Best time to visit · Cape Town · South Africa
The best time to visit Cape Town
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: SkyPixels, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The best times to visit Cape Town are February to April and November, when days are warm and dry, the summer holiday crowds are smaller and the wind is often calmer than in December. December and January are hot and lively but the busiest and most expensive. June to August is the wet, cool low season, good for whale watching and low prices but with days lost to storms.
Key facts
- Best months
- February–April and November
- Shoulder season
- May, September–October and December–January
- Warmest month
- February (avg high 27°C (81°F))
- Coldest month
- June (avg high 18°C (64°F))
- Rainiest month
- June (~10 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- June–July
Seasons
Cape Town has a Mediterranean climate: warm, dry and often windy summers from November to March, and mild, wet winters from June to August when cold fronts bring rain. The Atlantic beaches stay cold year-round; False Bay is several degrees warmer in summer.
December–February
Summer
Hot, dry and sunny with long evenings, beach days and outdoor concerts; also the windiest and most crowded season, with peak prices around the holidays.
March–May
Autumn
Warm, settled weather, calm days for hiking and the grape harvest in the winelands; rain returns by May.
June–August
Winter
Cool and wet with passing cold fronts, green mountains, whales in False Bay and the lowest hotel rates; the cableway closes on stormy days.
September–November
Spring
Wildflowers on the West Coast, peak whale season at Hermanus and warming days, with the southeaster returning in November.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Sea | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26°C | 16°C | 3 | 15°C | 14.2 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| February | 27°C | 16°C | 3 | 15°C | 13.4 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| March | 25°C | 14°C | 4 | 15°C | 12.4 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| April | 23°C | 12°C | 6 | 15°C | 11.3 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 20°C | 10°C | 9 | 14°C | 10.4 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| June | 18°C | 8°C | 10 | 14°C | 9.9 h | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| July | 18°C | 7°C | 10 | 13°C | 10.1 h | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| August | 18°C | 8°C | 10 | 13°C | 10.9 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| September | 19°C | 9°C | 7 | 13°C | 11.9 h | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| October | 21°C | 11°C | 5 | 14°C | 13 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 24°C | 13°C | 4 | 14°C | 13.9 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| December | 25°C | 15°C | 3 | 15°C | 14.4 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Cape Town Minstrel Carnival — street parade (usually 2 January, Tweede Nuwe Jaar); Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts (Sundays through summer) |
| 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) |
| June | Southern right whale season begins (usually June to November) |
| August | West Coast wildflower season (usually August to September) |
| September | Hermanus Whale Festival (usually late September); Heritage Day — national holiday (24 September) |
| October | Cape Town Marathon (usually October) |
| November | Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts usually begin (late November) |
| December | Festive lights on Adderley Street (usually December); Day of Reconciliation — national holiday (16 December) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in June–July, and the sights are quietest in June.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Summer | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Spring | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Cape Town?
The best times to visit Cape Town are February to April and November, when days are warm and dry, the summer holiday crowds are smaller and the wind is often calmer than in December. December and January are hot and lively but the busiest and most expensive. June to August is the wet, cool low season, good for whale watching and low prices but with days lost to storms.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Cape Town?
Usually in June–July. Wet and cool with cold fronts, but clear days between storms are crisp and calm; whales start arriving in False Bay.
+What is the rainiest month in Cape Town?
June, with about 10 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Cape Town get?
The warmest month, February, averages highs of 27°C (81°F) and lows of 16°C (61°F).