Month guide · Cape Town · South Africa
Cape Town in October
What October is really like in Cape Town: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
October is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 21°C (70°F), lows of 11°C (52°F), about 5 rainy days and roughly 13 hours of daylight. Warming up, with green slopes and whales still around; the wind starts to pick up.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 21°C (70°F) / 11°C (52°F)
- Rainy days
- About 5
- Daylight
- About 13 hours
- Sea temperature
- 14°C (57°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in October
October is the 7th-warmest month in Cape Town: days average 21°C (70°F) against a yearly average high of 22°C (72°F), and nights fall to about 11°C (52°F). Rain falls on roughly 5 of its 31 days. Compared with September (19°C (66°F)), October is warmer; by November highs climb to around 24°C (75°F).
- Sunrise (15 October)
- About 06:04
- Sunset (15 October)
- About 18:59
- Daylight
- About 13 hours
- Sea
- 14°C (57°F)
Summer (December–February). 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.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, October rates 3 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in January). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in October
- Cape Town Marathon (usually October)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in October
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Beach · Muizenberg
Muizenberg Beach
Muizenberg's long sandy beach is lined with colourful Victorian-style bathing huts and has gentle, consistent waves that make it the city's main beginner surf spot.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Active
- Outdoors
- Free
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Historic site · Table Bay
Robben Island
Sit on the left side of the ferry heading out for the classic view back to Table Mountain.
- Time needed
- About 4 hours including ferries
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Iconic
Beach · Simon's Town
Boulders Beach penguin colony
A colony of endangered African penguins lives among the granite boulders near Simon's Town, about 45 minutes south of the city.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Nature
- Iconic
- Photo spot
Waterfront · V&A Waterfront
V&A Waterfront
Take a short harbour cruise at sunset for a view of Table Mountain from the water.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Shopping
- Food
- After dark
What to pack
For highs near 21°C, lows near 11°C and 5 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; comfortable walking shoes.
Is October a good time to visit Cape Town?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event 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 October a good time to visit Cape Town?
It is a shoulder-season month. Warming up, with green slopes and whales still around; the wind starts to pick up.
+How warm is Cape Town in October?
Average highs are around 21°C (70°F) and lows around 11°C (52°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Cape Town in October?
Expect rain on about 5 days of the month.