December in Cape Town averages highs of 24 °C (75 °F) and lows of 16 °C (61 °F), with about 3 rainy days and 14 h 24 min of daylight. The sea is cold, around 14 °C (57 °F).
December weather in Cape Town at a glance
average high to low each dot ≈ 3 rainy days
Is December a good time to visit Cape Town?
Great time to go: comfortably warm and fairly dry. December is usually high season in Cape Town: book rooms early, as prices are typically at their highest.
Our rule: a month scores 2 points for comfortable average highs of 18–28 °C (1 point for 14–18 or 28–32 °C) and 2 points for 5 or fewer rainy days (1 point for 6–10). Average highs above 35 °C or below 8 °C make it a tough month whatever the rain. A rainy day here means 2 mm of rain or more. 4 points = great, 3 = good, 2 = mixed, 0–1 = tough.
Holidays and events in December 2026
- Wed 16 Dec: Day of Reconciliation public holiday
- Fri 25 Dec: Christmas Day public holiday
- Sat 26 Dec: Day of Goodwill (St. Stephen's Day) public holiday
Banks and many shops close on public holidays, and museums may change their hours, so check before you go.
Things to do in Cape Town in December
December's weather suits a mix of outdoor sights and museums, so the open-air ones come first.
- Table Mountain — cable car or hike; closes in strong wind outdoors
- Cape Point and Boulders penguins — full day outdoors
- V&A Waterfront outdoors
- Robben Island — book ahead outdoors
- Kirstenbosch Gardens outdoors
- Winelands day trip — Stellenbosch and Franschhoek outdoors
Where to stay: City Bowl or De Waterkant for central; Sea Point or Camps Bay for the coast; V&A Waterfront for convenience.
What to pack for Cape Town in December
- Light layers for the day.
- Comfortable walking shoes.
What a day in Cape Town costs
| Budget traveller | Mid-range | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical total per person, per day | €35–85 | €100–230 |
Excluding flights. December is usually high season in Cape Town: book rooms early, as prices are typically at their highest.
December in nearby cities
| City | High / low | Rainy days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cairo | 22° / 11° | 1 | Great time to go |
| Petra | 15° / 8° | 3 | Good time to go |
| Dubai | 26° / 17° | 1 | Great time to go |
Want the whole trip planned? Join the Journey waitlist: tell it where, when and your budget, and it plans every day hour by hour.
FAQ
Is December a good time to visit Cape Town?
By the numbers, December is a great time to go: comfortably warm and fairly dry, with average highs of 24 °C (75 °F) and about 3 rainy days. December is usually high season in Cape Town: book rooms early, as prices are typically at their highest. The best months for weather are April, November, December.
How warm is Cape Town in December?
Average highs are 24 °C (75 °F) and lows 16 °C (61 °F) (2015–2024 averages). The sea is cold, around 14 °C (57 °F).
Does it rain a lot in Cape Town in December?
Expect about 3 days with 2 mm of rain or more, about 28 mm in total. It is the 5th driest month of the year in Cape Town.
Sources: climate averages from Open-Meteo historical weather (ERA5 reanalysis, 2015–2024); sea temperatures from the Open-Meteo marine API (2023–2024); public holidays from Nager.Date. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of the month. Averages are a guide, not a forecast. Costs are typical ranges per person per day, excluding flights.