Set right between the glistening ocean below and the impressive mountains above, Muizenberg is the perfect seaside town to spend a few relaxing hours.
It takes less than an hour from Cape Town’s CBD to this vibey area by train, and is always bustling with locals and visitors alike. The beach is wide open and arguably Cape Town’s best swimming beach. It is flat, has generally calm waters (so is child-friendly) and stretches for kilometres all the way to Gordon’s Bay.
It is here that’s considered to be the birthplace of surfing in South Africa and age-old surfers and novices pay homage to this history by returning to these shores (and waves) daily for their fix of barrels and dumpers.
During season, Muizenberg’s streets come alive with bustling tourists enjoying a day at the seaside. With a medley of restaurants and cafés to choose from like Closer, Knead, Coffee Sha-Bean and Empire Café every taste is catered for.
Families can enjoy various activities within the area. Spending some quality-time together at the beach guarantees everyone has a fun time. The Muizenberg Waterslides have been a favourite with the children and adults for years now, and so too are the two Putt-Putt courses right next to the super tubes. There are also wonderfully clean and well-maintained public pools nearby the child-friendly jungle gym.
For the adventurous there are a number of surf & adventure operators right 
along the beachfront. Pop into Gary’s Surf School, Lifestyle Surf Shop or the Surf Shack Surf Shop and they’ll get you kitted out and in the water in no time.
Otherwise you could talk a walk along (and into) the eclectic mix of stores in Palmer Road. With a jewelry design studio, Rasta-run coffee shop, a pizza place and secondhand shop among others, you’re sure to find something you’ll like here.
Accommodation is as varied as it is plentiful with B&B’s, self-catering flats and Guesthouses offer visitors great rates, comfort and in the case of Bluebottle Guesthouse, the most amazing views.
For the intrigued, Muizenberg is home to many a historical site: The Het Posthys is the oldest building on the coast of False Bay, the Battle of Muizenberg site is nearby, Rhodes Cottage, the recently revamped Casa Labia Museum, even the Edwardian-style Railway Station is worth a visit. Make sure you take along your camera!
If you feel a bit overwhelmed about where to go, how to get there and what 
best sites to see, the Cape Town Tourism Muizenberg Visitor Information Centre, situated right next to the public pools, has delightful and friendly staff who know what they’re talking about and are always ready to help you plan your holiday with a smile. Make sure you give them a visit, or call them on 021 7879140
Jade Scully is a copywriter excited about writing copy and stories, blogging about the world and editing. She currently and regularly publishes her stories on a number of blogs. Jade loves animals and hopes to begin writing copy for the animal rescue charity TEARS as her contribution to the cause.
