Clifton hideaways

Clifton is a small seaside suburb on Cape Town's Atlantic Seaboard, in South Africa's Western Cape. Tucked below Lion's Head, Clifton lies between Bantry Bay and Sea Point to the north and Camps Bay to the south, with Victoria Road running along the slope above its four beaches. The city centre is less than 5km away. Allow about 10–15 minutes' drive to the city centre or the V&A Waterfront, and about 30–40 minutes to Cape Town International Airport, outside peak traffic.

Clifton has four beaches, named First, Second, Third and Fourth, each a cove of white sand and clear, cold Atlantic water below Victoria Road, separated from the next by large granite boulders. Surfers favour First Beach and beach volleyball players gather on Second Beach, while Third Beach, the smallest, is popular with the LGBTQ community. Fourth Beach is the most popular of Clifton's beaches, with lifeguards in summer, and has held Blue Flag status.

You reach Clifton's beaches on foot, down narrow, steep stairs that lead from Victoria Road between the houses and bungalows. Fourth Beach is reached by a long flight of stairs, so pack light for the climb back. Parking along Victoria Road is limited and fills early on summer days and weekends. There is no step-free access to Clifton's Fourth Beach, so guests with limited mobility should plan accordingly.

Yes. Clifton is known as one of the most sheltered spots on Cape Town's coast when the south-easter blows. This strong summer wind, called the Cape Doctor, sweeps across much of the city, but the granite boulders between Clifton's beaches break its force. The City of Cape Town describes Clifton as a fail-safe option when the south-easter blows, and on windy days Second and Third beaches, tucked into their coves, are usually the calmest.

Yes, you can swim at Clifton, but the Atlantic here is cold. Upwelling, driven by the summer south-easter, draws cold water up from the deep ocean and typically keeps sea temperatures on Cape Town's Atlantic side between about 10°C and 15°C, so most people take short, refreshing dips. The City of Cape Town lists lifeguards on duty at Clifton's Fourth Beach from December to the end of March. Swim within your depth and stay near the lifeguards, while children enjoy the water with an adult close by.

Yes. Clifton faces west over the Atlantic, so the sun sets straight over the sea, framed by the granite boulders between its beaches. On long summer evenings, many people linger on the sand until the light fades, and in summer yachts often anchor off Clifton's Fourth Beach. There's no hike needed: watch from your deck or from the beach, then allow time for the stairs back up to Victoria Road before dark.

Lion's Head, the 669m peak rising behind Clifton in the Table Mountain National Park, is the area's signature hike. SANParks describes the trail as about 2km each way from Signal Hill Road, a short drive from Clifton, taking one to one and a half hours up, with minor rock scrambling and chains near the top before the 360-degree views. There's no water on the route, so carry your own, hike in daylight and go in a group of four or more. For an easy stroll, amble along the Sea Point Promenade, about 3km from just below Bantry Bay, a few minutes north of Clifton, to the Green Point Lighthouse. Our concierge team can help you plan your outings.

Clifton is mainly residential, so head a few minutes along Victoria Road to Camps Bay or Sea Point. To the south, the Camps Bay beachfront strip is lined with restaurants, cafés and cocktail bars looking out over the beach to the Atlantic. To the north, Sea Point's Main Road and Regent Road offer a wide choice of eateries. Book dinner ahead in summer, above all in December and January. Our concierge team can help with recommendations and reservations near Clifton.

Summer, from December to February, is the best time to visit Clifton. Cape Town is warm and dry, and Clifton's sheltered beaches come into their own on days when the south-easter blows elsewhere. Lifeguards are on duty at Clifton's Fourth Beach from December to the end of March. The festive season in December and January is Clifton's busiest time, so book your hideaway well ahead. Autumn, from March to May, brings quieter days, while winter, from June to August, is cooler and wetter.

Staying in Clifton puts you on the beach rather than in the queue for parking. Several of our Clifton hideaways are beach bungalows set right on the sand or just above it, so you can wander down for an early swim and be back on your deck for sundowners. Clifton Bungalow 47 sleeps eight guests and is reached by narrow private steps, while Bungalow Les Lions is a couple's retreat overlooking Fourth Beach. Our Clifton hideaways sleep from two to eight guests.

Send an enquiry or call the Perfect Hideaways team on +27 21 790 0972 (Monday–Thursday 8.30am–5pm, Friday 8.30am–4pm SAST). Book early for the December and January festive season, when Clifton is at its busiest. Our reservations consultants can match you with the perfect hideaway. Through our bespoke travel service, we also craft custom itineraries for our guests, shaped around their own dreams and desires.