With summer in full swing, you are likely starting to plan your annual holiday, and with this comes day dreams of the crashing ocean and warm golden beaches. Luckily for you, the Western Cape has an abundance of captivating beaches with pristine white sand, glittering blue ocean, and excellent facilities. Here are some top Western Cape beaches to tick off your bucket list this summer:

• Camps Bay

Lined by palm trees and backed by Lion’s Head and the Twelve Apostles, Camps Bay is a tropical paradise. Known for attracting the “who’s who” of Cape Town, this blue flag beach has both grassy and sandy areas, and the beach road boasts trendy nightclubs and bars.

• Clifton

Clifton beach, made up of four beaches separated by boulders, is one of the most beautiful beaches set along Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard.  Although the water is freezing cold, the beach has glimmering white sand in a warm, wind sheltered location.

• Llandudno

Notably one of the best sundowner spots, Llandudno offers a magnificent setting in Cape Town, surrounded by mountains, granite boulders, and the open ocean. It is popular among surfers, families, and dog walkers.  Llandudno has access to Sandy Bay, an isolated beach still popular with nudists.

• Robberg Beach

This blue flag beach is one of the reasons why Plettenberg Bay is such a favoured destination along the Garden Route. It is perfect for romantic walks as it stretches all the way from the Robberg Peninsula towards Beacon Island, and is great for spotting whales and dolphins.

• Boulders Beach

Along with the other famous Cape Town beaches, Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town is known for its African Penguin colony, marine-filled rock pools, and sheltered waters. Boulders is an excellent swimming beach, separated into several small coves by huge granite boulders.

• Buffalo Bay Beach

Buffalo Bay Beach is a popular beach in the holiday town of Buffels Bay along the Garden Route. Bordered by dune fields and coastal fynbos, the beach is great for swimming, surfing, sunbathing, snorkelling, fishing, canoeing, and whale and dolphin spotting.  There is ample parking, clean ablutions, restaurants, and a shop above the beach.

• Paternoster Beach

Paternoster Beach is one of the many reasons South Africans enjoy travelling up the West Coast. The endless stretch of beach is littered with quaint fishing boats and friendly fishermen. Paternoster’s beach is fantastic for walking, sea kayaking, fishing, windsurfing, horse riding, and whale and dolphin spotting. Pick up some fresh fish directly from the fishermen as they come in from sea.

• Bikini Beach

This blue flag beach in Gordon’s Bay is one of the best beaches around, with a stunning view of the False Bay coastline. It offers safe swimming, excellent facilities, and several shops nearby.

• Fish Hoek

Fish Hoek Beach offers a warmer alternative for swimming in Cape Town. Set on the Indian Ocean, Fish Hoek’s waters are several degrees warmer than its counterparts on the Atlantic Seaboard. The beach is great for families with tidal pools nearby, a walkway, and a restaurant on the beach.

• Grotto Beach

Grotto Beach is a blue flag beach in the sought after holiday town of Hermanus. The beach extends for miles and is a favourite for walking and whale watching.

• Witsand Beach

Located at the mouth of the Breede River in the small coastal town of Witsand, this beach has been a well-kept secret for years as a fantastic whale watching spot. It boasts pristine sand, a beachfront restaurant, and plenty of space for strolls. Under the right conditions, Witsand’s dunes utter spooky rumbles when disturbed, a phenomenon known by locals as the famous ‘Brulsand’ or Roaring Sands.

• Bloubergstrand

For those in the northern suburbs of Cape Town, Bloubergstrand has a fantastic beach for swimming, surfing, windsurfing, and more. Bloubergstrand features awe-inspiring views of Table Mountain and Robben Island.

• Lappiesbaai

This long, meandering bay near Stilbaai is very popular over the holiday season. Spend time picking up Pansy Shells and enjoying the peace and quiet of this unspoilt blue flag beach. Lappiesbaai has a restaurant and is wheelchair friendly.

• Oudekraal Beach

Nestled between Bakoven and Llandudno, Oudekraal Beach is a small cove with its very own seal colony. Surrounded by boulders, Oudekraal offers a quieter alternative to the glamorous beaches of Camps Bay and Clifton, with just as good a view of the Twelve Apostles. There are braai facilities and a grassy picnic area sheltered beneath Milkwood trees. Forming part of the Table Mountain National Park, there is a small entry fee.

• Pringle Bay Beach

This stunning stretch of beach is found in the holiday town of Pringle Bay. The beach is backed by glorious sand dunes and fynbos-clad mountains, and has rock pools perfect for snorkelling. As the beach is exposed to the wind and usually empty, it’s perfect for wind sports.

• Noordhoek Beach

Noordhoek Beach stretches on for 8 beautiful kilometres in Noordhoek, Cape Town. The great thing about this beach is that it is so large, it never feels crowded so you’re ensured a leisurely day in the sun without having to battle for a spot in the sand. It’s popular for horse riding and water sports and a well-known shipwreck called the Kakapo makes visiting the beach in winter a pleasure.

What is your favourite beach in the Western Cape?