The Mother City has much more to offer than just beautiful landscapes, lekker people, and lively places to have a jol with friends. Cape Town has an abundance of popular beaches with perfect waves to get your surf stoke on.

When you are visiting Cape Town, you’ll have endless options to surf at beaches like Muizenberg, Big Bay, and Long Beach to name a few. But going on Google and typing in “Cape Town surf spots” isn’t the only thing to focus on finding the perfect spot. Remember to consider things like checking the weather, swell size predictions, and wind direction.

Why surf in Cape Town?

Whether you’re learning how to surf or you’re a seasoned surfer, Cape Town basically has a wave for everyone in and around the lively city. Not only are there stunning beaches, each one offers something unique for each and every surfer. So you are guaranteed to find your go-to spot in Cape Town.

Although Cape Town’s water is on the colder side, it warms up significantly during December and January, but the best time to be in the water is wintertime when there are lekker waves to catch.

Why Surfing in the Winter is Best

• Fewer people

• Blue skies and windless days

• Whale sightings

Housekeeping Rules When You’re New to Cape Town Beaches

Remember that although most Cape Town locals are fine with newbies joining in on the mother city surfing, there are a few housekeeping rules to ensure you don’t ruffle anyone’s feathers unnecessarily. Keep in mind the following:

• Since locals can be very protective of their surf spots, if you’re a grommet (Young surfer. Sometimes shortened to “grom”. Can also refer to children in general, not just those who surf), don’t think you can paddle out to the line-up whenever you feel like it. Rather paddle out through the channel where waves aren’t breaking yet.

• The surfer which is closest to the peak has the right of way.

• Have respect for the beach, so don’t litter and make a mess.

• Make sure you keep your eye on shark flags (courtesy of Shark Spotters) and know what they mean when you’re in the water. Shark attacks have occurred in Cape Peninsula waters in the past. Safety is crucial.

   

Top 6 Surfing Spots to Surf in Cape Town

1. Muizenberg

Experience level: Beginner

If you’re new at surfing or you’re new in town, Muizenberg is the beach to visit and it’s only a 30-minute drive from Cape Town city centre. Home to the well-known Surfer’s Corner with ‘smooth ride’ waves, this surf spot is one of the hotspots for all levels of surfers.

This laid-back surf spot may not have the biggest waves but once the swell is pumping, all surfers can join in on the fun any day of the year, hot or cold. Muizenberg is any longboarder’s surfing wonderland.

If you don’t have your own gear, there are local shops close to the beach or in the area where you can rent surfboards, wetsuits, and even book some surfing lessons.

After catching a few waves on your own or your surf lesson, there are several coffee shops, restaurants, and bars available for you to relax and wind down post-surf.

2. Llandudno

Experience level: Intermediate + Advanced

Llandudno is not only known for its gorgeous sunsets but it’s one of the best surfing hot spots in Cape Town. Sitting around the corner from Camps Bay towards Hout Bay, Llandudno either has incredible waves or average ones, there’s no in-between.

This spot is picture-perfect with its azure water and white sandy beach with large boulders arising from all angles.

The best times to visit this spot is during spring and summer months when the storms haven’t ruined the sand. This surf spot is best for advanced surfers as it has unpredictable hollow barrels not ideal for beginners.

3. Bloubergstrand

Experience level: Intermediate

If you’re interested in having one of the best views of Table Mountain while surfing, Bloubergstrand is the spot to be.

With a beach that stretches on and on, the beach is not just known for surfing. Kitesurfers travel from all corners of the world to catch the strong southern winds of Cape Town.

As there is no shelter on the beach from the northeast winds, it’s better to make the best of the situation and surf to your heart’s content. With both wave breaks from the left and right, surfers will have the best of both worlds. As some waves break close to the shore, experienced surfers will fare better hear.

4. Big Bay

Experience level: All Levels

Big bay, situated between Melkbos and Bloubergstrand, is the perfect spot for surfers of all levels. About a 30-minute drive from Cape Town City Centre, Big Bay is best surfed when the wind is blowing from the east to south-east.

This spot is well-known for its friendly locals and coffee shop across the beach for a post-surf chill session.

I just had the most epic Thursday afternoon filled with surfing and great people but let me start from the beginning. 

I was picked up at the McDonald’s pickup point in Observatory by one of Stoked School of Surf’s vans and one of the coolest drivers I’ve ever met, Cavin. We drove to Surfer’s Corner in Muizenberg where the waves were just right for beginner surfers like myself. 

Putting on my Wetsuit

Now let me tell you, I have never worn a wetsuit before. Putting on a wetsuit was the first challenge of my whole surf lesson experience. When the suit was less than halfway, I wondered if I should give up. Nonetheless, I persisted, and a few minutes later, I was suited up.

Once the suit is on, it feels a bit tight, but when you’re in the water, it becomes more flexible, so don’t worry too much. 
 

