Atlantic Coast Beaches: The west side of the Cape Peninsula has a very distinctive style of beach, as these are the beaches to see and be seen. Mingle with the fashionable and trendy set on the Cape Town beaches along the Atlantic Seaboard, also known as the 'Riviera' of Cape Town.
This coast stretches from the V&A Waterfront on the north Shore of Table Mountain, up as far as Hout Bay, and is connected by one of the most beautiful, scenic drives along Victoria Road.
The beaches along the Atlantic Seaboard enjoy longer sunshine, spectacular sunsets, and less wind from the infamous 'Cape Doctor', Cape Town's tempestuous south easterly, compared to the beaches of False Bay.
It is said that the waters of the Atlantic Ocean are about 3 or 4 degrees colder than the Indian Ocean, but this does not deter sun worshippers looking for the ultimate beach experience, complete with white sand, sun kissed waters and blue skies.
North of the Atlantic Seaboard are the beaches of Table Bay. These beaches boast beautiful postcard views of Cape Town over Table Mountain and Robben Island. These beaches tend to be more popular with the locals, particularly kite surfers and families.
Beyond Hout Bay, the beaches of Noordhoek and Scarborough are less frequented but equally beautiful. These are beaches locals gravitate to, to get away from the crowds of Camps Bay and Muizenburg. Table Bay Beaches: These beaches include Blouberg's Big Bay and Little Bay, Table View, Dolphin and Milnerton. These beaches are great for surfing, wind surfing, kite surfing, swimming, kite flying, paddle skiing, rock pools and walking. This beach also offers the classic and world renowned view of Table Mountain.
These Cape Town beaches can get very windy, which can be unpleasant, but this should not stop you from enjoying the true beauty of these beaches, complete with magnificent views of Table Mountain and Robben Island, and miles of pristine white sand. Kite surfers will keep you highly entertained with their antics between dips in the ocean and enjoying the sun.
Big Bay boasts some lovely rock pools and beautiful views of the bay and Table Mountain, while Dolphin Beach is synonymous with kite surfing. Milnerton Beach is well known for its light house and great swimming conditions, and is guarded by well trained life guards. The area is also littered with numerous beach cafes and restaurants. Atlantic Seaboard Beaches: These beaches include Mouille Point, Sea Point, Three Anchor Bay, Clifton, Camps Bay, Bakoven, Llandudno, Sandy Bay and Hout Bay. These beaches are populated by the trendy set, parading in tiny swim suits and designer sunglasses, but still offer spectacular natural beauty and little wind.
These beaches are famous for surfing, swimming, tanning, volley ball and sundowners. These beaches are also notoriously colder than its False Bay counterparts.
These Cape Town beaches are better known for the promenade that stretches along all three beaches, as they have no actual beach to speak of, more ocean front, scattered with jagged rocks, broken shells and seaweed. Saunders at Sea Point does have a small tidal pool, and Three Anchor Bay has a tiny little beach.
The promenade is alive with locals and tourists alike, and is great for joggers, walkers, dog walkers, roller skaters and families. Large, well manicured parks are a great place to relax with your family, have a picnic and play some soccer and frisbee. Clifton is a popular hangout for the jet setting crowd, both international and local. Here you rub shoulders with the beautiful people of Cape Town, from models to film stars.
Clifton is divided into four beaches, called 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th beach. Fourth beach boasts a blue flag status. These are Cape Town's premier beaches, is separated by granite boulders. Summer is packed with locals and tourists, each vying for their share of the sun.
Camps Bay is situated just up the road from Clifton. This beach is a very popular haunt, and offers a long sandy beach lined with palm trees, as well as a great promenade dotted with restaurants, cafes and cocktail bars. This is where the fashionable set mingles after a day spent on Clifton, enjoying sundowners as the sun sets over the horizon.
Close to Camps Bay is Glen Beach, a very small and charming beach situated in a little enclave and great for surfing. Maiden's Cove is a wonderful family beach, situated just in front of the Glen Country Club. Bakoven is a beach small in stature, but large in natural beauty - massive boulders, white sands and gorgeous views.  Llandudno is situated in one of the most exclusive suburbs of the Western Cape, as is also one of the most beautiful beaches in Cape Town. This beach is not ideal for swimming as the surf is strong, but great for serene sunsets and surfing.
Sandy Bay is the unofficial nudist beach of Cape Town, and is quite difficult to get to, being one of Cape Town's most inaccessible beaches. This area is not only popular with nudist, but also with hikers and conservationists, due to its unspoilt natural beauty.
Sandy Bay is packed with steep dunes and bushy slopes and is not as busy as other beaches, quite possibly because of its inaccessibility. This is a great place to get away from the crowds and simply relax in the company of the ocean.
Hout Bay is a great family beach, where fish and chips, seal sightings and spectacular views go hand in hand. It is a protected harbour bay surrounded by mountains and enjoying views over the Hottentots Holland Mountains.
The Chapman's Peak side is ideal for swimming and sun bathing, as the waves are more gently. Spend the day strolling along the pier and watching the fishing boats at the harbour, with the added bonus of spotting a seal or even a Whale during season. Beaches South of the Atlantic Seaboard:These Cape Town beaches include Noordhoek Beach, Long Beach, Witsands, Misty Cliffs and Scarborough, and is ideal for walking, horse riding, surfing, and natural beauty. These beaches are also less busy than Clifton and Camps Bay, and a wonderful way to escape the crowd. During the summer time, however, it can get very busy.
Noordhoek Beach is situated at the end of the spectacular Chapman's Peak drive, just south of Hout Bay. This is a beach of long white sand, ideal for walks and horse riding, as well as surfing. The dunes that line the beach offer great protection from the infamous south easterly. Long Beach is long and sandy and a popular spot for local surfers. There is also a large tidal pool for swimming, making this a nice family beach. Witsands is situated between Kommetjie and Scarborough, and is popular with surfers, kite surfers and windsurfers. It is situated further away from Cape Town, therefore not very well known by international standards. The beach is big and sandy, with plenty of dunes and natural beauty.
Misty Cliffs is a remote beach boasting magical views of the Atlantic. Waves are big and bold, so this beach is not ideal for swimming, and even surfers are careful. It is quite popular with divers. Scarborough is the last residential suburb before Cape Point. This beach is large, with white sand. It is ideal for sunbathing and surfing. it is hardly ever crowded, except maybe sometimes in summer. It is also great for flying kites and kite surfing, as it can get very windy here. | 
