Month guide · Cape Town · South Africa
Cape Town in December
What December is really like in Cape Town: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Tjeerd Wiersma from Amsterdam, The Netherlands, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 25°C (77°F), lows of 15°C (59°F), about 3 rainy days and roughly 14.4 hours of daylight. Hot, dry and windy summer holiday season; the busiest and highest-priced weeks run from mid-December into January.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 25°C (77°F) / 15°C (59°F)
- Rainy days
- About 3
- Daylight
- About 14.4 hours
- Sea temperature
- 15°C (59°F)
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in December
December is the 4th-warmest month in Cape Town: days average 25°C (77°F) against a yearly average high of 22°C (72°F), and nights fall to about 15°C (59°F). Rain falls on roughly 3 of its 31 days. Compared with November (24°C (75°F)), December is about as warm; by January highs stay near 26°C (79°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 05:30
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 19:54
- Daylight
- About 14.4 hours
- Sea
- 15°C (59°F)
Autumn (March–May). Warm, settled weather, calm days for hiking and the grape harvest in the winelands; rain returns by May.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 5 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in January). Book accommodation early: December is one of the pricier months.
Events in December
- Festive lights on Adderley Street (usually December)
- Day of Reconciliation — national holiday (16 December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
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Neighbourhood · Kalk Bay
Kalk Bay harbour and village
Kalk Bay is a fishing village on False Bay where boats unload their catch in the small harbour and seals wait for scraps.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
Historic site · Constantia
Groot Constantia
Arrange a ride-hail or driver so nobody needs to drive after tasting.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Couples
- Food
- Architecture
Nature · Table Mountain National Park
Table Mountain and the Aerial Cableway
The flat-topped mountain rises about 1,085 metres above the City Bowl.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Nature
Garden · Newlands
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Bring a picnic; the lawns below the mountain are one of the best places in the city for a long afternoon.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
What to pack
For highs near 25°C, lows near 15°C and 3 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Cape Town?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, February–April and November are better overall. Compare every month.
Cape Town in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Cape Town?
It is a shoulder-season month. Hot, dry and windy summer holiday season; the busiest and highest-priced weeks run from mid-December into January.
+How warm is Cape Town in December?
Average highs are around 25°C (77°F) and lows around 15°C (59°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Cape Town in December?
Expect rain on about 3 days of the month, so it is usually dry.