6 Best Sights in Cape Peninsula, South Africa

The residential neighborhood of Llandudno is known for its far-flung, virtually off-the-map location and for its large number of expensive, sea-facing houses; people commute from here to Cape Town. It's also pretty much just around the corner from Hout Bay, so it's a good place to come if you're based there but want a proper beach experience that includes swimming and a bit of a vibe. There are lifeguards, which is good because the current can take you by surprise; the beach also sees many surfers. Parking can be a pain as there's precious little of it, so arrive early––and take supplies for a picnic on the beach, as there's nothing for sale. There's a rocky headland known as Sunset Rocks which is, obviously, just gorgeous for watching the sun sink at the end of the day (as late as 9 pm in summer). Even if you see locals jumping off the boulders into the sea, avoid copying them––folks have died hitting their heads on rocks under the water. Amenities: parking (no fee); toilets. Best for: surfing; swimming; walking.

Cradled in a lovely bay of the same name and guarded by a 1,000-foot peak known as the Sentinel, Hout Bay is the center of Cape Town's crayfishing industry (legal and otherwise) and operates several fish-processing plants. It also has knockout views of the mountains, gentle surf, and easy access to the restaurants and bars of Mariner's Wharf. The fact that this is a working harbor combined with the flow of raw sewage into the sea, means this is, unfortunately, a polluted beach, however beautiful it looks. While walks are fine, you're advised not to swim here. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free). Best for: solitude; walking.

A vast expanse of white sand stretching 6½ km (4 miles) from the base of Chapman's Peak (Noordhoek Beach starts here) to Kommetjie (where you find Long Beach), this is one of the wildest and least populated stretches of uninterrupted beach, with fluffy white sand and dunes, behind which sit a lagoon and private nature reserve. Because of the wind and the space, these beaches attract horseback riders and walkers rather than sunbathers, and the surfing is excellent (especially off Long Beach). There are no lifeguards and there is no bus service, and, as at some other beaches, at the wrong times and more isolated spots, there are real safety concerns (particularly the lonely stretch of sand right in the middle). Despite patrollers on horseback and the occasional all-terrain vehicle, crime is an issue here, and women, in particular, should be careful. Tourists always do best not to look like tourists. Hang out with other people, just in case, unless you're part of a group. Amenities: parking (no fee); toilets (Noordhoek). Best for: solitude; sunset; surfing; walking.

Once the fashionable resort of South African high society, this beach is now the place where locals—from all corners of Cape Town—swim, picnic, and learn to surf. A long, sandy beach with a reliable break, this grand old lady of the city’s (relatively) warm-water beaches is known for the colorful bathing boxes of the type once popular at British resorts. Lifeguards are on duty, and the sea is shallow and reasonably safe—and there is reliable shark spotting. If you're keen on stretching your legs, you can walk along the beach or take the picturesque concrete promenade known as the Catwalk, which connects Muizenberg to St James. Be careful not to walk the latter path alone or when it is very quiet or dark, and be extra vigilant as there have been muggings involving stone-throwing. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: sunrise; surfing; swimming; walking.

By far the best of the town's various museums, this rather detailed space is filled with model ships, antique navigational equipment, old South African Navy divers' equipment, a few actual life-size boats, and, oddly enough, a helicopter. Interesting, too, are the murals in the old naval church, and some of the stories of rescue missions and naval heroes over the years. The newer "Transformation" section includes a display about the SS Mendi and information about how the navy has changed in democratic South Africa. It's staffed by passionate naval personnel, so you can come armed with intricate questions.

St James gets its name from this historical church, built in 1858 for the Catholic Filipino fishermen of Kalk Bay, who at the time petitioned the colonial governor of the Cape to build this church as a remedy for the hazardous journey they had to make to Simon's Town each Sunday, by sea or by road. The community built the church themselves and the church steps were documented to have been built from stone taken from the mountain in St James. The church is largely unchanged and still operational with a daily morning Mass (times on the website); the building is not open to the public outside of Mass.