Grotto Beach
Grotto Beach
4.5
Full view
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Address
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
84 within 3 miles
Attractions
39 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
920 reviews
Excellent
604
Very good
265
Average
45
Poor
4
Terrible
2
QueenBee
Manchester, Greater Manchester, England189 contributions
Mar 2023
This is a beautiful beach. Spent two whole days on the beach. The hiring of a lounger and umbrella is R188.00. for the day or just ten minutes. It's a little pricy. Full time life guards only annoyed by people not swimming between the flags. Why do people not obey the flags?
The only awful thing is the endless smokers who smoke all day and litter the beach. NO-ONE wants to smell cigarette smoke on a day out at the beach. Smoking should be banned or designated.
The toilets are amazing clean and good and I appreciate that.
The water is only for the brave who don't mind a freezing dip.
Worth the day on the beach - it's lovely.
The only awful thing is the endless smokers who smoke all day and litter the beach. NO-ONE wants to smell cigarette smoke on a day out at the beach. Smoking should be banned or designated.
The toilets are amazing clean and good and I appreciate that.
The water is only for the brave who don't mind a freezing dip.
Worth the day on the beach - it's lovely.
Written 5 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Erna A
Modderfontein, South Africa101 contributions
Oct 2021
White sands, turquoise sea that's Grotto beach. We hired umbrella and loungers from vendor so we really relaxed in the beautiful setting. Toilets and showers spotless. Took a short walk to see the caves.
Written 2 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DavidAHughes
Wokingham, UK37 contributions
Jan 2023
Endless sand, great bar and the wonderful Dutchies restaurant, Fresh oysters, fish and chips. Easy parking, very safe for kids but a wonderful place for adults to chill. Wow!
Written 7 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MarleneLi
Stone Town, Tanzania196 contributions
Dec 2021 • Family
This was so nice to see a proper beach operating well. It is very clean! The life guards are friendly. The security on duty helpful and responsible. Very clean toilets and relative easy parking. I can see why it is a blue flag beach!
Written 27 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
holidayRH
South Africa2,246 contributions
Dec 2020 • Couples
Hermanus town well known for its Whale and Dolphin watching.
Quiet town with beautiful views and beach town and restaurants for the patience of the robust impulses of capturing that moment of silence and savouring the water world of dolphins and whales alike in harmony.
Hotels and guest Houses for a stay over.
Quiet town with beautiful views and beach town and restaurants for the patience of the robust impulses of capturing that moment of silence and savouring the water world of dolphins and whales alike in harmony.
Hotels and guest Houses for a stay over.
Written 31 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Quest420140
Cape Town Central, South Africa11 contributions
Long walks on a pristine blue flag beach is all i longed for under the stresses of Covid 19 lockdown
Sept 2020
Despite some cold and windy days (had 4 seasons in one week) Hermanus Grotto beach is truely spectacular. Seemingly unspoilt. Flanked by Mosselberg Mountains, it is tranquil in all its splendour.
Great stay at Village & Life La Parediso Self Catering apartments.
Great stay at Village & Life La Parediso Self Catering apartments.
Written 5 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tertia K
Johannesburg, South Africa9 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
What an amazing beach. Beautiful soft, white sands and turquoise waters. Great to walk along and also to spend the day there. Was impressed with the clean ablutions too. Have a drink or a bite at Dutchies too. On the other side there is a small lagoon that you can spend the day swimming in. 10/10!!
Written 6 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KelvinZulu
Rivonia, Gauteng, South Africa292 contributions
Oct 2012 • Couples
We swam and then sat for hours watching the whales in October, the sea was literally crawling with them. We went for lunch at a delightful restaurant just above the Old Harbour on the first floor (name escapes me - to the right of Burgundy's) and could not even count the number of whales there were so many.
The entire bay from Hermanus New Harbour to Gansbaai is a marine reserve with boats restricted from 1 July to 30 November, ensuring the whales, dolphins,etc have free reign, thus this zone is the World's best land based whale watching spot.
Grotto Beach is the place to camp out for the entire morning or afternoon, we came down after lunch and only went back to Onrus at dusk. Clean toilets, showers and actual benches you may sit on should you so choose.
The entire bay from Hermanus New Harbour to Gansbaai is a marine reserve with boats restricted from 1 July to 30 November, ensuring the whales, dolphins,etc have free reign, thus this zone is the World's best land based whale watching spot.
Grotto Beach is the place to camp out for the entire morning or afternoon, we came down after lunch and only went back to Onrus at dusk. Clean toilets, showers and actual benches you may sit on should you so choose.
Written 19 May 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kristin D
Cape Town Central, South Africa49 contributions
Dec 2014 • Family
Blue flag beaches are no quality sign for healthy and unpolluted bathing. On Grotto Beach and on all other beaches up to Kaap l´Algulhas there are obvious signs of waste water pollution with several dead seals on the beach while bathers are in the polluted water not being aware what risk they are taking. As the municipality obviously does not care about swimmers and children, maybe they should consider the Whales that are breeding each year and serve as a tourist attraction. For the dead seals on the beach improved wastewater treatment comes too late
Written 22 December 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael
Germany80 contributions
Aug 2016 • Family
Lovely beach for walks and whale watching with secure parking areas. Found a lot of shells early morning after high tide and the children enjoyed it
Written 18 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, Can anybody tell me if the Grotto Bay Beach in Hermanus is very busy during the December period? Are there lots of tourists on the beach? Also, what is the weather like during December / January? Looking forward to your response. Regards, Antonella
Written 27 September 2017
It is extraordinarily busy, but always worth a visit. If you are happy to walk a bit, it is a superb beach
Written 7 January 2018
Showing results 1-2 of 2
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing