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Seaside town in South Africa
Photo: FLASHPACKER TRAVELGUIDE, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Simon's Town (often incorrectly spelt as "Simonstown") is located at the east side (False Bay side) of the Cape Peninsula near Cape Town, South Africa and is home to the South African Navy.
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Boulders Beach is a sheltered beach made up of inlets between granite boulders, from which the name originated. It is a popular tourist stop because of a colony of African penguins which settled there in 1982.
Museum showcasing the history of the South African Navy. The displays are very varied and include lots of interesting items, but the museum feels rather dated.
The Apartheid and Cold War-era submarine SAS Assegaai has been extremely well preserved and can be visited through guided tours. These are very interesting. The site also includes a somewhat dated museum focused on the history of the South African submarine service and a small range of books for sale. The museum recommends booking tours ahead of time, especially during the peak season.
Small museum covering the Cape Malay community in Simon Town, including their forced removal from the town during the apartheid period
Take a sea kayak trip to the Penguin colony.
Right on the water's edge overlooking the harbour. As the largest restaurant in town, you should always be able to get a table here without a booking. The menu is similarly large with a good selection of steaks, fish, burgers, salads etc. Has free WiFi, however this can be temperamental.
As with everywhere in this area you can get a great choice of steaks and seafood here, however where they really stand out from the rest of the restaurants in town are the wood fired pizzas available to eat in or take away. Has a bar at the back and free WiFi.
Eat inside or out on the balcony overlooking the harbour. They also have a takeaway counter next door and sell a selection of items such as springbok or crocodile pate. Has good free WiFi.
Maybe the best sushi in Cape Town.
Fish and chips fresh from the sea. The kingklip is particularly recommended.
Excellent (but expensive) food, with great views north over False Bay. There is a restaurant and cocktail bar upstairs and a deli/coffee shop downstairs.
A fairly authentic, and very good, Korean restaurant. It has tables on the balcony behind the restaurant with great sea views as well as indoors seating.
Coffee shop with fantastic cakes and pastries.
Overlooking the beach where penguins waddle around as you eat. Go on a Tuesday for their 'all you can eat' prawn special, or Thursdays 'all you can eat' calamari.
Fantastic food with great midweek specials, very popular so booking ahead is recommended. Tuesday night is 1/2 price steaks, Wednesday is 2-for-1 burgers and Thursday is seafood night.
Delicious smoked meats and desserts at reasonable prices.
A pub popular with locals and visiting navies, as such you can find plaques and signed perry buoys from various countries ships hanging from the wall, along with flags draped from the ceiling. Screens numerous football games, occasional live entertainment and free WiFi.
Situated above Boulders Beach. Self-catering units also available.
Fully equipped self-catering apartments in the centre of Simon's Town.
In the centre of Simon's Town.
Old-fashioned hospitality in a traditional British inn.
Amazing mountain and sea views with secure parking and DSTV.
Camping.
Luxury hotel overlooking the harbour and False Bay. Part of the Relais Hotels group.
Self catering cottage. Magnificent sea views.
Well run hostel with wooden floors, large community room and Balcony towards the bay. Parking in the street.
Budget accommodation in an old convent, which has been converted into a delightful guest lodge.
Guest house overlooking False Bay with friendly and caring staff.
By train
There is a regular MetroRail service from Cape Town via Fish Hoek, Kalk Bay, Muizenberg, Wynberg and Claremont.
By plane
The nearest airport is that of Cape Town, a good hour's drive away. You can also go on a trip with Civair from the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town along the Cape Peninsula.
By boat
Simon's Town is small enough to get around by foot (it takes less than 30 minutes to walk from one side to the other).
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Cape Town · International · CPT
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