range from 10 to 16 °C in summer, yet bathers and watersport enthusiasts flock here regularly. Strong south-easterly summer winds push warm surface water offshore, triggering a cold upwelling while depositing sand to make the beaches widest by late summer. In contrast, winter gales strip the sand away, exposing the boulder headlands.
Each beach carries its own distinct personality and appeal. Fourth Beach is the largest, most populated, and glamorous section, drawing families, holding Blue Flag status, and serving as a haven where yachts anchor on summer weekends. Third Beach offers a cozy venue popular within gay culture, while Second Beach attracts students playing beach volleyball and beach bats. First Beach, situated furthest north, presents the strongest surf break and draws a lively mix of local residents and board or body surfers.
01 Highlights & things to do
What makes this stretch of coast worth the trip — from the water to the walks, wildlife and the views.
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.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free).
02 Getting there
| Option | Detail |
|---|---|
| Road | Accessible via Victoria Road, with narrow flights of stairs running down to the beaches. |
Getting there · Last updated: 2026-09-13 · always double-check access & ferries
03 Best time to visit & the water
| Season | When | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | October to April | Prevailing south-east winds deposit sand, making beaches widest by late summer, though water temperatures drop below 10 °C due to upwelling. |
| Winter | May to September | North-west gales strip beach sand and expose granite boulders, though surface water remains relatively warmer (10–20 °C). |
Conditions vary with weather, tides & season · Last updated: 2026-09-13
04 Nearby & around
Other beaches, coves, towns and sights within easy reach — worth stringing together into a coastal day.
Good to know
- Access is strictly via narrow flights of stairs leading down from Victoria Road.
- Water temperatures are chilly year-round, dipping lowest during summer due to wind-driven upwelling.
- Fourth Beach holds Blue Flag status for environmental, safety, and tourist standards.
- Surf strength diminishes from north to south, being strongest at First Beach and weakest at Fourth.
- Beach width changes seasonally as winter gales strip sand and summer winds redeposit it.