Clifton and Camps Bay sit side by side below Lion’s Head and the Twelve Apostles, and both have private holiday homes listed on rental sites such as Vrbo. The choice between them is less about prestige than about how you want to spend the day: on a sheltered cove reached by stairs, or on a broad beach with restaurants across the road. This guide compares the two, lists the questions worth asking any host, and points to five specific Vrbo homes to investigate.
Clifton or Camps Bay at a glance
| Clifton | Camps Bay |
|---|---|
| Beaches: Four small coves, First to Fourth Beach, separated by granite boulders | Beaches: One wide, flat sandy beach with a tidal pool |
| Getting to the sand: Narrow, steep stairs from Victoria Road | Getting to the sand: A wide beach beside Victoria Road; hillside homes may be a drive away |
| Wind: Coves are sheltered from the south-easter | Wind: Depends on the house and slope; ask the host |
| Restaurants and shops: A short drive from the two Clifton homes below | Restaurants and shops: On Victoria Road, within walking distance of the beach |
| Atmosphere: Residential | Atmosphere: Lively day and night, especially in the festive season |
Beach, wind and atmosphere descriptions are from Cape Town Tourism’s Clifton guide and Camps Bay guide.
Beaches and the sea
Cape Town Tourism describes Clifton as four beaches tucked below the cliffs and protected from the south-easter, reached by narrow, steep stairs that run down from Victoria Road between the houses. Fourth Beach has had Blue Flag status. The trade-off is the climb: every beach day ends with stairs, which matters with small children, heavy cool boxes or limited mobility.
Camps Bay is the opposite. Cape Town Tourism describes a wide, flat beach with a tidal pool that suits families, and warns of a strong backwash. Cape Town Tourism notes Clifton’s chilly water, and the Atlantic along this coast is cold, so a private pool is worth checking for.
Walkability, noise and parking
Camps Bay’s restaurants, bars, shops and theatre are all within walking distance of the beach, so a home near the beachfront can make for a largely car-free stay. Homes higher up the slope often mean a steep walk back, so check the actual route and gradient on a map rather than the straight-line distance. The same strip that makes Camps Bay convenient also makes it lively: Cape Town Tourism describes it as lively day and night, especially over the festive season, so ask about evening noise if the house is close to Victoria Road.
Clifton is residential. For the two Clifton homes below, Vrbo lists the nearest restaurants as a 2- to 3-minute drive. Before booking in either suburb, confirm in writing how many cars can park off the street, whether there is a garage, and how steep the driveway is. Don’t plan on finding street parking in peak season.
Questions to ask the host before you book
- Backup power. South Africa has had scheduled power cuts known as load-shedding. Cape Town Tourism’s load-shedding guidance suggests asking self-catering hosts about solar or other alternative energy, backup generators, gas stoves and surge protection. Also ask what the backup runs: Wi-Fi, lights, the gate motor, hot water and the pool pump.
- Security. Ask how the house is secured, for example an alarm, an armed-response contract, an electric gate and a safe, and who to call at night. Read Cape Town Tourism’s safety advice too.
- Wind. Ask which terraces and pool areas are sheltered when the summer south-easter blows. Two houses on the same street can differ.
- Access. Count the stairs from the street to the front door and from the house to the beach, especially in Clifton.
- Staff and cleaning. Check what is included, such as mid-stay cleaning, linen changes or a housekeeper, and what costs extra.
Booking in peak season
The festive season is peak time on the Atlantic Seaboard; Cape Town Tourism calls Camps Bay the place to see and be seen then. Hosts can set minimum stays and changeover days, and the rules over Christmas and New Year may differ from the rest of the year, so check them for your exact dates before you plan the rest of the trip. See when to visit Cape Town for the seasons.
Read the house rules and payment terms before paying. Look at the maximum number of guests, whether events or visitors are allowed, check-in and check-out times, any refundable damage deposit and when it is returned, and the cancellation policy shown at checkout. Keep messages and payment on the booking platform, and be wary of any request to pay by bank transfer outside it.
Five Vrbo homes to investigate
These homes were checked on Vrbo on 10 November 2026. Each description uses only what the listing showed at the time. We have not stayed in them, and listing details can change. The dateless listing views we checked showed neither the bedroom count nor the guest capacity, so confirm both on Vrbo. Vrbo shows prices only once you add dates, so none are given here.
The Summit Camps Bay · Camps Bay
Vrbo lists this as a villa in Camps Bay, titled for its 360-degree views and pool. The listing highlights a dedicated outdoor firepit. Its popular amenities include a private pool, a balcony, a barbecue grill, air conditioning and internet.
Location check: Vrbo puts Table Mountain National Park about 3 minutes’ walk away and Camps Bay Beach about 3 minutes’ drive (1.7 km). This is a hillside base, so plan on driving or a ride to the beach and restaurants.
Check The Summit Camps Bay on Vrbo affiliate
SaltLife Camps Bay · Camps Bay, close to the beach
An entire home in Camps Bay. Vrbo highlights it as on the beach with direct beach access, and the listing title mentions a heated pool. Popular amenities include a private pool, a hot tub, a patio and an available limo or town-car service.
Location check: Vrbo shows Bali Beach about 2 minutes’ walk away, Camps Bay Beach about 7 minutes (0.4 km) and Theatre on the Bay about 5 minutes on foot. That makes it one of the more walkable options here.
Check SaltLife Camps Bay on Vrbo affiliate
Beach House – Number 49 · Clifton, near First and Second Beach
An entire home that Vrbo places in Clifton. Popular amenities include a balcony, a washer, on-site parking and a non-smoking rule. A pool is not among the popular amenities Vrbo lists for this home, so check the full amenity list if that matters to you.
Location check: Vrbo shows Clifton 1st Beach about 2 minutes’ walk away (0.2 km) and Clifton 2nd Beach about 3 minutes. Camps Bay Beach is about 18 minutes on foot.
Check Beach House – Number 49 on Vrbo affiliate
Stunning Clifton Beach Villa · Clifton, beachfront
Vrbo describes this as a vacation home on the beach in Clifton, with direct access to the beach and sea. Popular amenities include a private pool, a hot tub, a balcony, a barbecue grill and air conditioning.
Location check: Vrbo shows Clifton 1st and 2nd Beach each about 3 minutes’ walk away. Camps Bay Beach is about 17 minutes on foot, and the restaurants Vrbo lists nearby are 2 to 3 minutes’ drive.
Check Stunning Clifton Beach Villa on Vrbo affiliate
Anella 2 · Camps Bay, about 8 minutes’ walk from the beach
An entire home that Vrbo places in Camps Bay. The listing highlights a private garden. Popular amenities include a private pool, a balcony, a barbecue grill, air-conditioning and internet.
Location check: Vrbo shows Camps Bay Beach about 8 minutes’ walk away (0.7 km) and the restaurants it lists nearby 10 to 13 minutes on foot.
Check Anella 2 on Vrbo affiliate
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Frequently asked questions
Is Clifton or Camps Bay better for a villa stay?
Clifton suits travellers who want sheltered coves in a residential setting and can manage stairs. Camps Bay suits those who want a wide beach with restaurants and shops within walking distance. The exact house, its slope and its access matter more than the suburb name.
Do Cape Town villas have backup power?
Not all of them, and setups differ. Cape Town Tourism suggests asking self-catering hosts about solar or other alternative energy, backup generators, gas stoves and surge protection. Also ask what the backup actually runs, such as Wi-Fi, lights, the gate and the pool pump.