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Guide · The town
Simon's Town penguins and the town around them
The Simon's Town penguins draw the crowds, but the town around them has a harbour, museums and a long naval story. Here is how to combine the colony with a few hours in town.
Check availabilityfrom $52 · free to cancel
Editorial team, capetownpenguins.comUpdated October 26, 20266-minute read34 sources
In short
- 01Where
- 35km from Cape Town, on False Bay.1
- 02The penguins
- The Boulders colony on the edge of town, run by SANParks.2
- 03The town
- One of South Africa's oldest, with a maritime history.1
- 04Getting there
- By train along the False Bay coast, by car or on a tour.3
- 05A tour with a town stop
- A 10-hour day with 75 minutes in Simon's Town, from $52.
A naval town with a penguin colony on its doorstep
Simon's Town is a small place with a big reputation. Cape Town Tourism calls it one of South Africa's oldest towns, 35km outside Cape Town, known for its maritime history, its beaches, its water sports, its marine life and its colony of African penguins.1 You may come for the birds, then discover the town is worth a few hours on its own.
The colony is the reason the name travels so far. SANParks describes a unique, endangered, land-based colony of African penguins in Simon's Town, and SANCCOB puts the protected site at 2 hectares of small beaches, 35 km south of Cape Town.24 When people talk about the Simon's Town penguins, they mean the birds of this colony on the edge of town.
The navy shapes the rest of the town. Cape Town Tourism points to the South African Navy Museum, run jointly by the South African Navy and the South African Naval Heritage Trust, and the SANParks brochure notes that Boulders Bay itself falls under Navy regulations.56 Grey ships in the harbour and old stone buildings on the main road give the place its own character on the peninsula.
A day by train
Simon's Town in a day without a car
-
Morning
Train along False Bay
The railway runs from Cape Town to Simon's Town.3
-
On arrival
Walk to the colony
Early is best in summer, when parking and space are short.7
-
Late morning
Boardwalks at Foxy Beach
Where SANParks says penguins are best viewed.8
-
Lunch
Back into town
Cafés and the harbour on the main road.
-
Afternoon
Museums and the dog
Boulders and the beaches of the town
Boulders Beach in Simon's Town is the star, but it is one of several small bays here. SANParks says the Boulders section has 3 beaches, 1 penguin viewing area and 3 boardwalks, and it sends visitors to Foxy Beach to see the penguins and to Boulders Beach for recreation.108 Seaforth Beach sits on the town side of the colony, and Willis Walk runs between them.11
The coves here are sheltered by the shape of the coast. SANParks says huge boulders shelter the Boulders cove from currents, wind and large waves, making it ideal for children, and Cape Town Tourism describes the water as warm by Cape Town's standards.1213 Even so, there are no lifeguards at Boulders, so swim with care.6
Entry to the colony is a SANParks fee: for 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2027, R282 for an international adult and R138 for a child, by card only.1415 The gate opens at 07:00 in December and January and closes at 19:30; in winter it runs from 08:00 to 17:00, and SANParks says times can change without notice.1617
Things to do
Simon's Town beyond the penguins
| Place | What it is | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Navy museum | Naval exhibits | Cape Town Tourism |
| Town museum | Local & naval history | Cape Town Tourism |
| Jubilee Square | Bronze dog statue | Cape Town Tourism |
| Red Hill | The dog's grave | Cape Town Tourism |
| Black Hill hike | 2 to 3 hrs | Cape Town Tourism |
| Boulders colony | Penguins, boardwalks | SANParks |
From Cape Town Tourism's Simon's Town guide and the SANParks Boulders page.51891910
Three ways in
Tours that stop in the town, and one that drives through
Town stop
Beach time
With Cape PointDecision helper
How much of the town do you want?
Choose by the time you have.
Simon’s Town is one of South Africa’s oldest towns, situated 35km outside Cape Town. This scenic neighbourhood is known for its rich maritime history, gorgeous beaches, adventurous water-based activities, marine wildlife and the colony of African penguins.
Museums, a famous dog and the town's history
The town's past is easy to explore on foot. Cape Town Tourism describes the Simon's Town Museum, which tells the cultural history of the people of the town and their links with the Dutch East India Company and the Royal Navy.18 Nearby, the South African Navy Museum spends its rooms on naval exhibits and collections.5
Then there is the dog. Cape Town Tourism says the grave of a very famous dog lies at the top of Red Hill, reached by mountain steps that start on Barnard Street, and a bronze statue of the same dog stands on Jubilee Square.9 The statue is the easier visit and a favourite photo stop on the main road.
