5 Cape Town Sunset Spots to Fall in Love With

One of the highlights of my December Cape Town trip was pausing each night to watch the 8 pm sunsets. I quickly learned that there was no shortage of incredible Cape Town sunset spots to soak in golden hour and watch the sun go down. It became my nightly ritual to explore a new view or head back to a newfound favorite. In Cape Town, the sun sets into the Atlantic Ocean. While you’ll want to make sure you have a sea view, this still leaves plenty of locations. During my explorations, 5 Cape Town sunset spots stood out because they combined views and vibes. Without further ado, I present the best Cape Town sunset spots for your sunset-chasing pleasure.

The Rock: A (semi) secret Cape Town sunset spot

Starting off strong with my all-time favorite find: The Rock. With its mysterious but commanding name, you know you’re going to be in for a good time. To get to The Rock, simply search for “The Rock” on Uber, and let them whisk you high up into the hills. The key word here is “high up”. If you try to walk this one, prepare to have burning legs and lungs. Even if you have a car, you might want to skip driving. Parking is extremely limited, and you don’t want to miss out on the sunset if the spots are full. The Uber will drop you off at a dead end amidst expensive-looking houses.

For a minute you might wonder whether you’ve made it to the right place or not. Walk to the end of the paved road, and you’ll immediately see the view you’ve come for. If you continue a short way down a network of steep downhill dirt paths, you can choose your sunset-watching spot among the many rocks (misleading name, I know). Be careful on the paths as it’s easy to slip and tumble. Luckily there are plenty of watching spots if you’re willing to (carefully) explore a little bit. 

My biggest piece of advice for The Rock is to go early. Try to arrive at least 30 minutes before sunset, for two reasons:

1. The best golden hour in Cape Town. The Rock is nestled high above the Cape Town coastline and offers a fantastic vista of the 12 Apostles, a mountain range forming the back of Table Mountain. This range gets bathed in golden sunlight just before sunset and is almost more stunning than the sunset itself. Go for golden hour, stay for sunset.
2. Snag a comfy spot for sunset watching. Getting to The Rock for golden hour will also help ensure that you get a prime spot for views and/or pictures. The Rock can get busy right at sunset, so it’s nice to go while it’s still a bit quieter for your pick of the area.

If you go to The Rock for golden hour, a small picnic is the perfect way to make the most of your time there. You’ll see plenty of folks set up with cute spreads including snacks, takeout, and even bottles of wine (though not technically legal). Bring your tasty treats, settle in, and watch the light wash over the coast at this awe-inspiring Cape Town sunset spot.

Lion’s Head: A high-effort, high-reward Cape Town sunset spot

Lion’s Head is a classic Cape Town hike, and it makes for a fantastic sunset spot. You can see the imposing peak from just about every angle in town, and a trip to Cape Town isn’t complete without scaling it. The hike is under 3 miles round trip, but is steep and technical at points. Be ready to use all four limbs to tackle ladders and rungs as you near the top. After a heart-pumping climb, you’ll get views of the coastline, city, Signal Hill, and Table Mountain.

Keep in mind that this hike can take 1.5 hours or longer depending on your fitness level and how busy the trail is. Be sure to leave early enough and give yourself plenty of time to catch the sunset. 

If you’re tackling Lion’s Head for sunset, there are a few comfort and safety precautions you’ll want to take:

1. Hike in groups. Lion’s Head can unfortunately be a hotspot for muggings. To stay safe while you chase the sunset, make sure to hike in groups of at least three people.
2. Bring flashlights or headlamps. Since you’re aiming to be on top of the peak for sunset, you’ll be hiking down as it begins to get dark. Particularly given the somewhat technical nature of the ladders and rungs, make sure to bring adequate light sources. Headlamps are best as they leave your hands free for climbing back down.
3. Bring wind-friendly layers. Cape Town is notorious for its wind, and the higher up you go, the windier it gets. If it’s a windy day in the city, make sure you bring a windbreaker or an extra layer for your time at the top of Lion’s Head. Otherwise, you may end up with a very chilly sunset session.

