Season guide · Cape Town · South Africa
Cape Town in autumn
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Warm, settled weather, calm days for hiking and the grape harvest in the winelands; rain returns by May. Expect highs up to 25°C (77°F) and lows around 10°C (50°F), with about 19 rainy days across March–May. March–April are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 10°C (50°F) to 25°C (77°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 19
- Sea
- 14°C (57°F) to 15°C (59°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 25°C (77°F) | 14°C (57°F) | 4 | 12.4 h | 4/5 |
| April | 23°C (73°F) | 12°C (54°F) | 6 | 11.3 h | 3/5 |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 9 | 10.4 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 23°C (73°F) against a yearly 22°C (72°F), and 19 of the year's roughly 74 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- March: Cape Town Cycle Tour — mass-participation cycle race around the peninsula (usually March)
- April: Two Oceans Marathon — ultra and half marathon (usually Easter weekend)
Make the most of the weather
Beach · Simon's Town
Boulders Beach penguin colony
Go early in the morning before tour buses arrive, and combine it with Cape Point further down the peninsula.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Nature
- Iconic
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Signal Hill
Lion's Head hike
The 669-metre peak between Table Mountain and Signal Hill is the city's favourite short hike: a spiral path of about 2.5 km each way with chains and ladders near the top (there is a route that avoids them).
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Active
- Outdoors
Viewpoint · Hout Bay
Chapman's Peak Drive
Drive it from Hout Bay towards Noordhoek in the late afternoon, when the light falls on the bay behind you at the lookouts.
- Time needed
- 30–60 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Photo spot
- Couples
Garden · City Bowl
Company's Garden
Planted in the 1650s to supply ships of the Dutch East India Company, this shady garden at the top of Adderley Street is now a public park with old trees, a rose garden and tame squirrels.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- History
Viewpoint · Signal Hill
Signal Hill
Arrive at least 45 minutes before sunset on summer evenings, when the parking area fills up.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- After dark
Day trips in autumn
- Stellenbosch (About 45 minutes by car) — South Africa's second-oldest town has oak-lined streets of whitewashed Cape Dutch buildings, a university, galleries and dozens of wine estates in the surrounding hills, many with tasting rooms and restaurants.
- Franschhoek (About 1 hour 15 minutes by car) — A valley town founded by French Huguenots, known for its restaurants and wine estates under dramatic mountains.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Cape Town?
Yes: March–April are among the best months. Warm, settled weather, calm days for hiking and the grape harvest in the winelands; rain returns by May.
+What is the weather like in Cape Town in autumn?
Highs of up to 25°C (77°F) and lows around 10°C (50°F), with about 19 rainy days over the season.