South Africa - all beaches

Choose the best one from 252 beaches
231
Good for Relax beaches
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16
Pet friendly beaches
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About South Africa

The gentle sea with the purest water and the magnificent fine sandy beaches of South Africa attract more and more tourists yearly. The crystal turquoise color of the seawater sets the level of your vacation somewhere between stunning and perfect. So if you are looking for the perfect sea, this is your place!

Popular destinations

view the best beach places

Western Cape

Western Cape

121 beaches
Picturesque • Wild beach • Kite or windsurfing
Eastern Cape

Eastern Cape

73 beaches
Picturesque • Natural shadow • Wild beach
KwaZulu-Natal

KwaZulu-Natal

59 beaches
Picturesque • Natural shadow • Wild beach
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South Africa Best beaches

view the highest rated beaches in area

On map
Glen Beach
Glen Beach
Glen Beach
Pet friendly

Glen Beach

Cape Town 4.2 km
Very good
8.4
Free entrance • Virgin beach • Easy access • Bright sand • Turquoise pure water • Crowded in season
3 Amenities index
Durban Beach
Durban Beach
Durban Beach
Good for Relax

Durban Beach

Durban 3 km
Very good
8.3
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Bright fine sand • Turquoise pure water • Crowded in season
7.5 Amenities index
Hartenbos beach
Hartenbos beach
Hartenbos beach
Good for Relax

Hartenbos beach

Hartenbos 0.5 km
Very good
8.3
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Bright fine sand • Turquoise pure water • Crowded in season
2.7 Amenities index
Illovo Beach
Illovo Beach
Illovo Beach
Good for Relax

Illovo Beach

KwaMakhutha 9.7 km
Very good
8.1
Free entrance • Virgin beach • Easy access • Bright sand • Blue water • Distant parking
0.5 Amenities index
Leentjies Klip
Leentjies Klip
Leentjies Klip
Good for Relax

Leentjies Klip

Wilderness 1.3 km
Very good
8.1
Free entrance • Virgin beach • Easy access • Bright fine sand • Turquoise pure water • Fine sand bottom
1 Amenities index
Hobie beach
Hobie beach
Hobie beach
Good for Relax

Hobie beach

Plettenberg Bay 1 km
Very good
8.1
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Bright sand • Turquoise pure water • Crowded in season
6.1 Amenities index
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Popular types of South Africa beaches

Sand
Sand
Rocks
Rocks
Hotel beach
Hotel beach
Pet friendly
Pet friendly
Beaches in small bays
Beaches in small bays
Long beaches
Long beaches
Wild
Wild
Private resort
Private resort
Good for Relax
Good for Relax
Kite or windsurfing
Kite or windsurfing
Sup-surfing
Sup-surfing
Surfing
Surfing
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Calm, measured rest and the sound of waves are perhaps the most common associations that arise with the word "beach". This is not surprising, as relaxation is exactly what many beach travelers are looking for. If you associate your vacation primarily with such activity, choose one of the 253 beaches in the country.

To make your choice easier, we have prepared a list of the best beaches for relaxation in South Africa.

Most beautiful beaches of South Africa

Llandudno Beach
Llandudno beach

Llandudno Beach
8.4
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Picturesque, Easy access, Bright fine sand
South Africa, Ruyteplaats Private Mountain Estate 1.4 km
Bakoven Beach

Bakoven Beach
8.3
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Picturesque, Easy access, Bright sand
South Africa, Cape Town 5.4 km
Noordhoek Beach

Noordhoek Beach
8.3
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Picturesque, Easy access, Bright fine sand
South Africa, De Goede Hoop 1.9 km
Ramsgate beach

Ramsgate beach
8.3
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Picturesque, Easy access, Bright fine sand
South Africa, Ramsgate 0.6 km
Thompsons beach

Thompsons beach
8.2
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Picturesque, Easy access, Bright fine sand
South Africa, Shaka's Rock 1 km
Sardinia Bay beach

Sardinia Bay beach
8.1
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water
South Africa, Seaview 13.6 km
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Quitest and lonely beaches in South Africa

Happy Wanderers beach

Happy Wanderers beach
8.2
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright fine sand, Turquoise pure water, Fine sand bottom
South Africa, Esperanza 6.9 km
Umdloti South beach

Umdloti South beach
8.2
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water, Sand bottom
South Africa, Umdloti eMdloti 0.6 km
St Winifred's beach

St Winifred's beach
8.2
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright fine sand, Turquoise pure water, Fine sand bottom
South Africa, KwaMakhutha 7.1 km
Margate beach

Margate beach
8.2
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright fine sand, Turquoise pure water, Fine sand bottom
South Africa, Margate 1 km
Kings beach

Kings beach
8.2
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water, Sand bottom
South Africa, Gqeberha 4.7 km
Amanzimtoti beach

