May in Cape Town averages highs of 20 °C (67 °F) and lows of 12 °C (54 °F), with about 5 rainy days and 10 h 23 min of daylight. The sea is cold, around 14 °C (57 °F).
May weather in Cape Town at a glance
average high to low each dot ≈ 3 rainy days
Is May a good time to visit Cape Town?
Good time to go: comfortably warm and some rain. May is usually low season in Cape Town: rooms are typically easier to find and cheaper.
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 May 2026
- Fri 1 May: Workers' 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 May
May'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 May
- Light layers for the day and a jumper for evenings, which cool to 12 °C (54 °F).
- 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. May is usually low season in Cape Town: rooms are typically easier to find and cheaper.
May in nearby cities
| City | High / low | Rainy days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cairo | 34° / 19° | 0 | Mixed weather |
| Petra | 28° / 17° | 0 | Good time to go |
| Dubai | 37° / 25° | 0 | Tough month |
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FAQ
Is May a good time to visit Cape Town?
By the numbers, May is a good time to go: comfortably warm and some rain, with average highs of 20 °C (67 °F) and about 5 rainy days. May is usually low season in Cape Town: rooms are typically easier to find and cheaper. The best months for weather are April, November, December.
How warm is Cape Town in May?
Average highs are 20 °C (67 °F) and lows 12 °C (54 °F) (2015–2024 averages). The sea is cold, around 14 °C (57 °F).
Does it rain a lot in Cape Town in May?
Expect about 5 days with 2 mm of rain or more, about 58 mm in total. It is the 5th wettest 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.