Cape Town in January: a seasonal travel plan
Cape Town, South Africa. In january, the average daytime high is 21.4 °C and the night-time low is 18.0 °C. Daytime suits a longer city route; keep a break and some flexible time around midday.
Choose a month
Selected month: January
Temperatures by month
Air temperature: Cape Town
Contents
Weather at a glance
- Daytime high
- 21.4 °C
- Nighttime low
- 18.0 °C
- Monthly precipitation
- 12.9 mm
- Days with at least 1 mm
- 2.2
- Daylight
- 14.1 h
2015–2024 averages. Daytime temperature is the average daily maximum; nighttime temperature is the average daily minimum.
Early, middle and late month
| Period | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Days with at least 1 mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1–10 | 21.1 | 17.8 | 0.6 |
| Days 11–20 | 21.6 | 18.1 | 0.8 |
| From day 21 | 21.4 | 18.1 | 0.8 |
What this month is like
Cape Town, South Africa. In january, the average daytime high is 21.4 °C and the night-time low is 18.0 °C. Daytime suits a longer city route; keep a break and some flexible time around midday.
There are 2.2 wet days on average, with about 12.9 mm of precipitation. There are relatively few wet days, so build the plan around walks and keep one indoor option.
How to plan the day
Daytime suits a longer city route; keep a break and some flexible time around midday.
Average daylight is 14.1 hours, so put longer routes in the brighter part of the day.
What to pack
Pack light clothes, comfortable shoes and an extra layer for the evening. There are relatively few wet days, so build the plan around walks and keep one indoor option.
Precipitation and an alternative plan
There are relatively few days with precipitation. Build your plans around walks and keep an indoor activity for a wet-weather day.
What to pack
Bring light daytime clothes, comfortable shoes and an extra layer for cooler hours.
Compared with neighbouring months
Average daytime high: previous month — 20.4 °C, January — 21.4 °C, next month — 21.4 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 4.2, 2.2 and 2.0.
Things to do
Cape Town sits between Table Mountain and the Atlantic, and the land shapes every route: a cableway lifts visitors onto the flat summit while coastal roads lead to Camps Bay and the Cape of Good Hope. The centre is compact, yet the far corners need a car or a taxi.
Table Mountain
Reach the summit by cableway or on foot up Platteklip Gorge. Wind often stops the cable car, so choose a clear morning and keep a second day free. Start early before the cloud settles on the top.
Robben Island
The Robben Island ferry leaves from the V&A Waterfront and the tour is led by former prisoners. The trip takes half a day, and tickets are worth booking in advance.
Cape of Good Hope
The drive south over Chapman's Peak and past the penguin colony at Boulders Beach ends at Cape Point. It fills a whole day, and a car or an organised tour is essential.
Where to stay
City Bowl
The City Bowl is easy on foot: Company's Garden, Bo-Kaap and Long Street are close together. Some streets are noisy at night, and rooms nearer the gardens are calmer. The Iziko museums are inside the gardens.
V&A Waterfront
The V&A Waterfront suits families and anyone who wants a hotel by the water with restaurants and ferries on the doorstep. It is expensive and feels more like a resort than a working city. Ferries for Robben Island leave here.
Camps Bay
Camps Bay offers beach and Atlantic sunsets about fifteen minutes by car from the centre. It is windy, and the promenade is a good place for an evening walk. The water is cold even in summer.
Getting to and around Cape Town
Cape Town International Airport lies twenty kilometres east of the centre; taxis, ride-hailing and the MyCiTi bus cover the run into town. The centre is walkable, but beaches, winelands and the cape need a car. The Table Mountain cableway starts from its lower station on Tafelberg Road. Leave early for the cape while the roads are still quiet.
Three days in Cape Town
City Bowl and the Waterfront
Start in Company's Garden, walk into Bo-Kaap for the coloured houses and down to Long Street. In the afternoon head to the V&A Waterfront for the water and the sunset.
Table Mountain and the beaches
Climb Table Mountain in the morning while the sky is clear, then drive over Signal Hill to the beaches at Camps Bay. Return through Green Point in the evening. The summit is often cooler than the city.
The peninsula
Leave early for the south along Chapman's Peak Drive, stop at the penguins of Boulders Beach and walk out to Cape Point. Return through Simon's Town and Constantia. Fill the tank before you leave.
Weather throughout the year
| Month | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Precipitation, mm | Days with at least 1 mm | Daylight, h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21.4 | 18.0 | 12.9 | 2.2 | 14.1 |
| February | 21.4 | 18.0 | 10.2 | 2.0 | 13.3 |
| March | 20.3 | 17.0 | 28.0 | 5.2 | 12.3 |
| April | 19.0 | 15.7 | 34.9 | 5.2 | 11.3 |
| May | 18.0 | 15.1 | 65.5 | 8.6 | 10.4 |
| June | 16.6 | 13.9 | 137.3 | 12.3 | 9.9 |
| July | 15.5 | 13.0 | 120.2 | 12.4 | 10.1 |
| August | 15.5 | 12.9 | 80.7 | 11.2 | 10.9 |
| September | 16.2 | 13.4 | 51.2 | 9.0 | 11.9 |
| October | 17.9 | 14.7 | 30.7 | 5.2 | 12.9 |
| November | 19.0 | 15.7 | 22.4 | 3.9 | 13.9 |
| December | 20.4 | 17.2 | 16.0 | 4.2 | 14.4 |
Frequently asked questions
Cape Town: what is the temperature in January?
The average daytime high is 21.4 °C and the night-time low is 18.0 °C. Daytime is suitable for a longer walk around the city. Leave time for breaks and lunch along the way.
How many days with precipitation are there in January?
On average, there are 2.2 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation; the monthly total is 12.9 mm. There are relatively few days with precipitation. Build your plans around walks and keep an indoor activity for a wet-weather day.
What should I pack for walks in January?
Bring light daytime clothes, comfortable shoes and an extra layer for cooler hours.
How does the weather change from the start to the end of the month?
Average daytime highs by part of the month: 1–10 — 21.1 °C; 11–20 — 21.6 °C; 21 to month-end — 21.4 °C.
How many daylight hours are there in January?
The average is 14.1 hours. Long daylight hours make it easy to split a walk between morning and evening, with a longer break in between.
Is Cape Town worth visiting in January?
The climate suits a trip if daytime temperatures around 21.4 °C and nights around 18.0 °C work for you. Daytime suits a longer city route; keep a break and some flexible time around midday.
What can I do in Cape Town on a wet day in January?
There are relatively few wet days, so build the plan around walks and keep one indoor option. Keep a museum, market, café or another indoor route near your accommodation.
What should I pack for Cape Town in January?
Pack light clothes, comfortable shoes and an extra layer for the evening. Average daylight is 14.1 hours.