Discover the best picnic spots in Cape Town for families and friends

Picnic spots in Cape Town provide stunning backdrops for relaxing and socialising outdoors, whether coastal beauty or botanical tranquillity. Experience a perfect blend of adventure and leisure amidst this vibrant city's natural wonders.

Key takeaways

• Cape Town's diverse picnic spots help you indulge in delicious treats as you soak in the fresh air and stunning views.
• Notable spots include iconic natural landmarks like Kloof Corner and Signal Hill, offering panoramic views of the city, Table Mountain, and the ocean.
• Grub & Vine Norval offers an upscale picnic experience with gourmet baskets in the Norval Foundation Sculpture Gardens, ideal for foodies and art enthusiasts.
• Coastal areas such as Bakoven Beach, Saunders Rocks Beach, and Oudekraal Nature Reserve offer stunning ocean views and quieter picnic settings.

Best picnic spots in Cape Town

Cape Town's diverse picnic spots offer something for all tastes, from mountain vistas to hidden beaches. Find the ultimate picnic experience amid scenic landscapes and well-kept parks below:

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1. Grub & Vine Norval

• Address: 4 Steenberg Road, Tokai, Cape Town
• Open hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 12 pm – 5 pm (November to April)
• Entry fee: R590 for two, R295 for one
• Contacts: +27 87 153 5244
• Social media: Instagram, Facebook

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Grub & Vine Norval offers a delightful picnic experience in the Norval Foundation Sculpture Gardens in Cape Town. The picnic venue has lush lawns scattered with striking outdoor artworks. Chef Matt Manning brings his signature elevated bistro flair to the picnic.

2. Silvermine Nature Reserve

• Address: Table Mountain National Park
• Open hours: 7:00 am to 5:00 pm from September to April
• Entry fee: R40 for South African adults and R160 for standard foreign adults
• Phone: +27 21 712 7471
• Social media: Facebook

Silvermine Nature Reserve is one of the excellent picnic places in Cape Town. It is ideal for nature lovers who enjoy swimming and easy walking trails with scenic dam views. An entry conservation fee is also charged, but no credit card facilities are available at the gate.

3. Bakoven Beach

• Address: Edge of Camps Bay
• Open hours: Until sunset
• Entry fee: Free

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Located on the edge of Camps Bay, you will find this cute little, beautiful picnic spot, Bakoven Beach, known for its gorgeous sunsets, serene atmosphere, and stunning views of the Twelve Apostles mountain range, Lion's Head, and the ocean.

Locals love the serene atmosphere and rocky picnic spots, perfect for smaller groups or couples. You can picnic on the rocks or the grassy areas.

4. Table Mountain

• Address: Table Mountain
• Open hours: 24 hours
• Entry fee: Free

What better way to enjoy the scenic view of the glamorous Cape Town city than on top of Table Mountain? Enjoy the Mountain's aerial view; you can access it using the infamous cable cars.

The spot is picture-perfect for day picnics, though the plateau can get busy. Early visits are recommended for some peace and tranquillity.

5. Glen Beach

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• Address: Camps Bay area of Cape Town
• Open hours: 24 hours
• Entry fee: Free

Nestled in the middle of Camps Bay Beach and Clifton Beaches, Glen Beach is one of the perfect picnic areas in Cape Town for families. Its gorgeous snow-white sandy beach offers a serene place to unwind on your evenings while you watch the spectacular sunset over the ocean. Visitors enjoy relaxed beachside picnics with easy access between Clifton and Camps Bay beaches.

6. The Clifton Beaches

• Address: Along Victoria Road, Cape Town
• Open hours: 24 hours,
• Entry fee: Free

The Clifton Beaches are among the best picnic spots in Cape Town, and they are appreciated for their clear waters and beautiful sands. You can visit them at any time of the day, but they can get crowded during peak times.

There are no nearby cafes or restaurants, so bringing drinks and food is advisable. However, you can find vendors selling ice cream or cold beverages.

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7. Saunders Rocks Beach

• Address: Along Beach Road in Sea Point/Bantry Bay, Cape Town, South Africa
• Open hours: 24 hrs
• Entry fee: Free

Saunders Rocks Beach is one of the free picnic spots in Cape Town. It is known for its accessibility and scenic views and is ideal for casual picnics. The spot offers fantastic sunset views. Additionally, you can swim in the rock pool to cool down.

