Key Takeaways
- Camps Bay is a beachfront suburb of Cape Town, set between the Atlantic Ocean and the Twelve Apostles mountain range - approximately 15 minutes from the city centre.
- The area has three beaches, a vibrant restaurant and cafe strip along Victoria Road, year-round outdoor activities, a theatre, and independent shops.
- Summer (December to February) is peak season; February and March offer warm weather with noticeably fewer crowds.
- Camps Bay is safe, walkable, and well-connected - accessible by ride-hailing, MyCiti bus, and the City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off service.
- The Marly is a five-star boutique hotel on the Camps Bay beachfront, offering sea-facing rooms and suites, a spa, and a restaurant.
What is Camps Bay?
Camps Bay is a beachfront suburb of Cape Town, wedged between the Atlantic Ocean and the sheer face of the Twelve Apostles mountain range. It sits on the city's Atlantic Seaboard, roughly 15 minutes from the Cape Town city centre, and is one of the most photographed stretches of coastline in South Africa.The name dates back to the 1700s, when the land was part of a farm owned by Friedrich von Kamptz - over time, “von Kamptz's” became “Camps Bay.” Today, the suburb is built around a simple, walkable layout: Victoria Road runs parallel to the coast, lined with restaurants, bars, and boutiques on one side and the beachfront promenade on the other. Behind it all, the Twelve Apostles rise almost vertically, giving Camps Bay one of the most dramatic backdrops of any city beach in the world. It's a compact, easy suburb to get your bearings in -most visitors are oriented within an hour of arriving.
The Beaches of Camps Bay
Camps Bay has three distinct beaches, each with its own character. If you're comparing Camps Bay beach Cape Town options or wondering about the Camps Bay beach entrance fee, here's how they stack up:
Camps bay beach
Camps Bay Beach is the main event: a long, white sand arc backed by a palm-lined promenade, and it holds Blue Flag status for its water quality and facilities. There's no Camps Bay Beach entrance fee - a common question, and worth stating plainly, since none of Cape Town's public beaches charge for entry. At the southern end, a tidal pool offers calmer, enclosed water that's ideal for families with young children. Beach volleyball courts are set up along the sand, and umbrella and lounger hire is available if you'd rather not bring your own.
Glen beach
Just north of Camps Bay Beach, Glen Beach is a small, sheltered cove with a distinctly local, low-key feel - a favourite with residents rather than day-trippers. It's best known for its consistent beach break, which draws surfers throughout the year, but it isn't a swimming beach: strong currents and submerged rocks make it unsuitable for casual bathers. The cove sits within a heritage conservation area, which helps explain why it still feels a step removed from the main strip.
Bakhoven beach
South of Camps Bay Beach, Bakoven is the most secluded of the three. Rather than sand, it's defined by scattered granite boulders that create small, private pockets of beach - ideal for watching the sunset without a crowd. It isn't suited to swimming, but it's a short, easy walk from the main beachfront strip, which makes it an easy add-on to a day at Camps Bay Beach. Bakoven is also home to the oldest NSRI (National Sea Rescue Institute) station in South Africa, a quiet reminder of the area's deep-rooted relationship with the sea.
Above: Camps Bay Beach. Left: Glen Beach. Right: Bakhoven Beach
Things to Do in Camps Bay
Camps Bay rewards visitors who venture beyond the beach towel. Between the mountain trails behind the suburb and the water in front of it, there are enough things to do in Camps Bay — from hiking and water-based Camps Bay activities to cultural Camps Bay experiences — to fill several days without repeating one. For more curated ideas, see The Marly's experiences page.
Hiking and Walks
Hiking is one of the most rewarding things to do in Camps Bay for anyone keen to get off the sand. The easiest option is the beachfront promenade — flat, palm-lined, and best walked in the early morning before the strip fills up. For something more scenic, the Pipe Track is a beginner-friendly trail that starts at Kloof Nek above Camps Bay and runs for roughly 6km, following a historic water pipeline and offering uninterrupted views of the Atlantic and Lion's Head. Those after a proper summit hike can take Kasteelspoort or the Diagonal Path, both intermediate-to-advanced routes that climb to the top of Table Mountain directly from the Camps Bay side.
