As the second largest city in South Africa, Cape Town is one of the most popular destinations in the southwest of the country. The so-called Mother City is located at the foot of Table Mountain, the city’s landmark. According to vaultedwatches, Cape Town is ideal for a multi-day city trip with its numerous sights such as Table Mountain, Simons Town, Robben Island, Cape of Good Hope and Waterfront. In addition, many South Africa holidaymakers start their round trip in Cape Town, for example to ride the popular Garden Route. If you have a Cape Town vacation in mind, you can find out about the best time to visit Cape Town here . I will tell you about the climate in Cape Town and show you the weather conditions for every single month. In a climate table you can see the values for each month at a glance.
When is the best time to visit Cape Town?
Those who are not fans of snow and winter will enjoy the best time to travel to Cape Town . It prevails from October to April . The South African summer months of December , January and February are particularly popular with travelers. When winter sets in in Austria and Europe, you can travel to Cape Town and enjoy the sun and midsummer temperatures.
December, January and February are the best time to travel to Cape Town because the weather conditions are the best. The temperatures range between 25 and 27 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, the hours of sunshine are at their annual maximum – the sun shines a full 11 hours a day. Ideal for a sun-kissed vacation. At night it cools down to 15 to 16 degrees Celsius. You don’t have to fear much rain, it rains on a maximum of 5 to 6 days in December, January and February. If you want to take a few days of bathing, you can do so during these months. With a water temperature of 19 degrees Celsius, the Atlantic reaches its highest value and is a real refreshment on hot summer days.
Travel time for Cape Town at a glance:
- Best travel time: December, January and February
- Suitable travel time: October, November, March, April
The months of October , November , March and April are outside the South African summer months, but are still part of the suitable travel time for Cape Town . Spring is in October and November . The temperatures are summery, but not as hot as in the summer months. The temperature is between 21 and 24 degrees Celsius during the day. At night the temperatures are 11 to 12 degrees Celsius. If you are traveling in October or November, you should bring a light jacket with you. In March and April, the South African autumn months, the maximum temperatures are 23 to 25 degrees. The lowest values are between 12 and 14 degrees Celsius. In the spring and autumn months you can still enjoy a lot of sun – usually between 8 and 10 hours of sunshine a day. The Atlantic is still suitable for swimming, but it is even cooler than in the summer months. The number of rainy days in these months is in the single-digit range between 5 and 9 days with rain.
Climate and weather in Cape Town
Cape Town lies on the Atlantic Ocean in the Table Bay of Table Mountain. The Atlantic Ocean has a great influence on the climate in Cape Town . The location in the southern hemisphere ensures a moderate, subtropical climate . This results in stable temperatures throughout the year with little fluctuations in the course of the year. Mild but humid winters and dry and warm summers are further characteristics of the climate in Cape Town and the entire Cape region. The Benguela Current in the Atlantic is responsible for the mild and partly fresh air in the winter months. There are four seasons in Mother City: winter , spring , summer and autumn. The only but important difference to the seasons in Europe: In South Africa they run in opposite directions. That means, the South African summer prevails when it is winter here. The South African winter prevails when it is summer here. The same applies to the spring and autumn seasons. Cape Town scores with around 3,100 hours of sunshine a year. The humidity is low overall, so that holidaymakers can cope well with the heat even in the summer months. Sultry and oppressive air prevent the southeast winds that bring dry air into the country. These southeast winds are also called South Easter or Cape Doctor . The Cape Doctor blows from August to March, from the South African spring to summer. Why the wind Cape Doctor called? The wind force is so enormous that the cape doctor is blowing air pollution out of the city. What remains is a clear view, purified air and cooling on hot days.
In the summer months you can expect average daytime temperatures between 24 and 27 degrees Celsius. The thermometer can also climb higher. Due to the low humidity, the high temperatures are not a pain. At night it gets fresher and it cools down to 14 degrees. You have to fear the least number of rainy days in the summer months, 5 to 6 days. After summer, it’s autumn in Cape Town. The daytime temperatures are around 23 degrees Celsius in April. The closer it gets to winter, the more the temperatures drop. The daytime temperatures are just under 20 degrees Celsius. At night they drop to below 10 degrees Celsius. The rainy days are increasing and will reach the double-digit range from May. Half the month in August consists of rainy days, there are 14 in number. On these days it doesn’t have to rain through, there can be short showers that pass quickly. Due to the increased precipitation, the vegetation blooms and for this reason the winter months also become called green season . As soon as spring begins, the day and night temperatures rise again. The sun shows up more and the number of rainy days decreases. Finally, important information about the water temperature of the Atlantic: The Atlantic Ocean remains fresh all year round. The temperatures do not climb above 20 degrees Celsius and range between 14 degrees in winter and a maximum of 19 degrees in summer.
Climate table for Cape Town
| Jan | Feb | March | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Max. Temperature in ° C | 26 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 24 | 25 |
| Min. Temperature in ° C | 16 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 15 |
| Hours of sunshine per day | 11 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| Water temperature in ° C | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| Rainy days per month | 6 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 6 |
If you want to experience Cape Town from its most beautiful side, you should travel to the Cape region in the months of October, November, December, January, February, March or April. The months of December , January and February are considered the best time to travel to Cape Town because the weather is perfect and consistent. Summer temperatures, little rain and refreshing water temperatures attract holidaymakers. However, not only European holidaymakers are drawn to the city in Table Bay. South Africans also have holidays and like to spend them at home. Full hotels, overcrowded beaches and hotspots are the disadvantage of this travel time. For these reasons, many travelers move to October and November, March and April . The temperatures are still summery, but popular tourist spots are not overcrowded. Expect inconsistent weather, but the cheaper prices for flights and hotels make up for that.