Take your time on the main street between the museums. Old shopfronts, harbour views and small cafés make it a pleasant place for lunch after a morning at the colony, and the town feels very different from the busy beaches of the Atlantic side of the peninsula.
Map
Boulders, the peninsula and the point
First the beaches and boardwalks of the Boulders colony, then the coast from the V&A Waterfront to Cape Point and across False Bay to Stony Point, then the two capes at the tip.
1Seaforth Beach2Boulders Visitor Centre3Foxy Beach4Boulders Beach
5V&A Waterfront6Muizenberg7Simon's Town8Cape Point9Stony Point
10Cape of Good Hope11Cape Point lighthouse
- 1Seaforth Beach
The beach on the town side of the colony, joined to Boulders by Willis Walk, where dogs may go only on a leash.11
In Google Maps ↗ - 2Boulders Visitor Centre
The visitor centre on the boardwalk route; SANParks lists Boulders as a pay point for the daily conservation fee.21
In Google Maps ↗ - 3Foxy Beach
SANParks says the penguins are best viewed here, from the boardwalks.822
In Google Maps ↗ - 4Boulders Beach
The most popular spot for a swim, sheltered by huge granite boulders.812
In Google Maps ↗ - 5V&A Waterfront
The day tour leaves at 09:30 from outside the Two Oceans Aquarium.
In Google Maps ↗ - 6Muizenberg
The coach drives past Muizenberg beach on the way down the coast.
In Google Maps ↗ - 7Simon's Town
One of the oldest towns in South Africa, 35km from Cape Town; the Boulders colony is on its edge.12
In Google Maps ↗ - 8Cape Point
About 2 hours here on the day tour; two lighthouses and the Flying Dutchman funicular.23
In Google Maps ↗ - 9Stony Point
The CapeNature colony in Betty's Bay, 70 to 90 minutes' drive from Cape Town.2425
In Google Maps ↗ - 10Cape of Good Hope
Named the Cape of Storms by Dias in 1488; the day tour spends 30 minutes here.26
In Google Maps ↗ - 11Cape Point lighthouse
Reached on foot or by funicular; one of the two lighthouses still works.23
In Google Maps ↗
Checklist
A day in Simon's Town
01
Bring
- A card for the colony gate
- Shoes for the walk along the shore
- Sun cream and a hat
02
Plan
- Check gate times for your month
- The train times back to Cape Town
- Whale season if you want a boat trip
Price check
A Simon's Town day for your group
Choose a tour and the number of guests; park fees come on top.
People
Total from$103
from, per person $52
Check availabilityfree cancellationTotals take the cheapest adult fare a Viator or GetYourGuide listing shows and multiply it by the guests you pick, converted with the ECB reference rate; SANParks fees are paid separately at the gates, and the final sum appears at the seller's checkout.
Video
A slow walk through Simon's Town and down to the penguins
YouTube is contacted only once you press play on the video.
Walks, boats and the water
If you have a few hours more, head uphill. Cape Town Tourism describes a hike from above Boulders and Seaforth up to an old blockhouse and on to Black Hill, also called Swartkop, the mountain above the colony, a round trip of 2 to 3 hours through fynbos.19 The views over False Bay from the top are wide and quiet.
On the water, Cape Town Tourism mentions 2-hour kayak trips around Simon's Town and boat trips from the harbour to Cape Point, with whales in season.2728 SANParks says southern right and humpback whales are seen in the park's waters from August to October.20
Remember the rules near the colony. SANParks says Boulders is closed to all vessels, kayaks and canoes included, and the brochure says vessels may not approach the beach in this penguin sanctuary.296 Any trip on the water views the birds from a respectful distance.
Getting to Simon's Town
The train is the classic way to arrive. SANParks says a railway runs from Cape Town along the False Bay coastline to Simon's Town, and the ride follows the water for much of the way.3 From the station, the colony is a walk along the shore at the edge of town.
By car, the coast road runs south through the seaside suburbs to the town. Parking near the colony is limited, and SANParks advises arriving early in the peak summer months.7 Leaving the car in town and walking along the shore to Boulders is a pleasant way to avoid the queue for spaces.
