Clifton 3rd Beach

Beach · Cape Town Clifton

A small cove between granite boulders on the Atlantic: Clifton 3rd Beach has been Cape Town’s unofficial gay beach for decades and the scene’s meeting point in summer.

• ★ 4.7 on Google (111)
• gay-mixed
• sheltered from the wind
• stairs only

Location

below Victoria Road
Clifton, 8005 Cape Town

Entry

free

Getting there

steep stairs from Victoria Road or on foot via the other Clifton beaches, parking scarce in summer

Facilities

Sun loungers and umbrellas for hire, roaming vendors; toilets and kiosk at 1st and 4th Beach

Crowd

mostly gay men, many 25–45, locals and travellers, plus straight beachgoers

Flirt factor

high, on summer weekends

Best time

Summer, roughly December to March, busiest at weekends

What makes Clifton 3rd Beach stand out

Clifton has four beaches separated by large boulders. The third is the smallest and is considered the gay community’s beach. You look out over the Atlantic, with the Twelve Apostles behind you. The Clifton beaches are among the few in Cape Town that are well sheltered from the strong south-easterly wind.

The water is cold, usually 12 to 16 degrees. You can only reach the beach via a long, steep staircase. You can hire loungers and umbrellas, and vendors sell drinks and ice cream.

Atmosphere and crowd

In summer, and especially at weekends, the scene lies packed together; it’s all about sunbathing, seeing and being seen. The beach is popular with gay Capetonians and travellers but isn’t exclusively gay. Guests praise the white sand, the setting and the cleanliness.

Editorially researched, as of October 2026. Sources: Google Maps (4.7 stars, 111 reviews), Lonely Planet. Access and use may change, please check before visiting.