Water and Beach Activities
Camps Bay activities extend well beyond sunbathing. Stand-up paddleboarding is best done in the calm of early morning, with rentals available right on the beachfront. Beach volleyball is a fixture of the main beach, with informal games forming throughout the day — join in or watch from the sand. Surfers head to Glen Beach, though the strong rips there call for caution and experience. For a calmer swim, both the Camps Bay Tidal Pool and Maiden's Cove offer sheltered, enclosed water away from the open surf.
Arts, Culture and Local Experiences
For visitors after more textured Camps Bay experiences, Theatre on the Bay seats 264 and stages everything from established South African productions to emerging new work - a genuinely unexpected find so close to the beach. The Pottery combines a ceramic painting studio with a wood-fired pizza cafe, making it a relaxed option for a slower afternoon. Up Cycles hires out Dutch cruiser bikes along the beachfront, with tandem and kids' options available for families. And when the sun goes down, Dizzy's Bar is the local go-to for karaoke on Tuesdays and Thursdays, plus regular quiz nights.
Where to Eat in Camps Bay
Whether you're after restaurants in Camps Bay for a casual lunch or dining in Camps Bay for a special night out, the scene runs the full length of the day, from casual beach lunches to elevated dinners and rooftop sundowners - and many of the best Camps Bay beachfront restaurants are run by The Kove Collection, the same group behind The Marly. Here's how to navigate it, in the order you might actually want to eat and drink your way through it. See more on dining at The Marly.
Sundowners and Cocktails: Chinchilla Rooftop
On the second floor of The Promenade Building, Chinchilla Rooftop is one of the buzzier restaurants in Camps Bay for sundowner-hour dining - craft cocktails, wine and whisky, and sushi and seafood platters, with live DJs on weekends. Note that under-18s aren't permitted after 4pm.
Rooftop Pool and Bar: Baptiste
Baptiste reframes dining in Camps Bay as a full day-to-night lifestyle experience — a rooftop pool, bar, and lounge with sweeping Atlantic Seaboard views, distinct from the street-level energy of the main strip.
Beachfront Dining: Paranga and Zenzero
Among the most established restaurants in Camps Bay, Paranga, open since 2002, is something of an institution: laidback luxury with a menu built around seafood, sushi, and prime grills. Just along the strip, Zenzero offers a live-fire alternative - wood-fired ovens, coal-roasted seafood, and pizza, with a family-friendly terrace. Both sit right on the beachfront - a defining part of dining in Camps Bay - and both are worth booking ahead.
Elevated Dining: Bilboa
For the most refined dining in Camps Bay, Bilboa is hard to beat: an open-air Mediterranean seafood restaurant perched above Victoria Road, offering views over the Atlantic and Lion's Head that few other Camps Bay beachfront restaurants can match. Reservations are strongly recommended.
Casual Beachside Dining: Surfshack
One of the most laid-back restaurants in Camps Bay, Surfshack sits directly on the strip for a relaxed, no-reservation-needed lunch - fresh seaside fare, burgers, pizza, and BBQ - suited to walking in straight from the beach in wet feet and sandy hands.
Just Beyond the Strip: The Bungalow, Clifton
A short drive or walk from Camps Bay, The Bungalow in neighbouring Clifton is an iconic beachfront restaurant and bar, often mentioned alongside the restaurants in Camps Bay proper, and celebrated for its Mediterranean-inspired menu and its views. It's worth the short trip — just note it's in Clifton, not Camps Bay itself, so plan accordingly.
Spa and Wellness in Camps Bay
A beach holiday and a spa day pair naturally, and Camps Bay makes it easy to combine the two. If you're looking for a spa in Camps Bay, The Marly Spa is the standout — a luxury Camps Bay spa with ocean-facing treatment rooms and a full spa menu — a fitting way to bookend a day spent on the sand or the trails, without leaving the beachfront strip.
Where to Stay in Camps Bay
If you're wondering where to stay in Camps Bay, accommodation here spans everything from self-catering apartments to five-star hotels. For a genuinely elevated stay, The Marly is the standout — one of the most established luxury hotels in Camps Bay, and a boutique hotel in the truest sense: just 38 rooms, sea-facing throughout. It's a five-star hotel with its own spa and restaurant, set directly on the Camps Bay beachfront strip. The design is intimate rather than corporate — every detail considered, from the room finishes to the view. Explore rooms and suites or check current offers for the best way to plan your stay.
