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Voykit pocket guide · South Africa
Simon's Town
Give Simon's Town one full day plus a night: penguins at Boulders at opening, naval museums, harbour lunch. Base here only if you want quiet, not nightlife.
Simon's Town sits on the False Bay side of the Cape Peninsula, about an hour by road from Cape Town and home to the South African Navy. It is small enough to cross on foot in under 30 minutes, and its main draw is the African penguin colony at Boulders Beach just south of town. Most visitors see it as a half-day stop on a Cape Peninsula drive; one night turns it into a calm base with penguins at dawn and the naval museums without rushing.
- Country
- South Africa
- Best months
- Oct–Apr (dry, warm, calm sea)
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (rain, wind, rough surf)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- ZAR
- Money
- Currency is the South African rand (ZAR, R), about 17–18 per US$ in 2026 (check). Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere in cities and at lodges; carry small cash for tips.
- Daily spend
- Budget R600–1,000 excl. bed · Mid R1,000–1,800 excl. bed · High R1,800+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Vodacom and MTN have the best coverage; Cell C and Telkom are cheaper. Buy at the airport shop with your passport (RICA registration is required).
- Emergency
- Emergency from a mobile 112 · Simon's Town police station 021 786 1244
- Plugs
- Types M, C, N · 230 V · 50 Hz · The big round-pin type M is rarely used elsewhere; buy a local adapter at the airport or any supermarket.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 10–15%; check if a service charge is added for large groups.; Fuel attendant: R5–20, more if they wash windows and check tyres.; Car guard: R5–20 when you leave.; Safari ranger and tracker: About R150–300 per guest per day for the ranger, R100–200 for the tracker — check lodge guidance.; Hotel porter: R10–20 per bag.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in most cities and towns; in some municipalities with failing infrastructure, ask your host.
- Toilets
- Clean Western toilets at fuel stations (Engen, Shell, Ultra City), malls and park camps.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | R30–50 |
| Fish and chips | R90–160 |
| Restaurant main course | R140–280 |
| Draught beer (500 ml) | R40–70 |
| Boulders Beach entry, adult | about R200 (check) |
| Rikki minibus, station to Boulders | R5–15 (check) |
| Petrol, 1 litre | R22–25 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CPT · Cape Town International
- About 1 h by car via the M3 and M4; no direct rail link from the airport.
Typical fares
- CPT airport → Simon's Town, taxi or ride-hail
- about R600–900, 1–1.5 h (check)
- Rikki minibus, station → Boulders Beach
- R5–15 (check)
- Boulders Beach entry, adult
- about R200 (check)
Get around
The centre is walkable end to end in under 30 minutes. Rikki minibuses meet trains at the station and run to Boulders Beach; Golden Arrow buses link Fish Hoek, Simon's Town and Boulders. A car makes Boulders, Cape Point and the beaches much easier. Ride-hailing works but waits can be long at the southern end.
See and do
Known for
- African penguins at Boulders Beach
- South African Navy base and naval museum
- Just Nuisance, the enlisted Great Dane
- False Bay harbour and waterfront
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Boulders Beach | Rikki minibus or Golden Arrow bus from the station, or a 25–30 min walk south | 20–40 min |
| Cape of Good Hope | Drive the M65 and M4 south through Miller's Point and Scarborough | 35–45 min |
| Kalk Bay | Drive the M4 north, or train to Kalk Bay if the line is running | 25–35 min |
| Muizenberg | M4 north past Fish Hoek and Kalk Bay | 35–45 min |
| Fish Hoek | M4 north, or train to Fish Hoek | 15–20 min |
| Cape Town | M3 and M4 north, or train with a change at Fish Hoek | 1–1.5 h |
Sleep
- St George's Street / town centre
- Guesthouses, restaurants and the naval museums on foot; 10–15 min walk from the train station.
- Waterfront and Jubilee Square
- Harbour views and the Quayside complex; closest to the restaurants and the Just Nuisance statue.
- Boulders / Seaforth
- Walk to the penguin boardwalk and Seaforth Beach; quieter, fewer places to eat.
- Murdoch Valley and Rocklands
- Self-catering cottages with sea views; you need a car for everything.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hallohah-loh |
| Thank you | Dankiedahn-kee |
| How much is it? | Hoeveel is dit?hoo-feel is dit |
| Where is the beach? | Waar is die strand?vahr is dee strunt |
| Please help me | Help my assebliefhelp may us-uh-bleef |
| Goodbye | Totsienstot-seens |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say hello and ask how someone is before any request; avoid: Launching straight into a question
- Handshakes: Three-part African handshake with friends; a normal handshake with strangers; avoid: Refusing an offered hand
- Elders: Use Mr/Mrs or 'Mama', 'Baba' respectfully in townships and rural areas; avoid: First names with older people you have just met
- Braai invitations: Bring meat or drinks, and arrive on 'African time'; avoid: Taking over the fire
- Photos: Ask first, especially in townships and villages; avoid: Photographing children without a parent's permission
- Politics and race: Ask questions and listen; avoid: Lecturing on history or crime
Scams and watch-outs
- ATM distraction: someone may switch the machine to Afrikaans and 'help' you draw the largest note, then grab it. Use ATMs inside a bank or mall, or draw cash in Cape Town.
- Trails west of town toward the Red Hill settlement have a history of muggings; walk in a group, in daylight, and leave valuables behind.
- The rail line from Cape Town has been unreliable: check the current timetable and expect a change at Fish Hoek.
- Boulders Beach entry is a paid, ticketed SANParks site with set hours; buy at the gate or online and keep the ticket.
- Summer southeasters can shut the beaches and the kayak trips for a day or two.
Calmer than most of the Cape Town metro, but not crime-free: use bank ATMs, keep phones out of sight, avoid the western trails toward Red Hill, and drive or ride-hail after dark rather than walking the main road.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Simon's Town yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- African penguins at Boulders Beach
- South African Navy base and naval museum
- Just Nuisance, the enlisted Great Dane
- False Bay harbour and waterfront
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- SANParks — Boulders Beach: www.sanparks.org/parks/table-mountain/
- Metrorail Western Cape: www.metrorail.co.za/
- Wikivoyage: Simon's Town, revision 5241142 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5241142
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Simon's Town
Vat my asseblief na hierdie adres
Please take me to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Emergency from a mobile112
- Simon's Town police station021 786 1244
No embassies in Simon's Town; consulates-general are in Cape Town. US citizens: consulate general in Cape Town (check the address).
Tip 10–15% at restaurants if not already added; R5–10 for car guards and petrol attendants.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/simons-town). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.