Cape TownPhoto: Dietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0South Africa · Africa
Best time to visit Cape Town
Cape Town is in the Southern Hemisphere and has a Mediterranean climate with reversed seasons. Summer (December to February) is warm, dry and sunny; winter (June to August) is mild but noticeably rainier. The Atlantic stays cool even in summer.
Climate decision
Best travel months for Cape Town
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Historical monthly averages, not a weather forecast. Individual days and years can differ substantially.
Latest 5-year values 2021–2025
Average of the five most recent complete years compared with the 1991–2025 climate average.
May · Monthly precipitation
94.3 mm/month
1991–2025: 55.3 mm/month
+39 mm/month · higher
July · Wet days
14.4 days/month
1991–2025: 11 days/month
+3.4 days/month · higher
February · Mean daily maximum
21.1 °C
1991–2025: 22 °C
-1 °C · lower
January · Sea temperature
16.5 °C
1991–2025: 17.3 °C
-0.8 °C · lower
January: 0/155 days at or above 30 °C; highest single value 29.2 °C.
Five-year historical sample, not a weather forecast or long-term climate trend. Individual hot days can be far above the monthly mean.
Annual profile · Rainfall rhythm
Cape Town: rainfall separates the travel months
The driest and wettest months are 9.3 rainy days apart. Average daily highs vary by 6.4 °C, so both signals matter when choosing a month.
What matters
A warmer month is not automatically the most reliable. Read the drier windows alongside sunshine, sea temperature and the activity you have in mind.
Fewest rainy days
February · 2.1
Most rainy days
June · 11.4
Most sunshine
January · 10.5 h
Warmest sea
January · 17.3 °C
Month by month
Overall suitability per month. Tap a month for details.
All climate figures compared
The table is the complete accessible data view; the charts below highlight selected patterns.
| Month | Avg high °C | Avg low °C | Rainy days (est.) | Rain mm | Sun h/day (est.) | Humidity % | Wind m/s | Sea °C | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22 | 18 | 3 | 12 | 10.5 | 78 | 5.7 | 17 | 78 |
| February | 22 | 19 | 2 | 10 | 9.4 | 79 | 5.5 | 17 | 80 |
| March | 21 | 18 | 4 | 19 | 7.6 | 80 | 5.0 | 17 | 76 |
| April | 19 | 16 | 6 | 38 | 5.6 | 80 | 4.6 | 15 | 67 |
| May | 18 | 15 | 10 | 55 | 4.0 | 81 | 4.3 | 15 | 56 |
| June | 17 | 14 | 11 | 91 | 3.3 | 79 | 4.8 | 15 | 47 |
| July | 16 | 13 | 11 | 83 | 3.6 | 79 | 4.9 | 15 | 45 |
| August | 16 | 13 | 11 | 69 | 4.7 | 79 | 4.9 | 14 | 47 |
| September | 16 | 13 | 8 | 41 | 6.3 | 80 | 5.0 | 15 | 55 |
| October | 18 | 15 | 6 | 29 | 8.3 | 79 | 5.3 | 15 | 65 |
| November | 19 | 16 | 5 | 25 | 9.7 | 78 | 5.5 | 16 | 70 |
| December | 21 | 17 | 3 | 14 | 10.5 | 78 | 5.5 | 17 | 75 |
Climate through the year
Compare temperature, rainy days, sunshine and, for coastal destinations, sea temperature month by month.
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Where to stay in Cape Town
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The number is the overall climate score, not a similarity score.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Cape Town?
The strongest climate months are January, February, March, December. Values are historical averages, not a forecast.
Which month has the highest average daily maximum temperature in Cape Town?
The average daily maximum temperature in Cape Town is highest in February at around 22 °C.
When is the sea warmest at Cape Town?
In January, at around 17 °C.