Simon's Town walking tour & city guide

Penguins

At Boulders Beach, boardwalks lead to a colony of thousands of African penguins, and you can even swim near them at Foxy Beach.

The peninsula

The main road has Victorian buildings and the naval museum. Chapman's Peak Drive and Cape Point are among the most spectacular coastal drives in the world.

A day in Simon's Town

Start early at Boulders Beach, where boardwalks lead to viewing platforms over a colony of around 3,000 African penguins nesting among the granite boulders. At nearby Foxy Beach and Boulders Beach itself, you can share the water with penguins, swimming between the rocks.

Then walk along St George's Street, the historic main road lined with Victorian buildings, and visit the naval museum. In the afternoon, drive south through the Table Mountain National Park to Cape Point, where a funicular climbs to the old lighthouse above dramatic cliffs.

Good to know

Simon's Town has been a naval base since the British era, and it is still the main base of the South African Navy. The town is about an hour's drive from Cape Town, and the suburban train along the False Bay coast is a scenic option.

The penguins are an endangered species; keep your distance and never feed them. On the way, stop in Kalk Bay, a fishing village with colorful boats, antique shops and a lively harbor.