Getting to Camps Bay and Getting Around
From Cape Town International Airport, Camps Bay is roughly 30–40 minutes away via the N2. From the city centre, it's closer still — 10–15 minutes via Kloof Nek Road, or via the scenic coastal route through Sea Point and Clifton. Once you're there, getting around is straightforward: Uber and other ride-hailing services are reliable and widely used, the MyCiti bus service connects Camps Bay to the city,
and the City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus stops along the beachfront for those wanting to explore further afield. One practical note: parking is limited along Victoria Road during peak season, so arrive early if you're driving yourself.
Best Time to Visit Camps Bay
Camps Bay is a year-round destination, but the experience shifts noticeably with the seasons.
December to February is peak season - warm, lively, and busy, especially over the December holidays. February and March are the sweet spot for many regulars: the weather is still reliably warm, but the summer crowds have thinned out considerably. Winter, from June to August, brings quieter beaches and cooler, wetter weather, but it's also whale watching season along the Atlantic Seaboard, and the hiking trails are at their greenest.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Average Temp: 25-30°C
- Crowds: Very high
- Best for: Beach days, nightlife, peak atmosphere
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Average Temp: 12-18°C
- Crowds: Low
- Best for: Hiking, whale watching, quieter dining
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Average Temp: 20-25°C
- Crowds: Moderate, dropping through the season
- Best for: Warm weather with fewer crowds
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Average Temp: 17-22°C
- Crowds: Moderate, building through the season
- Best for: Wildflowers, mild weather, fewer queues
Day Trips and Experiences from Camps Bay
For things to do near Camps Bay, the location makes it an excellent base for exploring further afield. The Cape Peninsula - including Boulders Beach, Cape Point, and Simon's Town - is an easy day trip down the coast, while the Cape Winelands, with Stellenbosch and Franschhoek at its heart, is roughly 45 minutes inland.
Table Mountain is visible from the beach and directly accessible via the Camps Bay-side hiking trails or a short drive to the cableway. Hout Bay, known for its harbour and boat trips to Duiker Island, is a scenic 15-minute drive south, and Clifton's four beaches sit just a few minutes north for those chasing a different stretch of sand. The Marly's team can help put together a curated itinerary around any of these - see curated experiences for a starting point.
Frequently Asked Questions About Camps Bay
Is Camps Bay free to visit?
Yes. Camps Bay Beach is a free, public Blue Flag beach with no entrance fee. Paid extras such as sun lounger hire and beach activities are available, but they're entirely optional.
Is Camps Bay safe for tourists?
Camps Bay is one of Cape Town's more visitor-friendly suburbs. The main beachfront strip is well-lit and well-frequented. Standard precautions apply: avoid leaving valuables in parked cars, and be aware of your surroundings after dark, particularly away from the main strip.
When is the best time to visit Camps Bay?
December to February is peak summer - warm, busy, and lively. February and March offer the sweet spot: excellent weather with fewer crowds. June to August is quieter, with mild sunny days and whale watching opportunities along the coastline.
What is Camps Bay best known for?
Camps Bay is best known for its beach, the dramatic backdrop of the Twelve Apostles mountain range, and its vibrant strip of restaurants and bars along Victoria Road.
How far is Camps Bay from Cape Town city centre?
Camps Bay is approximately 6km from the city centre - a 10–15 minute drive via Kloof Nek Road or the coastal route through Sea Point and Clifton. From Cape Town International Airport, expect around 30–40 minutes.
Where should I stay in Camps Bay?
Accommodation ranges from self-catering apartments to a boutique hotel in Camps Bay like The Marly. For a five-star hotel experience in Camps Bay, The Marly offers 38 sea-facing rooms and suites, a spa, and a restaurant on the beachfront strip.
What beaches are in Camps Bay?
Camps Bay has three main beaches: Camps Bay Beach (the large Blue Flag beach, free to access), Glen Beach (a sheltered cove popular with surfers), and Bakoven Beach (secluded, best for sunsets, south of the main beach).
Plan Your Camps Bay Stay with The Marly
From its Blue Flag beach and mountain trails to its restaurant strip, spa, and after-dark energy, Camps Bay, Cape Town, has few equals as a base for a stay. Whichever way you plan to spend your days here, having the right base makes all the difference - and among luxury hotels in Camps Bay, The Marly puts you directly on the beachfront, with sea-facing rooms, a spa, and a restaurant of its own - everything covered in this guide, a few steps from your door. Explore our rooms and suites to start planning your stay.
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