On a tour, check whether the town is a stop or only a view. The coach day on this site drives through Simon's Town without stopping on its way to an hour at the colony. A 10-hour GetYourGuide day, by contrast, spends 75 minutes in Simon's Town for lunch and free time, besides an hour at the penguins.
A tour that gives the town real time
The listing that makes most of the town is a long GetYourGuide day from Cape Town with pickup and a guide in English. It stops at Bo-Kaap, Maiden's Cove, Hout Bay and Chapman's Peak Drive before the Boulders colony, 75 minutes in Simon's Town, the Cape of Good Hope, the Cape Point lighthouse and Muizenberg Beach. It starts from $52, with 4,137 reviews at 4.67.
You can hold a seat without paying upfront on this listing, and cancel free of charge until 24 hours before the start. A second 10-hour day with pickup spends 75 minutes on Boulders Beach, an hour at the colony and 75 minutes in Simon's Town for lunch, from $44. Both make lunch in the town part of the plan.
Neither listing says the park fees are included, so check before you book and budget for the Boulders and Cape Point fees.1430 With a long day and two park stops, a light lunch in town and an early night are a sensible plan.
Being a good guest in a town that shares its beach
Boulders is not a wilderness reserve far from people; the colony sits among homes. SANCCOB notes that some areas of the Simon's Town colonies are managed by SANParks and others by the City of Cape Town, and the SANParks brochure asks visitors to respect the privacy of local residents, obey the traffic signs and keep the area quiet.431
The penguins wander more widely than the boardwalks, so take care when you drive or park near the colony and check under the car before you leave. SANCCOB keeps four Penguin and Seabird Rangers in Simon's Town because of the amount of contact between people and wildlife here.32 If you see a bird in trouble, tell the staff at the gate.
The rest is common courtesy. Do not touch or feed the birds, keep dogs on a leash and off the beaches, and leave shells and sand where they are.331134 A town that has lived alongside a penguin colony for decades deserves visitors who leave it as calm as they found it.
Book your day
The Cape first, the penguins after.
Boulders, Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope in 8 hours, with a full refund up to a day before.
You ask,we answer.
How far is Simon's Town from Cape Town?
35km. Cape Town Tourism gives that distance; SANCCOB says 35 km south.14
Are the penguins right in the town?
On its edge. The Boulders colony is in Simon's Town, inside Table Mountain National Park.2
Can I get there by train?
Yes. A railway runs from Cape Town along the False Bay coast to Simon's Town.3
Which beaches are near the colony?
Boulders, Foxy and Seaforth. Of the beaches in Simon's Town, these lie by the colony: penguins are viewed at Foxy Beach, and Boulders Beach is for recreation.811
Where is the famous dog's statue?
On Jubilee Square. Its grave is at the top of Red Hill.9
Does the coach day stop in the town?
No. It drives through Simon's Town and stops at the colony for about an hour.
Which tour stops in Simon's Town?
A 10-hour day. It gives 75 minutes in the town for lunch and free time.
Sources
What this guide is based on
- 1Cape Town TourismFun Things to do in Simon's Town↩
- 2↩
- 3↩
- 4SANCCOBPenguin and Seabird Rangers↩
- 5Cape Town TourismFun Things to do in Simon's Town↩
- 6SANParksBoulders Penguin Colony brochure↩
- 7↩
- 8SANParksBoulders Penguin Colony brochure↩
- 9Cape Town TourismFun Things to do in Simon's Town↩
- 10↩
- 11SANParksBoulders Penguin Colony brochure↩
- 12↩
- 13Cape Town TourismFun Things to do in Simon's Town↩
- 14SANParksDaily conservation fees 2026/27↩
- 15↩
- 16↩
- 17↩
- 18Cape Town TourismFun Things to do in Simon's Town↩
- 19Cape Town TourismFun Things to do in Simon's Town↩
- 20↩
- 21↩
- 22↩
- 23↩
- 24CapeNatureStony Point Nature Reserve↩
- 25CapeNatureStony Point Nature Reserve↩
- 26↩
- 27Cape Town TourismFun Things to do in Simon's Town↩
- 28Cape Town TourismFun Things to do in Simon's Town↩
- 29↩
- 30SANParksDaily conservation fees 2026/27↩
- 31SANParksBoulders Penguin Colony brochure↩
- 32SANCCOBPenguin and Seabird Rangers↩
- 33↩
- 34SANParksBoulders Penguin Colony brochure↩
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