8. Big Bay Beach

• Address: Otto du Plessis Drive, Bloubergstrand 7441, South Africa.
• Open hours: 9 am to 6 pm during summer and 8 am to 5 pm during winter
• Entry fee: Free

Big Bay Beach is an excellent picnic spot due to its beautiful white sand, clear blue water, and stunning views. The place is family-friendly with white sand, clear waters, playgrounds, and lawns for non-sandy picnics. It also has a perfectly maintained lawn if you are uncomfortable picnicking in the sand.

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9. Oudekraal Nature Reserve

• Address: Table Mountain National Park
• Open hours: 7:00 am to 6:00 pm
• Entry fee: R40 for locals, R80 for SADC citizens, and for internationals R180

Oudekraal Nature Reserve is a hidden Table Mountain National Park gem. You can relax, enjoying perfect views of the Twelve Apostles and Lion's Head at a distance. It is praised for its scenic beauty and peaceful environment.

10. Dalebrook Tidal Pool

• Address: Dalebrook Road, St. James, 7946, South Africa
• Open hours: 7 am – 7 pm
• Entry fee: Free

Dalebrook Tidal Pool is a perfect picnic area offering beautiful pools along the ocean. Visitors can enjoy swimming in the tidal pools, exploring the rock pools, and taking in the scenic views of the ocean, making it a family favourite.

11. Green Point Park

• Address: 1 Fritz Sonnenberg Road
• Open hours: 7 am – 7 pm
• Entry fee: Free
• Phone: +27 21 444 4258
• Social media: Instagram

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Greenpoint Park is an excellent picnic spot in Cape Town, offering designated picnic areas, open lawns, playgrounds, a golf course, and a beautiful biodiversity garden. The free-to-enter urban park has an inside cafe and multiple access points.

12. The Company Gardens

• Address: Cape Town CBD
• Open hours: 7 am to late afternoon
• Entry fee: Free

The Company Gardens is a free picnic spot in Cape Town, ideal for a company picnic. It offers a central, beautiful location with ample space, shade, and a historic atmosphere for team-building, relaxation, and food. The spot is appreciated for its accessibility and shade and is excellent for short breaks.

13. Kirstenbosch Gardens

• Address: Botanical Garden in Cape Town
• Open hours: 08:00 to 19:00 during summer and 08:00 to 18:00 during winter
• Entry fee: R230 (standard adult)
• Phone: +27 21 799 8783
• Social media: Instagram

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Visit Kirstenbosch Gardens in Cape Town for a picnic experience. Its lush botanical gardens are situated at the foot of Table Mountain, near Constantia. However, guests cannot bring picnic furniture into the botanical gardens, making it an excellent spot if you are comfortable sitting on a blanket or mat.

14. Signal Hill

• Address: Next to Lion's Head and Table Mountain
• Open hours: 24 hours
• Entry fee: Free

Signal Hill is a perfect picnic venue in Cape Town, especially for its stunning panoramic views of the city, ocean, and Table Mountain. If you are a photography lover, you can visit this spot and watch the sunset as you serenade the experience by taking lovely photos.

Highly recommended for families and nature lovers. It can get busy, but the ample space allows for quiet spots.

15. Kloof Corner

• Address: Next to Table Mountain
• Open hours: Sunrise to sunset
• Entry fee: Free

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What better way to end your vacation than with a sunset picnic in spectacular scenic surroundings at Kloof Corner? Situated next to the iconic Table Mountain, Kloof Corner offers a perfect picnic spot to watch the sunset while you experience the beauty of Cape Town's landscape.

Trivia

• The Company Gardens were established in 1652 as a vegetable garden for Dutch settlers.
• Signal Hill, a popular picnic spot, is famous for its "Canon of Noon" tradition, where a canon is fired every day at noon to mark the time.
• Kirstenbosch Gardens is part of the Cape Floristic Region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Conclusion

With numerous picnic spots in Cape Town to choose from, every outing becomes special. Whether seeking solitude or lively gatherings, there is a perfect place. Cape Town's picnic scenes captivate every visitor, from artistic gardens to coastal gems.

READ MORE: Top 20 scenic picnic spots in Johannesburg you should visit

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Briefly.co.za shared an article about Johannesburg's top 20 scenic picnic spots. Johannesburg, South Africa's biggest city and the capital of Gauteng province, is full of culture, creativity, and epic nightlife.

Additionally, it has some beautiful and peaceful spots to relax. Individuals who want to wind up a tiring week can pack a picnic basket and a blanket and take some time off to relax and rest in one of the cool picnic spots in Johannesburg.

Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.

Source: Briefly News