Simon's Town

Penguins, History and Seaside Charm

Simons Town sits on the southeastern coast of South Africa, where rugged cliffs meet the Atlantic Ocean. The area has a long history as a naval base and fishing village, giving it a mix of maritime traditions and local culture. Today, visitors can explore historic buildings, watch boats come in at dusk and enjoy views of Table Mountain across the water. Markets sell fresh seafood and nearby beaches provide spots to relax after discovering the town’s layered past.

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Town in South Africa

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 6.1

General Safety:	6
Health & medical:	6
Accessibility:	5
Tap water:	8

Read details

5/5

In Simon’s Town, nearly everyone speaks English fluently, especially in tourism and hospitality. You’ll have no trouble communicating, whether shopping, at restaurants, or asking locals for directions.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 28 Oct 2026

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Simon's Town Summary

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Great for coastal views and wildlife watching. Visit penguin beaches, explore historic harbor streets, enjoy boat trips and walk scenic seaside paths.

Place score

7.7

Best at:

Sea

Natural sites

Cosy towns

Kayak & SUP

Wildlife

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

🌈 8

LGBTQ+

❤️ 7

Couples

South Africa – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type M Type M: Read about power adapters
Currency:	South African Rand (ZAR) £1 ≈ ZAR 22.10
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted in South Africa, and credit cards are commonly used in most establishments. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary in South Africa, with 10-15% being the standard in restaurants. Small tips for taxis and hotel staff are also appreciated.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed in designated areas, including parks and beaches. However, it is generally prohibited in public spaces like streets.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in indoor public spaces and some outdoor areas. Designated smoking zones are available in certain locations.

Freedom Day (27 April)	Celebrates South Africa's first democratic elections
Christmas (25 December)	A major festive holiday in the country

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 10111 (Police), 10177 (Ambulance), 112 (from mobile phones)
Taxi apps:	Bolt, Uber
Other:	South Africa is famous for its wildlife, beautiful landscapes, and rich cultural diversity. It offers a wide range of travel experiences from safaris to coastal adventures.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Simon's Town, South Africa

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High season:	Jan. - April, Oct. - Dec.
Shoulder season:	May, Aug. - Sep.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Southern right whales visible from shore from July to November, best August to October

African penguins at Boulders Beach all year, breeding peaks February to August

Southeaster wind from November to March can make beaches uncomfortable, False Bay side is often more sheltered

Don't miss

🐧 Visit Boulders Beach and meet its famous penguins
🤿 Dive among shipwrecks and marine life in False Bay
⚓ Explore the historic naval museum and harbor area
🚆 Take a scenic train ride along the coast to Cape Town
🌊 Hike up to Cape Point for breathtaking ocean views

You've been here?

Why travel to Simon's Town?

This is the kind of place where you can't help but smile – penguins waddle across golden sands, whales breach offshore and colorful boats bob in the marina. Its labyrinth of streets invites you to stroll past Victorian-era facades, sample local fish ‘n chips and breathe in that fresh Atlantic air. Boulders Beach’s famous penguin colony is a true highlight you’ll never forget. Come for the laidback ambiance, the friendly mix of locals and visitors and the epic coastal scenery. If you love maritime stories, relaxed cafés with harbor views, gentle hikes or simply a swim with penguins, Simon’s Town is pure joy. But fair warning: the small scale means it gets crowded on sunny weekends and public holidays and parking can be tough. Plus, those penguins? Adorable, but their colony can be smelly at times.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 South African Naval Museum
2 Saint George's Street
3 Just Nuisance Statue

🎡Places for activities

1 Seal Island
2 Miller's Point
3 False Bay Yacht Club

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Boulders Beach
This coastal gem in South Africa features golden sands and dramatic cliffs overlooking the Atlantic. Boulders Beach is famous for its penguin colony, offering visitors a unique chance to observe these charming birds in their natural habitat.
2 Long Beach
3 Seaforth Beach

🛍️Shopping

1 Harbour Bay Shopping Mall

🎈Events

Simon's Town Spring Festival
Simon's Town Carnival
Navy Festival
Heritage Day Celebrations
Quayside Christmas Market
Penguin Festival
Blessing of the Fleet
Classic Car Show
Maritime Heritage Celebrations
Blues Music by the Sea

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Visit Boulders Beach for African penguins.
Drive scenic Chapman's Peak route from Cape Town; stop for coastal views and photography opportunities.
Explore Naval Museum and historic St George's Street; join guided walking tours for maritime insights.
Book kayak tour to spot dolphins and seals up close; whale watching peaks June to November season.

How to travel to Simon's Town

Cape Town International Airport is the nearest major hub (about 45km). From Cape Town, take the scenic coastal train to Simon’s Town station or drive via the M4 (the route is stunning). Buses and organized shuttles are also options. Day trippers often combine the journey with Chapman's Peak Drive or a trip to Cape Point.

Access summary

From Cape Town International Airport (CPT): Taxi/shuttle drive, about 40–60 minutes.
From Cape Town city: Scenic coastal drive or taxi, usually 40–60 minutes.
From Cape Town city: Suburban train via Fish Hoek to Simon's Town, around 2 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Simon's Town

Charming guesthouses, boutique hotels and cozy B&Bs dominate, many with ocean views. Some are historical buildings with character, offering great breakfasts. Budget travelers can find hostels and family-run lodges. Book early in high season; camping is available nearby but not in the town itself.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Tintswalo Boulders

9.5

Chartfield Guesthouse

Simon's Town Guest House

9.6

Penguinden Accommodation and Apartments

Whale View Manor & Spa

8.7

Albatross House

9.6

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Simon's Town

Walking is a joy in the compact town center; to reach beaches, caves and hiking trails, join bike tours or rent scooters. Taxis, local shuttles and the rail line connect key spots. Ubers and Cape Town’s train service link Simon’s Town to surrounding areas. Parking can be competitive, especially on weekends – aim to arrive early or use public transit.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-43 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 43% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-2 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to ZAR) is 2% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Cape Town, South Africa - 30 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£44	£93	£224
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£23	£45	£90
🍝 Food per day	£17	£43	£120
🚕 Transportation per day	£4	£5	£15

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£19
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£9.50
🍟 Fast food combo	£4.20
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£6
☕ Cappuccino	£1.80
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£2.40

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.90
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£8.50
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.05

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£6.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£29
🤧 Cold medication	£4.40
💇 Basic haircut	£8.50

Safety information overview

General safety

Simon’s Town is among South Africa’s safest towns with low crime rates, especially in tourist areas. Standard street smarts apply; watch your valuables and avoid isolated areas after dark.

Health & Medical

Basic clinics and pharmacies are available in town; for more comprehensive medical care, Cape Town’s hospitals are close. No special vaccinations required, but carry routine travel medicines. Beaches and water are generally clean.

Accessibility

Historic buildings and uneven pavements may challenge those with mobility needs; some new hotels and attractions offer good wheelchair access. Most beaches are walkable and boardwalks are generally accessible.

Tap water

Tap water in Simon's Town is safe to drink, but public water fountains are limited. Always carry a reusable bottle, especially during outdoor activities and in the hot, dry summer months.