Month guide · Cape Town · South Africa
Cape Town in January
What January is really like in Cape Town: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
January is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 26°C (79°F), lows of 16°C (61°F), about 3 rainy days and roughly 14.2 hours of daylight. Peak summer: dry, sunny and often windy, with long evenings and the busiest beaches and restaurants of the year.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 26°C (79°F) / 16°C (61°F)
- Rainy days
- About 3
- Daylight
- About 14.2 hours
- Sea temperature
- 15°C (59°F)
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in January
January is the 2nd-warmest month in Cape Town: days average 26°C (79°F) against a yearly average high of 22°C (72°F), and nights fall to about 16°C (61°F). Rain falls on roughly 3 of its 31 days. Compared with December (25°C (77°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs stay near 27°C (81°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 05:51
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 20:00
- Daylight
- About 14.2 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, January rates 5 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in January). Book accommodation early: January is one of the pricier months.
Events in January
- Cape Town Minstrel Carnival — street parade (usually 2 January, Tweede Nuwe Jaar)
- Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts (Sundays through summer)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Nature · Table Mountain National Park
Table Mountain and the Aerial Cableway
Check the cableway's live status on the morning you plan to go and take the first clear, calm day you get; the 'tablecloth' cloud can roll in by midday.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Nature
Garden · Newlands
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Set on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch grows plants native to southern Africa, including proteas, cycads and fynbos.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Signal Hill
Lion's Head hike
If you go for sunset, carry a head torch for the descent and walk down with other hikers.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Active
- Outdoors
Viewpoint · Hout Bay
Chapman's Peak Drive
This toll road carved into the cliffs between Hout Bay and Noordhoek has around 114 bends above the Atlantic, with lay-bys for photographs of Hout Bay harbour and the Sentinel.
- Time needed
- 30–60 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Photo spot
- Couples
What to pack
For highs near 26°C, lows near 16°C and 3 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January 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 January a good time to visit Cape Town?
It is a shoulder-season month. Peak summer: dry, sunny and often windy, with long evenings and the busiest beaches and restaurants of the year.
+How warm is Cape Town in January?
Average highs are around 26°C (79°F) and lows around 16°C (61°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Cape Town in January?
Expect rain on about 3 days of the month, so it is usually dry.