Western Cape, South Africa
Cape Town, South Africa
-33.925°, 18.424°
At a glance
- Currency
- South African rand (ZAR)
- UK visa
- Visa-free, up to 90 days
- Language
- Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Tswana, Southern Sotho, Tsonga, Swazi, Venda, Southern Ndebele
- Plug
- Type C/D/M/N, 230V / 50Hz
- Drives on
- the left
- Best entry
- CPT
- Safety
- Townships and isolated areas after dark warrant caution. Game reserves and tourist routes operate routinely.
When to go
Month by month →Best months: January, February, March.
- Excellent
- Good
- OK
- Avoid
How we score weather
How we score months: each starts at 50 and earns or loses points across three signals. Temperature in the 18 to 26°C comfortable band adds 30; 14 to 17°C adds 15; warm 27 to 30°C adds 10. Past 30°C or below 14°C the page starts taking points back, with a 30-point hit at the extremes (below 5°C or above 33°C). Rainfall under 60mm adds 15, 200mm costs 25, over 300mm costs 40. Sunshine over 240 hours adds 10; under 80 hours costs 20. The result lands in one of four bands: Excellent (80+), Good (60-79), OK (40-59), Avoid (under 40). Crowds and prices come from the events calendar, separately, so weather and busyness stay readable as two different signals.
Jan
26°
17mm
Feb
26°
9mm
Mar
24°
31mm
Apr
22°
30mm
May
20°
62mm
Jun
17°
127mm
Jul
17°
93mm
Aug
17°
76mm
Sep
18°
49mm
Oct
21°
34mm
Nov
22°
25mm
Dec
24°
25mm
What people who've been say
“The Franschhoek Wine Tram runs five colour-coded hop-on hop-off lines, each looping a different cluster of about eight estates across the valley. Tasting fees at the estates are separate and run R60 to R260 per person, so budgeting four stops in a day is more honest than chasing all eight. Not every line runs every day, and the operator itself recommends weekdays for a quieter experience.”
“Ferries leave the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V&A Waterfront at 09:00, 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00, and the full visit runs about 3.5 to 4 hours including both crossings. Tickets are subject to availability so the museum advises booking early, and any changes have to be made at least 48 hours ahead. If the ferry is cancelled for adverse weather or operational reasons you can reschedule or get a...”
“A full-day Cape Peninsula loop strings Muizenberg, Kalk Bay, Simon's Town, Boulders Beach, Cape Point and Chapman's Peak together as one drive. Chapman's Peak is the dramatic finale (R50 to 60 toll, drive it slowly), and Boulders Beach costs R152 per adult to walk the boardwalks above the African penguin colony. Plan an early start so Cape Point's gate fees and queues don't eat the afternoon, and...”
Trips through Cape Town
1Verified
Travellers who actually went, and shared the plan.
- Read plan →
Cape Town, Table Mountain, the peninsula drive, two wineland nights
Cape Town
Common questions
- When is the best time to visit Cape Town?
- January through March. Days run 16 to 26°C with rainfall under 31mm, the cleanest read of the year. Full month-by-month at /best-time/cape-town.
- How many days do I need in Cape Town?
- Cape Town fits in a 3-day window if you're just hitting the high points. 5 to 7 days if you're using it as a base for the wider region.
- Do I need a visa for Cape Town on a UK passport?
- Visa-free for up to 90 days on a UK passport.
- Is Cape Town safe?
- Townships and isolated areas after dark warrant caution. Game reserves and tourist routes operate routinely.
- What's the currency in Cape Town?
- South African rand (ZAR). 230V / 50Hz. Plug types C/D/M/N.
Similar destinations
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