Best Time to Visit Cape Town

Climate

February has hot and sunny days that often push temperatures over 30°C/86°F. Since this is the dry season and rain is scarce. Most days have clear blue skies but expect the occasional windy day. Evenings are generally mild and pleasant.

Best Regions

• Wine lovers have plenty to look forward to in February as two of the nation’s top wine regions, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, host wine festivals in February.
• With the holiday season in the rearview mirror, Cape Town’s beaches are less populated, yet the weather is still perfect for a day by the sea.
• The city center hosts the acclaimed Cape Town Art Fair at mid-month and the vibrant Cape Town Pride Festival at the end of the month.
• Dance music lovers can look forward to the famous Cape Town Electronic Music Festival in various locations around the city.
• Travel Tips

By February, the peak holiday season in Cape Town is over, school terms have resumed, and residents are back at work, so popular destinations are less crowded, and accommodation and flights are cheaper.

Climate

March has some of the best weather of the year since daytime temperatures are still balmy while the windy days of peak summertime fade away. Expect daytime temperatures in the mid 20°C/68°F, mild evenings, and little to no rain.

Best Regions

• March is a busy month for sports enthusiasts as Cape Town hosts the Cape Cycle Tour, Cape Epic, and the Two Oceans Marathon.
• The Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in the Southern Suburbs hosts a series of much-loved open-air summer sunset concerts.
• The inner city hosts the colorful Cape Town Carnival and the International Jazz Festival at the international conference center.
• Music lovers can look forward to the KDay Festival at Meerendal Estate near Durbanville.
• The worldwide EDM festival, Ultra, comes to Cape Town in March. This popular event features a lineup of the world’s top dance music DJs.

Travel Tips

March is much quieter than the peak holiday season, and flights and accommodation are cheaper. There aren’t many reasons not to do a Cape Town holiday in March but do take into account that the city becomes very congested and sees road closures during the big sporting events this month.

Climate

The month of April sees autumn arrive in Cape Town, and the heat and wind of the peak summer months disappear. Days are generally fair with clear skies and the average temperature in the low to mid 20°C/68°F. Evenings are generally mild and pleasant.

Best Regions

• Hiking on the Table Mountain range is excellent this time of year since daytime temperatures are cooler and it’s not as windy.
• The last of the open-air Kirstenbosch Summer Concerts, featuring top local and international musical artists, occur during April.
• Various venues across Cape Town, including the V&A Waterfront, Kirstenbosch, and the Cape Winelands, host the last of summer-long pop-up movie screenings called the Galileo Open Air Cinema.

Travel Tips

Accommodation prices are lower at this time of the year, the weather is cooler but not yet rainy, and Cape Town sees fewer tourists. Try to avoid Easter Weekend towards the end of the month when Cape Town is a popular destination for locals.

Climate

Winter arrives in Cape Town, but not with great force, as the city experiences a fairly mild winter. Daytime temperatures average just below the 20°C/68°F mark, while evenings can drop to around 10°C/50°F. Expect some cloudy and rainy days.

Best Regions

• In response to the colder weather Cape Town moves its social scene indoors. It’s the perfect time to explore indoor markets, live music nights, theater performances, and classic movie screenings at the iconic Labia Theatre.
• The Cape Town Big Band Jazz Festival takes place at the end of the month at the Baxter Theatre in Rondebosch.
• In the Cape Winelands, Stellenbosch hosts the annual Oyster & Bubbly festival, while the Franschhoek Literary Festival is centered around writers, classical concerts, and fine dining.

Travel Tips

The cooler weather and coming winter mean there aren’t many outdoor activities, but Cape Town makes up for it with great indoor events. Accommodation and flights are generally at their cheapest around this time of the year.

Climate

June is the first proper winter month in Cape Town and sees chilly, rainy, and windy days. Daytime temperatures only occasionally climb above 20°C/68°F, and evenings are usually wet and cold.

Best Regions

• The whale watching season starts in June when the gentle ocean giants migrate north to warmer climates. Sightings are best in False Bay, Gansbaai, and the town of Hermanus, about one hour from Cape Town.
• Robertson in the Cape Winelands hosts a popular wine festival at the start of the month called the Wacky Wine Weekend.
• Experienced surfers prefer Muizenberg in winter as the waves are best this time of the year.

Travel Tips

While outdoor activities are limited by cold weather, Cape Town’s social scene is still buzzing with plenty of indoor events. If you can handle the colder weather, you’ll also save with lower accommodation and flight prices.

Climate

Winter is at its peak in July, with daytime temperatures on most days struggling to exceed 20°C/68°F, although you might encounter the occasional mild day. Evening temperatures can drop below 10°C/50°F, and you can also expect a fair bit of rain and wind.

