Month guide · Cape Town · South Africa
Cape Town in July
What July is really like in Cape Town: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Josephou, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
July is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 18°C (64°F), lows of 7°C (45°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 10.1 hours of daylight. Midwinter: rainy spells, snow on distant mountains and the lowest prices; South African school holidays add some domestic visitors.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 18°C (64°F) / 7°C (45°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 10.1 hours
- Sea temperature
- 13°C (55°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Lowest
Weather in July
July is the 11th-warmest month in Cape Town: days average 18°C (64°F) against a yearly average high of 22°C (72°F), and nights fall to about 7°C (45°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with June (18°C (64°F)), July is about as warm; by August highs stay near 18°C (64°F).
- Sunrise (15 July)
- About 07:49
- Sunset (15 July)
- About 17:55
- Daylight
- About 10.1 hours
- Sea
- 13°C (55°F)
Spring (September–November). Wildflowers on the West Coast, peak whale season at Hermanus and warming days, with the southeaster returning in November.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, July rates 2 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 1 for hotel prices (highest in January). That makes July one of the better-value months to book.
Events in July
July has no major recurring festival in Cape Town, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in July
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
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
Castle · City Bowl
Castle of Good Hope
Built by the Dutch East India Company between 1666 and 1679, the pentagonal castle is the oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Kids
Garden · City Bowl
Company's Garden
Walk through it between Bo-Kaap and Kloof Street; it is the most pleasant route across the city centre.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- History
Viewpoint · Signal Hill
Signal Hill
The rounded hill above Sea Point and the Waterfront can be driven almost to the top, where lookouts face the Atlantic, the stadium and the city.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- After dark
What to pack
For highs near 18°C, lows near 7°C and 10 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is July a good time to visit Cape Town?
A quieter month with trade-offs. If your dates are flexible, February–April and November are better overall. Compare every month.
Cape Town in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is July a good time to visit Cape Town?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Midwinter: rainy spells, snow on distant mountains and the lowest prices; South African school holidays add some domestic visitors.
+How warm is Cape Town in July?
Average highs are around 18°C (64°F) and lows around 7°C (45°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Cape Town in July?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.