Discovering Llandudno Beach | A Hidden Gem In Cape Town

Want to visit a stunning, secluded beach in Cape Town? Visit Llandudno Beach, one of Cape Town’s most intimate, beautiful beaches. This small, quiet beach, with its soft, golden sand, is framed by picturesque granite boulders, and backed by the incredible Twelve Apostles Mountain range. Adding to its ambiance, it sits at the bottom of a winding road, lined with luxurious villas and beach bungalows. It is a little difficult to access, as there is limited parking, and the beach is natural, with limited amenities, but this just adds to its beauty. This post covers Llandudno Beach, how to get here, and what to expect.

Llandudno Beach

Llandudno beach is so unique, it really is the perfect beach to add to your list while in Cape Town. While the more popular beaches at Camps Bay, to the north, and Hout Bay, to the south, are still beautiful, they are so much busier.

It really feels like you’ve discovered a secret beach when you visit Llandudno. Even walking down the sandy, somewhat haphazard steps from the parking area provides a sense of discovery, as you walk through heavy brush with glimpses of the ocean before you.

When you finally step out onto the beach, you are not disappointed. The sand is soft, thick, and clean, perfect for sunbathing, picnicking, or walking on the beach. The brilliant Atlantic Ocean shimmers a deep blue before you. It looks inviting, but, like other beaches on the Atlantic here, the water is very, very cold.

The rocky outcrop on the north side of the beach is called the Logies Bay Promontory. It’s full of oversized boulders. Boulders so large it looks like they’ve been tossed here by giants. It’s also dotted with caves. It’s a fun area to explore around the rocks if you have good mobility and a sense of adventure.

This promontory also offers a great view of the beach and the mountains behind it. The most recognizable mountain is pointy Little Lion’s Head, or Klein Leeukoppie (above left). As the name suggestions, it looks similar to Lion’s Head, which is to the north, but is smaller.

Want To Expect At Llandudno

The beach here is a natural beach, meaning there are no formal amenities, like snack bars, although sometimes local vendors are here during peak season renting umbrellas and snacks. To be safe though, it’s really best to bring whatever you need for the day.

The water here may look calm, but is known for its strong currents, so be cautious when getting in. I would not recommend swimming unless the lifeguard is here, which is only during peak season/hours. Plus, as noted above, the Atlantic Ocean is very cold off Cape Town. You may not want to stay in for long, unless you have a wetsuit. When the conditions are right, you’ll see established surfers here enjoying the waves in their wetsuits.

My Visit To Llandudno Beach

I arrived late afternoon in the fall and I felt like I was in the middle of an Abercrombie & Fitch commercial as several groups of beautiful young men and women were running back and forth near the waters edge in their swimsuits. Locals were also walking along the beach, some with their dogs running happily alongside them.

As the beach faces northwest, it’s perfect beach to visit to watch the sunest. In fact, if I lived here, I would probably visit every evening for a sunset walk.

I walked over to the Logies Bay Promontory and walked around on the rocks. If you plan to walk here, wear good shoes for this as in many places you will need to hop between the rounded boulders. There were not as many people wandering this area as walking the beach, but enough that I felt safe here.

I explored the promontory until the sun set, then walked back to the beach. After sunset, everyone left pretty quickly as it gets pretty dark here. The wind also really picked up after sunset. It also picked up some sand with it, so if it’s windy here, be aware you may get sand in your eyes.

How To Get To Llandudno Beach

Llandudno Beach is located about a 25-minute drive south of central Cape Town down Victoria Road. When you see the sign for Llandudno, turn and follow the road down to the parking area. After you park, look for the steps down to the beach.

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The drive from Camps Bay down to Llandudno, passing between the Twelve Apostles Mountain range on your left and the Atlantic Ocean on your right, is beautiful in itself. Especially in the afternoon, after the sun crests over the mountains.

While you can self-drive, there is limited parking for this beach. If parking is full, you may be able to find parking on the street, but that is limited as well. It’s really best to take a taxi here. This is how I arrived and my ride was less than $11 each way, which is reasonable. Taking a taxi also allowed me the chance to really admire the view on the way here. Note that the Cape Town Hop On Hop Off bus does not stop here.

Suggestions After Llandudno

If you’re looking for something to do after visiting Llandudno, here are some suggestions.

• Visit The Leopard Bar at the Twelve Apostles Hotel for a drink. Known for its stunning ocean view and creative cocktails, it’s only a 10-minute drive north of Llandudno (off Victoria Road). This is also one of the more luxurious places to stay in Cape Town as well.
• Head to Camps Bay and try one of the many seaside restaurants there. I did this and ate at Harry’s Beach Restaurant and really enjoyed my meal. Other popular places include Paranga, Surfshack By Kove, and Codfather Seafood & Sushi. Camps Bay is about a 15-minute drive north of Llandudno Beach.

Want More Of Cape Town?

Here are my favorite places in and around Cape Town.

• South Africa Travel Guide
• Top 25 Things To Do In Cape Town | Beaches, Mountains, Wine, & Adventure
• South Africa Wine Country | Constantia, Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Franschhoek
• Hiking Lions Head | A Scenic Ascent To A Breathtaking Summit
• Secret Sunset Rock | Cape Town’s Hidden Gem For Spectacular Sunsets
• Exploring The Woodstock Street Art Scene In Cape Town
• Cool Creative Places | The Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock
• Hiking The Majestic Jonkershoek Nature Reserve
• Inside Robben Island Museum | Walk In Nelson Mandela’s Footsteps
• Penguins, Cliffs, & Coastal Views | Tour To The Cape Of Good Hope
• Castle Of Good Hope Museum | Unveiling Cape Town’s Rich History
• Skydiving In Cape Town | Soaring Over The Cape

Safe Travels!

Julie