Boulders Beach
White sand, turquoise water, and penguins at your feet
About
Boulders Beach sits along the Cape Peninsula coast near Simon's Town, where massive granite boulders curve around a sheltered cove of white sand and turquoise False Bay water. The beach stretches roughly 300 metres and is one of the few places on Earth where you share the shoreline with a resident African penguin colony. SANParks manages the site, with boardwalks threading between the boulders and penguin nesting zones so you can observe the birds without disturbing them. Swimming here is genuinely safe — the granite formations break the swell and keep the water calm. It's busy for good reason, and the family-friendly atmosphere is anchored by the sheer novelty of watching tuxedoed birds waddle past sunbathers.
How to get there
From Cape Town CBD, drive the M3 or M4 south to Simon's Town — allow around 45 minutes. Alternatively, take the Metrorail from Cape Town station to Simon's Town (about 75 minutes), then walk 20 minutes to the beach — a practical move in peak season when parking fills fast. Paid parking is available on-site and is included with SANParks entry or charged as a separate fee; arrive early or take the train to avoid the scramble. Entry requires a SANParks fee (Wild Card holders enter free); book your tickets online in advance to guarantee entry and skip the queue.
Who it's for
For couples
The sheltered cove and calm turquoise water give couples a rare chance to swim comfortably on the Cape Peninsula, with the added spectacle of penguins as an icebreaker. Simon's Town's waterfront — a short walk away — adds a relaxed afternoon option after the beach.
For families
Boulders is one of the most family-friendly beaches on the Cape Peninsula: the water is safe for children, the boardwalk is wheelchair accessible, and watching African penguins at close range is a genuine wildlife experience that holds kids' attention far longer than a standard beach day. Pack snacks and arrive early — it gets packed by mid-morning in summer.
Our take
Feet in the sand, eyes on the screen
Boulders Beach earns its reputation. There are very few places in the world where you can swim in calm, turquoise water and then watch an African penguin colony from a few metres away — all within an hour of a major city. The SANParks management is tight and the boardwalk system works; this is wildlife tourism done properly. It is busy in summer, full stop, so the train from Simon's Town and an online ticket booked the night before are not optional extras — they are the difference between a smooth visit and a frustrating one. Avoid June and July: winter cold and rain flatten the experience and some boardwalk sections may be restricted. Come between December and March, get there before 09:00, and you'll have the granite cove largely to yourself for the first hour.
What to do
The penguins are the main event: the colony is just 0.1 km from the entrance, and the SANParks boardwalk at The Boulders (0.2 km) puts you at eye level with birds going about their daily business. False Bay's sheltered water makes for safe, calm swimming — rare on the Cape Peninsula. If you have a half-day to spare, Whale Watch operates 4.6 km away, and the dramatic sea cliffs of Cape Point at Table Mountain National Park are an 18 km drive down the peninsula and well worth the trip.
The SANParks boardwalk at The Boulders delivers the classic shot: penguins in the foreground, white sand and turquoise water behind, framed by ancient granite.
Shoot from a low angle on the boardwalk at sunrise for clean light before the site fills up. The granite boulder formations themselves — textured, rust-orange against the blue bay — make a strong abstract frame even without a penguin in sight.
Photography
Shoot from the SANParks boardwalk at The Boulders early morning when the light is soft and the penguins are most active before the day-visitors arrive. The granite boulders framing the turquoise water make a strong wide-angle composition — position yourself low on the boardwalk at golden hour for the best contrast between the white sand and the dark rock.
Good to know
Do not touch or feed the penguins — they bite and will not hesitate to use their beaks if you get too close. Stay on the boardwalk in all restricted zones; some sections may be closed during penguin breeding and nesting season to protect the colony. No dogs are permitted anywhere inside Table Mountain National Park, which includes this beach. Book tickets online before you arrive, especially between December and March — entry can sell out and walk-up queues are long.
Map
Nearby places
Tibetan Teahouse
I Love Waffles
Bertha's
Fran's Place
Harbourview Restaurant
Boulders Beach Lodge
Magellans Passage
Quayside Hotel
British Hotel
Calders Hotel
Simon's Town Museum
Cape Point (Table Mountain National Park)
Kalk Bay Harbour
Things to see around City of Cape Town
Simon's Town Museum
Naval and local history museum in the historic Simon's Town waterfront, covering the town's role as a British and South African naval base.
Cape Point (Table Mountain National Park)
Dramatic sea cliffs at the tip of the Cape Peninsula with lighthouse, funicular, and fynbos wildlife.
Kalk Bay Harbour
Working fishing harbour with fresh fish market, antique shops, and restaurants in a bohemian village setting.
Frequently asked
The information on this page is provided for guidance only and may evolve. Access conditions, safety and infrastructure can change without notice. Always check official sources before traveling.
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Photo credits
Sources and licenses for the photos shown above.
- Photo 1 — Kristof Zerbe · source · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Photo 2 — Moheen Reeyad · source · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo 3 — Rob Oo · source · CC BY 2.0
- Photo 4 — Krigore · source · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo 5 — Kristof Zerbe · source · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Photo 6 — Zoran Kurelić Rabko · source · CC BY-SA 3.0