Cape Town in December

Climate

In December Cape Town experiences its hottest weather with daytime temperatures often rising into the mid 30’s. 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 by far the most popular summertime destination. Outdoor activities on Table Mountain and visits to Cape Point are equally great during this month.

On New Year’s Eve, the whole of Cape Town is abuzz with celebration and you’ll find events on the beaches, at restaurants, dance clubs and rooftop bars in the city. The biggest all-day event takes place in the V&A Waterfront which builds up to a spectacular fireworks display at midnight.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens plays host to 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 its surrounding areas. Restaurants are packed, accommodation is harder to find and more expensive, as are flights.