Dias Beach at Cape Town's Cape Point has been named South Africa's best-rated beach in a new ranking based on Google reviews. At the other end of the list, Monwabisi Beach, located along the False Bay coastline in Khayelitsha, received the lowest average rating.
The research by SEO Backlinks analysed 119 public beaches in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, using Google review data collected on 05 October 2026. The Western Cape dominates the top ten, while seven of the ten lowest-rated beaches are in KwaZulu-Natal.
| Rank | Beach | Location | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dias Beach | Cape Point, Western Cape | 4.87/5 |
| 2 | Robberg 5 Beach | Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape | 4.75/5 |
| 3 | Struisbaai Main Beach | Struisbaai, Western Cape | 4.75/5 |
| 4 | Keurbooms Beach | Keurboomstrand, Western Cape | 4.75/5 |
| 5 | Coney Glen Beach | Knysna, Western Cape | 4.73/5 |
| 6 | Sardinia Bay Beach | Gqeberha, Eastern Cape | 4.72/5 |
| 7 | Llandudno Beach | Cape Town, Western Cape | 4.71/5 |
| 8 | Bakoven Beach | Cape Town, Western Cape | 4.71/5 |
| 9 | Pringle Bay Beach | Pringle Bay, Western Cape | 4.71/5 |
| 10 | The Point | Jeffreys Bay, Eastern Cape | 4.71/5 |
Source: SEO Backlinks. Google review data collected on 05 October 2026.
Dias Beach leads the ranking with an average score of 4.87 out of five from 333 reviews. Located within Table Mountain National Park at Cape Point, it is a more remote option than Cape Town's easily accessible urban beaches.
The Garden Route also features prominently, with Robberg 5 Beach, Keurbooms Beach and Coney Glen Beach among the top five. In the Eastern Cape, Sardinia Bay near Gqeberha and The Point in Jeffreys Bay make the top ten.
| Rank | Beach | Location | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monwabisi Beach | Khayelitsha, Cape Town | 3.67/5 |
| 2 | Brighton Beach | Gqeberha, Eastern Cape | 3.78/5 |
| 3 | Alkantstrand Beach | Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal | 3.82/5 |
| 4 | Orient Beach | KuGompo City (East London), Eastern Cape | 3.85/5 |
| 5 | Blythedale Beach | KwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal | 4.10/5 |
| 6 | St Winifred's Beach | Kingsburgh, KwaZulu-Natal | 4.20/5 |
| 7 | Hibberdene Beach | Hibberdene, KwaZulu-Natal | 4.21/5 |
| 8 | Blue Lagoon Beach | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal | 4.21/5 |
| 9 | Thekwini Beach | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal | 4.25/5 |
| 10 | Westbrook Beach | Westbrook, north of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal | 4.26/5 |
Source: SEO Backlinks. Google review data collected on 5 October 2026.
Monwabisi Beach recorded the lowest average rating in the study, at 3.67 from 353 reviews. Alkantstrand Beach in Richards Bay was the lowest-rated beach in KwaZulu-Natal.
These ratings should be treated as a guide rather than a definitive assessment of beach quality. Google reviews reflect visitors' overall experiences and do not necessarily indicate water quality, swimming safety or the condition of facilities.
Which province has the highest-rated beaches?
The Western Cape recorded the highest average rating, followed by the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.| Rank | Province | Beaches Surveyed | Average Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Cape | 66 | 4.58/5 |
| 2 | Eastern Cape | 15 | 4.42/5 |
| 3 | KwaZulu-Natal | 38 | 4.39/5 |
Source: SEO Backlinks. Average ratings calculated across the surveyed beaches in each province.
The study included beaches with at least 200 Google reviews and covered only these three coastal provinces. It therefore does not represent every beach in South Africa.
For travellers planning a coastal road trip, the rankings offer a few ideas for beach stops along the way. The Western Cape's highly rated beaches can be combined with a journey along the Garden Route towards Plettenberg Bay, while those continuing east towards Gqeberha and Jeffreys Bay will find two Eastern Cape beaches in the top ten. Further north, KwaZulu-Natal offers an extensive coastline to explore, despite its lower average rating in the study.
Google ratings are only a starting point, however. Check local swimming advisories and water-quality updates before visiting, as conditions can change and a high rating does not necessarily mean a beach is suitable for swimming.
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