Signal Hill: A popular and accessible Cape Town sunset spot

So you’re looking for a 360-degree sunset viewpoint but aren’t quite ready to haul yourself up Lion’s Head? Signal Hill is the place for you. Signal Hill is a classic Cape Town sunset spot, made extremely accessible by the fact that you can drive up to the top!

Once you make it to the top of Signal Hill, you stroll around and enjoy the 360 degree view. Check out vistas of the city lights, the rugby stadium, Table Mountain, and of course, the coastline. This is another great spot for golden hour, as you can watch the light change across each different angle of the view. If you fall in love with the Signal Hill sunset view, several companies offer paragliding from Signal Hill! If you’re up for some thrill-seeking, a return trip may be in order.

Signal Hill is a well-loved spot and gets busy for sunset. Here are a few things to keep in mind regarding transportation:

1. Plan ahead and expect traffic on the way up Signal Hill. The road has two lanes, one up and one down, and it can get clogged quickly. If you don’t give yourself enough time, you may end up missing the sunset altogether! On my way down from Signal Hill after the sunset, I saw people still trying to make it to the top!
2. If you Uber there, have a safety plan for the ride back. Once sunset is over, everyone wants to get off of Signal Hill. Unfortunately, that means heavy traffic, and Uber drivers are well aware of that. Most Uber drivers will not accept a Signal Hill pickup during sunset traffic unless they have a drop-off on the hill. This means that you’ll either have to get lucky with an Uber, make friends with folks at the top who have an extra space in their car, or head down on foot until you can clear most of the traffic and convince an Uber to come up. Given this slightly uncertain path off the hill, it’s a good idea to do Signal Hill Sunset in groups. You don’t want to be stuck alone on the road in the dark!

Kloof Corner: A hidden gem high above the beaches

If Signal Hil sounds a little too mainstream but Lion’s Head is more than you want to tackle, check out Kloof Corner. Kloof Corner is a Cape Town sunset spot tucked away on a rock shelf of Table Mountain. To get to Kloof Corner, you’ll drive or Uber to the trailhead. Then, you’ll head up a short but steep trail up to the sunset spot. It only took my group about 25 minutes, but got our blood pumping for sure!

Kloof Corner tends to be a little less busy than some of the other spots on this list. Even if there is a crowd, try exploring a bit past the first stopping spot. The long rock shelf means that you’ll likely be able to find a quiet spot for sunset watching. Once again, this is a good spot to go to with a group, as safety comes in numbers. The golden hour view from Kloof Corner is fantastic, so come a bit early with some snacks or takeout, and enjoy a sunset vista with a little bit of cardio built in. 

Saunders’ Rocks: A protected sunset spot for windy Cape Town days

When I showed up in Cape Town in December, I had read about the wind online. However, I wasn’t fully prepared for just how wild the wind could get. Soon enough, I found myself planning my days around the wind forecast. Since I couldn’t bring myself to stay indoors, this included seeking out protected places on the windiest days. Luckily, I hit the jackpot with Saunders’ Rocks.

Saunders’ Rocks Beach is a small beach and rocky area right off the road at the end of Sea Point. Unlike the nearby Clifton beaches, access is easy. There is only a short set of stairs to descend before you reach the beach. Saunders’ Rocks has a small sandy area as well as a protected (but chilly!) tidal pool. The real stars, though, are its rocks. The massive rocks sit right against the ocean and provide a fantastic view of the sunset over the ocean. If you turn your back to the ocean, you get a stunning view of Lions Head rising above the hillside neighborhood.

But the best part of the whole spot is that even if the wind is howling that day, Saunders’ Rocks will be mostly protected from the gale. You can sit back and watch a beautiful Cape Town sunset without worrying that you’ll be blown right off the rocks into the ocean.

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Cape Town is a beautiful city in many regards, and its sunsets are one aspect of this beauty that should absolutely not be missed. With a myriad of sunset-watching locations, pack a picnic, choose your effort level, and prepare to be wowed at one of these Cape Town sunset spots!