Warming Up

After the wetsuit challenge, I joined the other surfing newbies in the group on the beach. Wade let us run across the beach and do some quick warm-up exercises and stretches to help prevent injuries during our lesson. Caution, the suit gets warm.
 

Standing Up

Once we were warmed up, it was time to practice standing up on the board (luckily just on the sand for the moment). Wade showed us his method of popping up. For me, it was like doing burpees, and my arms quickly got tired after doing a few of these. 

After practising the popup, Wade took us through a safety briefing. He explained about the sharks, what the shark flag colours mean, and other safety tips. 

Then it was finally time to go into the water!
 

Carrying Your Board

Now facing the third challenge (after getting the wetsuit on and practising our popups), was carrying my surfboard. Wade showed us two ways to carry our boards. I have short arms, and the wind was strong, so I found that both methods were a bit tricky.

It took me a few tries, but I managed to safely get my board in the water without hurting myself or someone else. 
 

Surfing

When you see surfers in the movies or on television, they make it look like it’s the most straightforward task in the world. Let me tell you, it’s harder than it seems and your arms WILL turn to jelly after your two-hour lesson.

Standing up on your board in the sand, yeah I can do that. Popping up while on the water is another matter.

My biggest challenge for my entire surfing lesson was timing it just right to get on my board and be ready for the wave. I was either too early, or I was too late, and the wave tumbled me over like I was only a little teddy bear. 

I practised on my own as much as I could, but I was glad when it was my turn to get help from Wade. He helped me get on my board and yelled words of encouragement each time the wave sent me on my way. 
 

Final Thoughts

I guarantee you will hit yourself with your surfboard, you WILL have saltwater everywhere (inside and out), but I promise you’ll make the best memories that will stay with you until you’re old and grey! I absolutely LOVED surfing. Even though I was so bad at it, I had so much fun. Just being in the water and playing around on the board was heaps of fun.

Yeah, you’ll be hit by a few big waves when you’re not looking, but each time you’ll get back up on your board and try again, and each time will be better than the last. 

It was especially great how helpful our instructor was and how stoked they were to teach us how to surf. From driving to the beach to being dropped off back at the pickup point, I’ve felt welcome and treated as part of the team. 

So you’ve done a few lessons or consider yourself an intermediate surfer and think you have the backline sussed. Now you find yourself in Cape Town without surf equipment and the waves are pumping…there are several options available to you. Find the description below which best suits your surfing ability (be honest with yourself and rather downplay your skill level!) and then choose the option that best suits you:

1. Beginner surfer: You have had a handful of lessons and have yet to understand how to handle a surfboard in waves, you still need an introduction to surf etiquette, rips and currents, how to ride a wave left and right etc.

• We DON”T recommend renting out equipment but rather that you take a surf lesson with a qualified instructor for you to get the most out of your experience. You could otherwise find yourself frustrated…or worse…injured. Book our ‘Experienced the Stoke’ surf lesson now and get tips from qualified coaches before venturing into the surf alone.

2. Intermediate surfer: You can paddle out on your own, ‘read’ the surf, attempt an angular take off and ride down the line. You have a good grasp of surf etiquette and an  understanding of rips and currents.

• You can rent gear from one of the beachfront shops listed below or sign up for a ‘Solo-Stoked’ private lesson to improve specific skills.

3. Advanced surfer: You surf 3-5 times a week. Your default page when you open your web browser is a surf forecasting website and your work productivity is directly proportional to the swell direction and offshore winds. Your surfboard is an extension of you but since you find yourself in Cape Town on a quick trip or were unwilling to pay the hefty board fees to bring boards on the plane-you have an idea but no gear.

• • • We recommend you hire a car for the day and rent gear from Vudu Surf if you’re based in the city or Kommetjie Surf Shop if you’re down south, and cruise the Peninsula for a spot that faces the correct direction for the prevailing swell direction and winds that day.
    • OR you sign up for our surf guiding service and based on the kind of waves and board you regularly surf, we will guide you to the best spot on the day of your booking.

Below is a list of places you can rent surf gear in Cape Town:

City:

Vudu Surf Shop offers rental options where you can drive around with the board for the day/multiple days. We only recommend this option for an advanced surfer who knows where to go and how to handle themselves in the Cape surf.

Muizenberg:

There are a plethora of stores on the beachfront but our pick is Lifestyle Surf Shop. They have a range of boards and wetsuits and as a family owned and managed business, the store assistants have a great approachable vibe. Please note that when renting you will be restricted to their store hours and surfing only Muizenberg as gear may not leave the beachfront area and is rented on an hourly basis.

Big Bay:

There are many places to rent gear along the beachfront. We don’t have any particular place we could specifically recommend however, just get down there and take a look at the quality of gear on offer before making your decision on which store to rent from. Also just remember to take store hours into consideration when planning your surf time.

Kommetjie:

Kommetjie Surf Shop is located down in the surf village of Kommetjie, 45 minutes away from the city area and on the way down to Cape Point. There are some good breaks in the area, but again only suitable for those who have an excellent level of surfing ability and a thorough understanding of surf etiquette. Don’t paddle out here if you’re still a beginner please.