Amanzimtoti beach
8.1
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright fine sand, Turquoise pure water, Fine sand bottom
South Africa, KwaMakhutha 3.5 km
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Sandy beaches in South Africa

Clifton beach

Clifton beach
8.6
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright fine sand, Blue pure water
South Africa, Cape Town 3.8 km
Santos beach

Santos beach
8.4
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright fine sand, Turquoise pure water
South Africa, Mossel Bay 1.6 km
Strand beach

Strand beach
8.4
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright fine sand, Turquoise pure water
South Africa, Strand 1.2 km
Uvongo beach

Uvongo beach
8.3
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright fine sand, Turquoise pure water
South Africa, Margate 4 km
Buffalo Bay beach

Buffalo Bay beach
8.3
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright fine sand, Turquoise pure water
South Africa, Buffel's Bay 0.1 km
Camps Bay beach

Camps Bay beach
8.3
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright fine sand, Blue pure water
South Africa, Cape Town 4.4 km
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Remote beaches in South Africa

Igoda beach

Igoda beach
7.7
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Bright sand, Turquoise water
South Africa, Kidd's Beach 8.2 km
Jongensgat Reserve

Jongensgat Reserve
6.9
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Bright fine sand
South Africa, Jongensfontein 4.8 km
Lekkerwater beach

Lekkerwater beach
6.9
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Bright fine sand, Turquoise pure water
South Africa, Lekkerwater 0.3 km
Blombosstrand

Blombosstrand
6.9
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Bright fine sand, Turquoise pure water
South Africa, Jongensfontein 12.6 km
Bloubergstrand

Bloubergstrand
6.9
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Bright fine sand
South Africa, Redhill Informal Settlement 13.7 km
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Best beaches for snorkelling in South Africa

Sodwana Bay

Sodwana Bay
8
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright fine sand, Turquoise pure water, Fine sand bottom
South Africa, Sodwana Bay 1.2 km
Leisure beach

Leisure beach
7.9
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque, Easy access, Bright fine sand, Turquoise pure water
South Africa, Leisure Bay 0.3 km
Black Rock beach

Black Rock beach
7.9
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque, Bright fine sand
South Africa, Rocktail Bay 5.8 km
Brighton beach

Brighton beach
7.6
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise water, Sand bottom
South Africa, Durban 7.9 km
Pumela beach

Pumela beach
7.2
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water, Deserted
South Africa, Anerley 3.7 km
Breakfast Bay beach

Breakfast Bay beach
6.2
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Turquoise pure water
South Africa, Vermont 0.7 km
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Beaches with shade in South Africa

Cape Vidal beach

Cape Vidal beach
8
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Bright fine sand, Turquoise water
South Africa, Cape Vidal 0.2 km
Ivy beach

Ivy beach
8
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright fine sand, Turquoise water, Fine sand bottom
South Africa, Ivy Beach 0.6 km
Glenmore beach

Glenmore beach
7.6
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water, Sand bottom
South Africa, Glenmore 0.7 km
Jabula beach

Jabula beach
7.2
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright fine sand, Turquoise water, Deserted
South Africa, St. Lucia 2 km
Alkantstrand beach

Alkantstrand beach
7.1
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise water, Sand bottom
South Africa, Richards Bay 5.1 km
White Clay Resort

White Clay Resort
7.1
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water
South Africa, Coffee Bay 1.4 km
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Attraction and Infrastructure

As for the main features of the beaches of South Africa, they are as follows:

  • The country's beaches are mainly wide, long and have a high level of cleanliness. The most common surface is fine sand of bright color.
  • Usually, entry into the water is moderately gentle, such beaches are 186.
  • The average distance from the road to beach in South Africa is less than 500 meters. 220 beaches are relatively easy to access, 33 beaches are difficult to access, which in most cases means that you have to walk a quite long distance.

Wild beaches with no infrastructure dominate the coastline of South Africa however, even here you can find a beach with a standard set of accessories: sun beds, umbrellas, restaurants, showers and toilets.

Latest reviews on South Africa's beaches

Knoetzie beach
8 Ashlea Jantjies

Although it is a bit dangerous as it is a dirt road for the first few kilometres I deem it so worth the experience! The beautiful scenery and crips cold water was definitely worth the drive.We loved taking our pups for a swim and enjoyed the beautiful sunsets while playing board games until the sun came up I would definitely plan my next week-long trip there!

Glen Beach
10 Lerato Molefe

Whether you want to spend quality time with friends, family, or by yourself, this beach is perfect for you. The security is tight, with vigilant and attentive lifeguards. You can also rent an umbrella for R70 (regular customers receive a discount). Additionally, there are vendors selling ice cream, and a Kauai café is just a 3-minute walk away if you want to grab a warm coffee. I was there to get some work done, and I really enjoyed the atmosphere.

