Fourth Beach

About Fourth Beach

Clifton Beaches are four small Atlantic coves below Victoria Road in Cape Town, numbered First through Fourth from north to south. The City of Cape Town describes Clifton Fourth as one of South Africa's most popular beaches and a protected cove near Camps Bay. The four-beach sequence is the attraction rather than one uninterrupted strand: granite outcrops separate the sand into distinct pockets, and access descends from the road above. Daily: unrestricted public coastal access; no fixed gate hours.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

What's inside

A Clifton visit consists of the four beaches, their stair approaches and the facilities documented at Clifton Fourth. The city lists a tidal pool, toilets, limited parking, lifeguards, safe swimming and water-sport use at Fourth Beach. Environmental programmes, interpretive signs and lifesaving training also operate there. The remaining coves provide different stretches of sand but do not share one central promenade or indoor visitor centre. No scheduled weekly closure day. Temporary swimming restrictions may be imposed for posted pollution warnings, dangerous currents or waves, or official lifesaving demarcation. Lifeguard cover is a separate seasonal service: December through the end of March, scheduled 10:00–18:00.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

How long to spend

The City of Cape Town does not publish a recommended visit duration for Clifton Beaches. Time depends on whether the stop covers one cove, a swim at Fourth Beach, the tidal pool or a walk between several beaches. Reaching the sand involves stairs from the elevated road, and the return climb adds time that a map view can hide. Weather, Atlantic water conditions, parking and available beach space also change the pace. Free general beach access; no general-admission ticket is required. South African coastal-access rules prohibit charging for access to coastal public property without ministerial approval.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Season and crowds

Clifton Fourth has lifeguards during Cape Town's Blue Flag season, which the city identifies as December through the end of March. Summer brings the formal lifeguard period but also pressure on the limited parking above the coves. Visit while there is enough daylight for the stair descent, beach activity and climb back to Victoria Road. Daily: unrestricted public coastal access; no fixed gate hours. The City of Cape Town explicitly states that Clifton 4th Beach has no disability access. The four beaches are reached from Victoria Road by narrow, steep stairways.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Tickets

The City of Cape Town does not publish a general visitor admission ticket for Clifton Fourth Beach on its facility page. The page links a municipal tariff booklet for booking facilities, which is different from ordinary beach access. Parking, organised activities, commercial use or booked municipal services may involve separate rules or charges. Free general beach access; no general-admission ticket is required. South African coastal-access rules prohibit charging for access to coastal public property without ministerial approval. The City of Cape Town explicitly states that Clifton 4th Beach has no disability access.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Getting there

Clifton Fourth Beach is on Victoria Road in Clifton, between central Cape Town and Camps Bay. The city lists parking but warns that capacity is limited, and the beach itself has no disability access. Use the MyCiTi Clifton 4th stop on Victoria Road. Its current timetable shows routes 108 and 109, with services toward Adderley, Hangberg and Hout Bay. From Victoria Road, access to the sand is down narrow, steep stairs; there is no step-free route to Clifton 4th Beach. The four beaches are reached from Victoria Road by narrow, steep stairways.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

What to watch out for

Clifton Fourth has no disability access, and parking above the beach is limited. Lifeguards operate during the Blue Flag season rather than as a stated year-round guarantee. Dogs are not allowed from November through March; outside that period the city permits dogs to run free. The City of Cape Town explicitly states that Clifton 4th Beach has no disability access. Clifton 4th Beach has toilets, a tidal pool and parking, but the City describes parking as limited. There are four coves, named Clifton 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Beach, separated by large granite boulders.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Photography

The City of Cape Town does not publish blanket rules for ordinary visitor photography at Clifton Fourth on its facility page. Private snapshots from the sand and the elevated approaches should respect other beach users and lifeguard operations. Keep cameras clear of water and blowing sand, avoid blocking stairways, and never enter unsafe surf or climb rocks for a frame when local signs or lifeguards advise against it. There are four coves, named Clifton 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Beach, separated by large granite boulders. They lie below Victoria Road on Cape Town’s Atlantic Ocean side, near Camps Bay.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Where it is

• 2 hours

  17 min walk

  Camps Bay

  • Must see
  • Activity
• 20 min

  18 min walk

  Lion's Head

  • Must see
  • Viewpoint
• 20 min

  31 min walk

  Kloof Corner

  • Must see
  • Viewpoint

External links