Best Regions

• On rainy days, visits to the Two Oceans Aquarium, Zeitz Mocaa, and the Cape Town Comedy Club in the V&A Waterfront make for a great day out, as do craft beer tastings in Newlands or wine tastings in the Cape Winelands and Constantia.
• In rebellion against the cold weather, restaurants across the city turn cozy with roaring fireplaces at night and live music offerings to warm cold bones. Evenings at the Labia, Artscape, or Fugard theaters are a treat, and throughout July, the Baxter Theatre in Rondebosch hosts a comedy festival called the Funny Festival.
• The Cape Winelands town of Franschhoek celebrates its French roots with Bastille Day on the 14th of July.

Travel Tips

Cold, wet and windy weather lessen the city’s outdoor activities and events, but Capetonians have long since learned to simply move the vibe indoors. Local schools have their winter holidays at the month’s end, leading to crowds at popular tourist destinations.

Climate

August sees the last of the winter rains with some wet and windy days, although sunny days with clear skies are not uncommon. Daytime temperatures hover around 20°C/68°F while evenings are chilly.

Best Regions

• Towards the end of the month, the Flower Season arrives with the first hint of Spring. The best region for seeing colorful wildflower displays is along Table Bay and northward up the West Coast.
• Migrating Southern Right, Bryde’s, and Humpback whales can be spotted in the waters of False Bay, Gansbaai, or Hermanus (one hour from Cape Town).

Pros and Cons

The weather can be unpleasant, with some days experiencing four seasons in a day. However, August is a quieter time in Cape Town and less populated by visitors, so flights and accommodation are cheaper.

Climate

Spring officially arrives in Cape Town on the 1st of September, and you can expect mild days with average temperatures in the low to mid 20°C/68°F. Rainy days are fewer, but evenings can still get chilly.

Best Regions

• Springtime brings a stunning burst of flowers that turn the landscape into a sweeping kaleidoscope of color. The best regions for the flower season are on the northwestern coastline, but good floral displays can also be enjoyed along the West Coast an hour outside Cape Town.
• The Cape Winelands celebrate spring mid-month with the two-day Franschhoek Uncorked Festival. At the same time, venues all over Cape Town’s metropole play host to performance arts during the Cape Town Fringe Festival.
• September is peak whale watching season. The quaint town of Hermanus, the country’s top whale-watching destination, hosts the popular annual Whale Festival at the end of the month.

Pros and Cons

September is a great time to visit Cape Town, but the weather might not let you fully enjoy the beaches just yet. Local schools have a week-long break at the end of the month, bringing more visitors to the city’s tourist attractions.

Climate

October enjoys very mild weather with daytime temperatures hovering around the low to mid 20°C/68°F. A few rainy days may be expected, while evenings are cool but not too cold.

Best Regions

• In the first week of October, one of South Africa’s top outdoor music festivals, Rocking the Daisies, takes place just outside the city. The lineup draws top international and local musos.
• Whale watching is good during October. Keep an eye out for these sea creatures in the waters of False Bay, or take a day trip out to the town of Hermanus further north.

Pros and Cons

October often has beautiful mild and sunny days perfect for the beach and outdoor activities, and since it’s not yet peak season, you won’t find many tourists around. Accommodation and flights are also cheaper.

Climate

In November, things start hotting up as summertime arrives in Cape Town. Days are generally hot with clear skies, and temperatures often climb over 30°C/86°F. Rain is scarce, and evenings are warm and pleasant.

Best Regions

• November is a great time to visit Cape Town’s best beaches, especially those of Clifton and Camps Bay, before the peak holiday season in December.
• Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens host the much-loved Summer Sunset Concerts series that sees top local musicians and international guests perform on an open-air stage.
• The Wavescape Surf & Ocean festival takes place at various venues around the city. The festival focuses on ocean-conscious events with local and international movie screenings, beach cleanups, art exhibitions, and informational courses.

Pros and Cons

In November, you get all of the excellent summer weather but much fewer visitors at popular tourist sites. There’s not much of a downside to visiting Cape Town this month, and you might even grab some accommodation specials before the peak holiday season truly kicks in.

Climate

Cape Town experiences its hottest weather in December, with daytime temperatures often rising into the mid 30°C/86°F. Expect hot and cloudless days, long daytime hours, warm nights, and little to no rain. December sees the occasional very windy day.

Best Regions

• The warm weather makes Cape Town’s beaches the most popular summertime destination. Outdoor activities on Table Mountain and visits to Cape Point are equally great this month.
• On New Year’s Eve, Cape Town is abuzz with celebration, and you’ll find events on the beaches, restaurants, dance clubs, and rooftop bars in the city. The biggest all-day event occurs in theV&A Waterfront, which builds up to a spectacular fireworks display at midnight.
• Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens hosts a series of open-air music shows called the Summer Sunset Concerts, featuring top local musos and a handful of international artists.
• Various venues across Cape Town, including the V&A Waterfront, Kirstenbosch, and the Cape Winelands, play host to a summer-long series of popup movie screenings called the Galileo Open Air Cinema.

Pros and Cons

Cape Town is alive with events, festivals, concerts, and loads of outdoor activities. Unfortunately, the holiday season also draws thousands of visitors to the city and surrounding areas. Restaurants are packed, accommodation is harder to find and more expensive, as are flights.