Hartenbos beach
10 Kiki

This is an amazing destination for a family vacation. The beaches are absolutely gorgeous, the facilities are impressive, and the town is incredibly clean.

Trafalgar beach
9 Caylee Dempsey

Second longest serving blue flag beach in RSA. Absolutely stunning.

Paternoster beach II
10 Mark Jensen

We stayed at Dunes Guesthouse in April '23 and the location was absolutely amazing. Our room was just a few steps away from the stunning beach, making it the perfect spot for enjoying a beach-side sun-downer. The staff was incredibly friendly and the atmosphere was welcoming. Additionally, the breakfast was delicious. I would definitely recommend this place.

Zimbali beach
10 Emily Anderson

We held our four-day Company conference at the Capital Zimbali resort with over 100 delegates, and it was absolutely fantastic! The resort's location was ideal, and the service we received was truly outstanding. The food provided was of the highest quality. I want to give a special shout out to Letato, Siya, and the entire team for taking such great care of us. I cannot stress enough how highly I recommend this resort for both personal and professional purposes. If you're in search of an incredible vacation or conference venue, this place should definitely be at the top of your list.

Please note that lifeguards supervise 27 beaches in the country, but you should rely on more than just them, remember the elementary rules, as lifeguards are not on duty around the clock, even on equipped beaches!

Finding hotels in relative proximity to the beaches is usually fine. Many beaches have enough nearby accommodation, which gives good opportunities to choose the right place to stay.

Do you know how many beaches there are in South Africa? In total there are 253 beaches and the most popular is Clifton beach.

Most viewed beaches of South Africa

Kogel Bay beach

Kogel Bay beach
7.7
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water
South Africa, Rooiels 8 km
Isipingo beach

Isipingo beach
7.6
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright fine sand, Turquoise pure water, Deserted
South Africa, Umbogintwini 4.1 km
Sparks Bay Tidal Pool

Sparks Bay Tidal Pool
6.9
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque, Easy access
South Africa, Rooiels 6.9 km
Muizenberg beach

Muizenberg beach
7.7
Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water
South Africa, Noordhoek Manor 6.4 km
Camps Bay Tidal pool

Camps Bay Tidal pool
8.1
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Blue pure water
South Africa, Cape Town 4.8 km
Shark Bay beach

Shark Bay beach
8.1
Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Bright fine sand, Blue pure water
South Africa, Langebaan 2.6 km
View all 252 beaches

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the main features of best beaches in South Africa?

When it comes to finding the best beaches in South Africa, the following aspects should be taken into account.

There are 253 beaches in total, of which about 41 can be called high-rated.

The best beaches in the majority:

They are also usually:

The best beaches in South Africa:

View all beaches in South Africa and create your selection by features

How to view only nearest to me beaches in South Africa?

To find the beaches closest to your current geolocation, click the Nearby Beaches icon in the search box. You will see the nearest beaches sorted by distance from you.

Note, that if you only want to see the beaches closest to you in South Africa, you must be in that area to get the correct results.

See also: View all beaches in South Africa and create your selection by features.

How to view all beaches in South Africa on map?

To view and filter by characteristics all beaches of South Africa, use the link below:

See also:

View all beaches in South Africa and combine selections by features

What are all easy accessible beaches in South Africa?

Most of the beaches located in South Africa are easily accessible, but there are also hard to reach beaches among them. Use the filter to sort the beaches by access details (parking, distance etc.).

Popular categories of beaches in South Africa by access:

See also the categories:

Top 5 popular beaches with easy access in South Africa:

View all beaches in South Africa and select by features

How to view all sandy beaches or beaches with other natural features in South Africa?

Use the "Main features" section of the filter in search results to see all the beaches with the feature you're interested in.

The most popular selections of beaches with natural features are listed below. Don't forget that you can create your own selection with any combination of features

Beach coverage and water

Natural scenery

Other popular categories

View all beaches in South Africa and select by features

How to find uncrowded beaches in South Africa?

The presence of crowds of tourists on the beach these days is becoming a mass character, and sometimes you want silence and solitude. Use the filter in search results to view the beaches in South Africa by occupancy.

Popular categories:

If the presence of a crowd on the beach is critical for you, pay attention to where you should not go in the season.

View all beaches in South Africa and select by features

Which beaches in South Africa are kid-friendly, good for relax, pet-friendly, naturist-friendly, camping-friendly?

The selections of the beaches in South Africa according to the recommended audience:

See also:

How to view all beaches by amenities details in South Africa?

Use filter in search results to select a beach according to your preference for amenities.

Popular beach infrastructure categories:

See also:

View all beaches in South Africa and select by specific amenities

How to view all beaches by activity of interest in South Africa?

Use the "Activity" section of the filter in search results to view the selections of beaches by one or multiple activities. Below are a few popular selections that you can change as you like using our filter.

View all beaches in South Africa and select by activity