Best time to visit Cape Town

The best time to visit Cape Town would be between the December and April months. The coming of these months, warm and dry weather in place, would be effective, with temperatures averaging between 18°C and 28°C (64°F and 82°F). It will be nice and conducive to travel around the city and its surroundings. This period post the peak tourist season offers a laidback atmosphere, not forgetting with plenty of sunshine to allow activities outdoors such as hiking Table Mountain or having some good times at the beaches.

Highlights

• Visit Cape Town from December to April for optimal beach weather, averaging 18°C to 28°C (64°F to 82°F), ideal for outdoor activities like hiking Table Mountain or beach visits.
• April to May is the shoulder season, offering cooler, pleasant temperatures around 20°C (68°F) with fewer crowds, perfect for exploring Winelands or Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
• June to August is the low season with cooler, wet weather averaging 18°C (64°F), suitable for indoor attractions or enjoying the lush countryside, with opportunities for value-seeking travelers.

Make sure to read all about the best time to visit South-Africa.

When is the best time to visit Cape Town?

For beach bums and anyone else keen on getting into the great outdoor life of this bustling city, the best time to visit Cape Town is December through April. This season provides just the right amount of warmth and sunny days with temperatures at around 23°C (73°F)—perfect for sunbathing at Clifton's or Llandudno beaches or hiking up Table Mountain.

For the most part, the shoulder season comes with cooler temperatures, averaging 20°C (68°F) through the daylight hours. The shoulder season from April to May mostly is most convenient for these interested in less crowded sights and the climate not being relatively warm. Great time to explore the Winelands or just take easy strolls in Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, as the landscape bursts into colors of autumn.

June to August marks the low season, with cooler, wetter weather, averaging 18°C (64°F). They say it's a perfect time of year for both value-seeking and fewer-crowds lovers of adventure. Cape Town's Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, or maybe a warm coffee shop in the city center, lures. Additionally, the surrounding countryside is lush and green, offering stunning landscapes for photography enthusiasts.

High season in Cape Town

When: October - December, January - April

January is one of the busiest months in Cape Town, which is different than the rest of South-Africa. Summers are typically hot and bright, with an abundance of events. Expect temperatures of up to 40°C.

For sun and swimming, the best time to visit is between October, November and mid-December and again from mid-January, February, March and April, when it’s light long into the evening and there’s an average of 10 hours of sunshine a day. 

Between mid-December and mid-January, the whole region becomes congested as the nation takes its annual seaside holiday. If this is when you plan to visit, arrange accommodation and transport well in advance, and expect to pay considerably more for your bed than during the rest of the year.

Shoulder season in Cape Town

When: April - May

March marks the start of the shoulder season, when the summer vacation throngs have dispersed. Several major events also take place and visitors can look forward to fewer weather extremes.

Despite its shorter daylight hours, the autumn period, from April to mid-May, has a lot going for it: the southeaster drops, air temperatures remain pleasantly warm and the light is sharp and bright. 

For similar reasons the spring month of September can be very agreeable, with the added attraction that  following the winter rains, wildflowers bloom and the peninsula tends to be at its greenest.

Low season Cape Town

When: June - August

The winter months, as you’d expect, bring with them the coldest and wettest climes. Additionally, many of Cape Town’s primary attractions shut down for the season, including many of those at Table Mountain.

Although spells of heavy rain occur in winter (June, July, August and being September), it tends to be relatively mild, with temperatures rarely falling below 6°C. Glorious sunny days with crisp blue skies are common, and you won’t see bare wintry trees either: indigenous vegetation is evergreen and gardens flower year-round. 

It’s also in June that the first migrating whales begin to appear along the southern Cape coast, usually staying till the end of November