Fish Hoek

Fish Hoek is a picturesque coastal town situated about halfway down the Cape Peninsula, between Cape Town and Simon's Town. It is renowned for its friendly hospitality and one of the best swimming beaches in the Western Cape. The town offers a quieter alternative to central Cape Town while providing easy access to major attractions like Boulders Beach penguin colony and Cape Point. Traditional fishing and angling coexist with surfing, kayaking, sailing, and sunbathing.

Fish Hoek is accessible by Metrorail suburban railway from Cape Town to the north and Simon's Town to the south. The train link is a safe and affordable option for travelers. Uber is also available as a transportation option. Longbeach Mall is about 4 km from the beach on Kommetjie Road (M65), accessible by frequent buses and taxis from the train station.

Fish Hoek town centre (the area around the beach, Main Road and train station) is small enough to be covered on foot easily. Valyland Shopping Centre is about 15 minutes walk from the beach up Recreation Road. Longbeach Mall is just over 4 km from the beach, westwards on Kommetjie Road (M65), with frequent buses and taxis leaving from the train station. Uber is a very safe and affordable way to travel around Fish Hoek.

Fish Hoek is popular year-round, with peak visitation on sunny days when the beach gets jam-packed. Whale watching is rated as excellent, with southern right whales commonly seen in False Bay. The area is a few minutes drive from the Boulders Beach penguin colony. Summer months (December-February) offer the best beach weather but also the most crowded.

A wide variety of accommodation types are available in Fish Hoek, from self-catering apartments to guest houses and hotels. Accommodation options include luxury options like Tudor House by the Sea with views over False Bay, and more affordable B&Bs like 108onClovelly. Self-catering cottages at A Whale of a Time start from R895 per cottage sleeping 4-6 guests.

Seafood is plentiful and affordable in Fish Hoek, especially hake which is caught locally. There is an excellent selection of dining opportunities with multiple coffee shops, restaurants, snack bars and take-aways. Fish Hoek is a dry town, meaning there are no bottle stores selling alcohol, though you can order beer, wine and spirits in restaurants or pubs. This unusual restriction dates back to an 1800s Deed of Grant and was enforced by the residents through The Defenders of Fish Hoek association formed in 1956.

Fish Hoek beach is rated as one of the most beautiful and family-friendly beaches in the Western Cape. Next to the beach is a famous catwalk for exploring rock pools with great views across the bay. A shark spotting system with warning sirens and experimental shark net system protects bathers from occasional Great White sharks. The beach has changing rooms, showers, and an excellent group of lifeguards. From nearby Simon's Town (15 minutes drive), there is shark-diving and boat trips to see seals.

Kalk Bay is a small picturesque fishing village just around the corner with quaint shops and great eateries right on the sea. St James offers safe tidal pools perfect for families with young children. Muizenberg has a magnificent beach ideal for surfing and swimming. Simon's Town is a historical village and South African Naval base with a statue of Just Nuisance, a Teddy Bear Museum, and a Gemstone Factory. Boulders Beach has one of the few land-based African penguin colonies. Cape Point offers two oceans meeting, baboons, wildflowers, and a Game and Nature Reserve. Kommetjie is famous for surfing and crayfishing.

Fish Hoek is rated as a great place for whale-watching. Peers Cave, a short climb up the dunes above 19th Avenue, contains stone tools and remains of nine people including Fish Hoek Man, dated at 12,000 years old and declared a National Monument in 1941. Imhoff's Farm on Kommetjie Road features monkeys, birds, camel rides, a snake park, restaurants, and craft shops. The area offers excellent restaurants in Fish Hoek, Glencairn, Simon's Town, Noordhoek, Muizenberg, and Kalk Bay, all within 15 minutes.

Fish Hoek valley has three principal shopping nodes: Longbeach Mall and Sun Valley Mall in the west, the Fish Hoek Shopping District in the east adjacent to the beach, and Valyland which lies between the two. Woolworths and PicknPay supermarkets are located near the beach. Longbeach Mall hours are Monday-Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday 8:30am-5pm, Sunday and public holidays 9am-2pm.