Summer
Dec → Feb24 to 26°
nights 16 to 17°
- 4 rainy days · 20 mm
- 12.9 h of sun
- sea 15°
When is the best time to visit Cape Town?
- Jan26°recommended
- Feb26°recommended
- Mar24°recommended
- Apr22°fair
- May19°not recommended
- Jun18°not recommended
- Jul16°not recommended
- Aug16°not recommended
- Sep17°not recommended
- Oct21°fair
- Nov22°recommended
- Dec24°recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Cape Town, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26° | 17° | 13.3 h | 16 mm | 3 d | 14° | ✓ |
| February | 26° | 17° | 12.2 h | 13 mm | 3 d | 15° | ✓ |
| March | 24° | 16° | 10.9 h | 45 mm | 5 d | 15° | ✓ |
| April | 22° | 14° | 9.9 h | 35 mm | 5 d | 14° | |
| May | 19° | 12° | 8.7 h | 77 mm | 8 d | 14° | |
| June | 18° | 11° | 8 h | 144 mm | 11 d | 14° | |
| July | 16° | 10° | 8.4 h | 137 mm | 11 d | 13° | |
| August | 16° | 9° | 9 h | 109 mm | 12 d | 14° | |
| September | 17° | 10° | 10 h | 56 mm | 8 d | 14° | |
| October | 21° | 13° | 11.9 h | 26 mm | 6 d | 15° | |
| November | 22° | 14° | 12.5 h | 27 mm | 7 d | 14° | ✓ |
| December | 24° | 16° | 13.1 h | 31 mm | 5 d | 15° | ✓ |
The four seasons in Cape Town, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Cape Town (city centre)) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Autumn
Mar → May19 to 24°
nights 12 to 16°
- 6 rainy days · 52 mm
- 9.8 h of sun
- sea 14°
Winter
Jun → Aug16 to 18°
nights 9 to 11°
- 11 rainy days · 130 mm
- 8.5 h of sun
- sea 14°
Spring
Sep → Nov17 to 22°
nights 10 to 14°
- 7 rainy days · 36 mm
- 11.5 h of sun
- sea 14°
Book early for November to March
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Cape Town, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In December there are 14h24 of daylight, in June 9h54, a difference of 4h30.
14h10Jan
13h21Feb
12h23Mar
11h17Apr
10h23May
9h54Jun
10h06Jul
10h52Aug
11h56Sep
13hOct
13h57Nov
14h24Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Cape Town (city centre)" (-33.92°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Cape Town, month by month
EventsKaapse KlopseJanuaryTwo Oceans MarathonMarch to AprilWhale seasonJuly to NovemberHermanus Whale FestivalSeptemberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
Sightseeing & walks: good conditions all twelve months.
- Long days: January, December
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Cape Town, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- JanuaryKaapse Klopse
In early January, the minstrel troupes of the Bo-Kaap parade in brightly coloured satin, with banjos and parasols, from the city centre to the stadium.
- March to AprilTwo Oceans Marathon big crowds
Over the Easter weekend, the ultra loops round the peninsula via Chapman's Peak, and the city fills with runners from all over the country.
- July to NovemberWhale season
From the southern winter to spring, right whales come to calve in the bays, visible from the cliffs of Hermanus.
- SeptemberHermanus Whale Festival big crowds
In late September, the small town two hours from Cape Town lines up concerts and markets while the whales blow just offshore.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Recommended26°17° at night
- 16 mm · 3 d
- 13.3 h
- sea 14°
High season, book early
February
Recommended26°17° at night
- 13 mm · 3 d
- 12.2 h
- sea 15°
High season, book early
March
Recommended24°16° at night
- 45 mm · 5 d
- 10.9 h
- sea 15°
High season, book early
April
Fair22°14° at night
- 35 mm · 5 d
- 9.9 h
- sea 14°
Busy, without the crush
May
Not recommended19°12° at night
- 77 mm · 8 d
- 8.7 h
- sea 14°
Low season, lower prices
June
Not recommended18°11° at night
- 144 mm · 11 d
- 8 h
- sea 14°
Low season, lower prices
July
Not recommended16°10° at night
- 137 mm · 11 d
- 8.4 h
- sea 13°
Low season, lower prices
August
Not recommended16°9° at night
- 109 mm · 12 d
- 9 h
- sea 14°
Low season, lower prices
September
Not recommended17°10° at night
- 56 mm · 8 d
- 10 h
- sea 14°
Busy, without the crush
October
Fair21°13° at night
- 26 mm · 6 d
- 11.9 h
- sea 15°
Low season, lower prices
November
Recommended22°14° at night
- 27 mm · 7 d
- 12.5 h
- sea 14°
Busy, without the crush
December
Recommended24°16° at night
- 31 mm · 5 d
- 13.1 h
- sea 15°
High season, book early
Read the twelve months in detail
January. 26 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Hardly any rain (16 mm over 3 days). Plenty of sunshine: 13.3 h a day on average. Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
February. 26 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Hardly any rain (13 mm over 3 days). Plenty of sunshine: 12.2 h a day on average. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
March. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 45 mm over 5 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.9 h a day on average. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
April. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 35 mm over 5 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.9 h a day on average. Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
May. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C early in the morning. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (77 mm). Expect 8.7 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (144 mm). Expect 8 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. Cool: 16 °C at best, 10 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (137 mm). Expect 8.4 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 13 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
August. Cool: 16 °C at best, 9 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (109 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9 h a day on average. Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
September. Cool: 17 °C at best, 10 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (56 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10 h a day on average. Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Mild, 21 °C in the afternoon and 13 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 26 mm over 6 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11.9 h a day on average. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 27 mm over 7 days. Plenty of sunshine: 12.5 h a day on average. Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
December. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 31 mm over 5 days. Plenty of sunshine: 13.1 h a day on average. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Cape Town?
November to March: over these months, recorded highs range from 22 to 26 °C, with 5 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Cape Town (city centre)).
Which month should you avoid in Cape Town?
June: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 144 mm over 11 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Cape Town (city centre)).
What is the hottest month in Cape Town?
January, with 26 °C on average in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Cape Town (city centre)).
What is the coldest month in Cape Town?
July, with 16 °C at best during the day and 10 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Cape Town (city centre)).
What is the driest month in Cape Town?
February: 13 mm over 3 days of rain, against 144 mm in June, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Cape Town?
January, with 13.3 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in Cape Town?
The water stays cool all year (warmest 15 °C in February, measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast, Table Mountain): swimming is for the brave.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Cape Town guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit South Africa: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
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Photos: Lom Doudou / Pexels · Subhan Dodangoda / Pexels · Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Gu Bra / Pexels