Muizenberg Beach visitors can expect these big changes from 16 December

Visitors to Cape Town’s Muizenberg beachfront can expect a very different experience this festive season, with a major refurbishment project nearing completion ahead of the December holidays.

The City of Cape Town says the project is almost 90% complete, with most of the outstanding work expected to be finished by mid-December, when the builders’ break begins.

From 16 December, the entire beach is expected to be open to the public, along with all parking areas and bays.

The refurbishment, which began in February 2025, involves replacing ageing seawalls and upgrading public facilities along the beachfront.

What will be open at Muizenberg beach this festive season?

The City has outlined several facilities and improvements that visitors can expect to access from 16 December.

These include:

• The entire beach, with additional access points to be confirmed closer to the festive season.
• All parking areas and parking bays.
• The new promenade and stepped seawall, running from Surfer’s Corner to the Muizenberg Pavilion side.
• New showers at the central promenade and Surfer’s Corner.
• The return of Muizenberg’s iconic beach huts.
• Temporary ablution facilities on the western side of the beachfront.

The new central ablution facility may also be ready by then, although the City says this will be confirmed closer to the time.

Adequate signage will direct visitors to the available beach access points.

What has already been completed?

The project reached an important milestone last month with the opening of the St James Walkway, refurbished western parking area, promenade and seawall seating area.

Since 23 October, visitors have also been able to access the western side of the beach from Surfer’s Corner.

Work continues on the remaining sections of the promenade and stepped seawall, and around 95% of the precast steps and promenade units have already been installed.

These structures are designed to provide coastal protection while allowing beach access at different levels. Most of the steps will normally be covered by sand and will not be visible to visitors.

Other work currently under way includes the construction of the central ablution facility, refurbishment of the Shark Spotters and Adaptive Surfing buildings, and installation of overhead pergolas, planters and seating walls.

The playground area and its universal access facilities are also progressing, alongside the brick paving connecting the western and eastern parking areas.

Some finishing work will continue in 2027

Although most of the beachfront is expected to be ready for the festive season, the project will not be finished by December.

The contractor will return in the new year to complete outstanding work, including the installation of mosaic artwork, detailed paving on the central promenade, columns and overhead pergolas.

The eastern lawn area and some seating walls will also still need to be completed.

The City says the provisional festive-season arrangements will be updated and confirmed at the final community meeting before the builders’ break in mid-December.