Best time to visit Cape Town
Go inOctober–April
J26°F27°M25°A23°M20°J18°J18°A18°S19°O21°N24°D25°
Summer is windy and busy; March and April are calm and warm.
See Cape Town on the globeCape Town month by month
| Month | Rating | Avg high | Rain | Crowds | Flights | What’s on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Great | 26°C | Mostly dry | Peak crowds | Priciest | Kaapse Klopse |
| February | Great | 27°C | Mostly dry | Peak crowds | Priciest | – |
| March | Great | 25°C | Mostly dry | Moderate | Average | – |
| April | Great | 23°C | Some rain | Moderate | Average | – |
| May | Great | 20°C | Wet | Quiet | Cheapest | – |
| June | Good | 18°C | Wet | Quiet | Cheapest | Whale watching |
| July | Good | 18°C | Very wet | Quiet | Cheapest | Whale watching |
| August | Great | 18°C | Wet | Quiet | Cheapest | West Coast wildflowers, Whale watching |
| September | Great | 19°C | Wet | Quiet | Cheapest | West Coast wildflowers, Whale watching |
| October | Great | 21°C | Some rain | Moderate | Average | Whale watching |
| November | Great | 24°C | Some rain | Moderate | Average | Whale watching |
| December | Great | 25°C | Mostly dry | Peak crowds | Priciest | – |
Festivals, events and seasons in Cape Town
- January🎉 Kaapse KlopseThe minstrel carnival on 2 January.
- Jun–Nov🌿 Whale watchingSouthern right whales off Hermanus.
- Aug–Sep🌿 West Coast wildflowersNamaqualand blooms.
Good to know
- Flights to Cape Town are usually cheapest in May–September. The catch: May–September are rainy.
- Crowds and prices peak in December–February, so book early.
- The heaviest rain falls in July.
Table Mountain is one of the oldest mountains in the world.
Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Cape Town?
The best time to visit Cape Town is October–April. Summer is windy and busy; March and April are calm and warm.
What is the cheapest time to fly to Cape Town?
Flights are usually cheapest in May–September, when demand is lowest.
When is Cape Town busiest?
Cape Town is busiest in December–February.
What is the weather like in Cape Town?
February is the warmest month, with average highs of 27°C, and June the coolest at 18°C. The wettest period is May–September.
More places in South Africa
- Johannesburg best in Apr–Oct
- Kruger National Park best in Apr–Sep
- Pretoria best in Apr–Oct
Nearby destinations
- Maseru, Lesotho best in Apr–Oct
- Semonkong, Lesotho best in Apr and Sep–Oct
- Gaborone, Botswana best in Apr–Sep
- Windhoek, Namibia best in Apr–Oct
- Mbabane, eSwatini best in Apr–Oct and Dec
- Maputo, Mozambique best in Apr–Nov