Camps Bay:

If you’re staying in Camps Bay, are an advanced surfer and looking to rent equipment, we can offer board rentals delivered to your villa/hotel. Only call us if you have the experience described in the ‘advanced’ surfer section above. We do not rent to anyone without the skill level required to get themselves safely out at the city beaches (Camps Bay, Sea Point, Llandudno). These beaches ARE not friendly for beginner or intermediate surfers! Contact us should you match these criteria and we will bring the gear to you…

The Right Fit

So you’ve completed the 4-surf lesson package, know where the best surfing spots are, and now you’re ready to buy your very own surfboard.  

But before you do, it is important to consider a surfboard that is a good fit for you and your body type. Your age, weight, and fitness level should also be considered, as well as the types of waves you surf, and your overall ability. 

Your surfboard is a mirror of you, so pick the one that is appropriate for the surfer you are now, and not the one you want to become.

So before you fork out the cash, consider these tips that will help you make the right decision:

Dings and Things That Go Bump

For those just starting out, it’s best to opt for something a little more ‘off the shelf’ because it’s likely to get bashed around and ruined within seconds. While you are learning to surf, you will probably ding your board regularly if you surf often, so it’s advisable to not spend a fortune on your first board. For this reason, consider a user-friendly, foam soft-top until you are skilled enough to move up to the standard epoxy and hand-shaped boards favoured by the pros.

The Longer, The Better

Every surfer should ideally start out on a longboard. Learning how to surf can be a frustrating process, and the frustration is only compounded when trying to learn on the wrong board. A longboard provides novice surfers with ample surface area that will catch waves with ease and feel stable on the takeoff. 

When our students ask us which board to buy, we generally recommend that the longer the board, the better. A board that will provide flotation and allows for easy paddling, and stands at least a foot taller than you, should be considered. 

Volume

Many people make the mistake of buying a surfboard that is too small (in length and volume) for their level of proficiency. 

The most important feature you should look for when buying your first surfboard is volume. A board with a larger volume is more buoyant, and therefore floats and paddles with relative ease. Choose a board that you can surf in rookie conditions, i.e mushy, onshore waves to waist-high offshore waves. For the first 3-6 months, you really shouldn’t worry about turning or doing manoeuvres anyway, so focus on catching as many waves as possible, improving your confidence and board control, and learn how to ‘turtle-roll’. 

A good average size board for a novice surfer would be around 7 feet long and 19-21 inches wide and at least 2-3 inches thick.

Making Headway

Once you have mastered the art of riding an unbroken wave to the left and the right, it might be time to move on to the next suitable board. 

If you started on a longboard, consider a minimal (7.4 – 8.0ft). If you started out on a minimal, consider progressing to a hybrid/funboard (6.10-7.2ft). These boards usually have a wide nose, making it easy to get into the flatter, softer waves and once you’re on your feet, they are more responsive and manoeuvrable than a longboard. 

Funboards are a good cross between a long and shortboard. They are easier to turn than a longboard but are much more buoyant than a shortboard making it fairly easy to catch a wave.

Short and Sweet

Once you have mastered the minimal/hybrid, you may be ready for the next step to a shortboard (6.10ft or shorter). Usually recognized for having a pointed nose and three fins, the shortboard packs a punch with its ability to cut through waves seamlessly with tight turns and vertical mobility.  

Whilst a shortboard makes it easier to duck and dive in bigger surf, it requires a lot more stamina to gain enough speed to get into the breaks. 

By the time you are ready to move on to a shortboard, your paddle fitness should be at an advanced level, or you might end up frustrated not being able to get into the action. 

If it Feels Right, it is Right

Buying a surfboard is really down to personal choice. This is only a guide and the progression that we at Stoked School of Surf have followed naturally.

Some of you may feel that longboarding is the kind of surfing you enjoy most and rather than moving onto a shorter board, you may opt to progress your longboarding style i.e. learn to ‘sidestep’ and ‘hang ten’. 

Whilst some of you may want to surf in more critical parts of the wave, pulling off big turns and floaters, others might want to progress to a shorter board with a lot more flexibility.  We would recommend that the day your board starts to feel unresponsive, sluggish and is no longer ‘working’ for you, it may be time to upgrade to a new board.

All Shapes and Sizes

Before you buy your first board, head down to a beach where you can hire boards and test several lengths and volumes. Once you have decided on what it is that you want, we recommend forming a good relationship with a local shaper who can guide you to choose the correct board as your surfing progresses. 

Spend time chatting to your shaper, discussing what kind of waves you like to surf, showing him pictures or even better, video footage of how you surf so that he/she can understand what board you need. 

Finding the board that ‘works’ for you can make a substantial difference to your surfing. So before you make that investment, make sure you have been correctly advised.

Thanks to Dave of DVG Shapes for letting us take photos in his factory.