Cape Town in July: a seasonal travel plan
Cape Town, South Africa. In july, the average daytime high is 15.5 °C and the night-time low is 13.0 °C. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
Choose a month
Selected month: July
Temperatures by month
Air temperature: Cape Town
Contents
Weather at a glance
- Daytime high
- 15.5 °C
- Nighttime low
- 13.0 °C
- Monthly precipitation
- 120.2 mm
- Days with at least 1 mm
- 12.4
- Daylight
- 10.1 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 | 15.8 | 13.3 | 4.1 |
| Days 11–20 | 15.4 | 12.9 | 4.2 |
| From day 21 | 15.3 | 12.7 | 4.1 |
What this month is like
Cape Town, South Africa. In july, the average daytime high is 15.5 °C and the night-time low is 13.0 °C. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
There are 12.4 wet days on average, with about 120.2 mm of precipitation. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
How to plan the day
Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
Average daylight is 10.1 hours, so put longer routes in the brighter part of the day.
What to pack
Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed shoes. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
Precipitation and an alternative plan
Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.
What to pack
Pack a light jacket, a jumper, long trousers and comfortable closed shoes. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
Compared with neighbouring months
Average daytime high: previous month — 16.6 °C, July — 15.5 °C, next month — 15.5 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 12.3, 12.4 and 11.2.
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 July?
The average daytime high is 15.5 °C and the night-time low is 13.0 °C. Fit the main walking route into daylight hours; bring an extra layer for the evening.
How many days with precipitation are there in July?
On average, there are 12.4 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation; the monthly total is 120.2 mm. Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.
What should I pack for walks in July?
Pack a light jacket, a jumper, long trousers and comfortable closed shoes. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
How does the weather change from the start to the end of the month?
Average daytime highs by part of the month: 1–10 — 15.8 °C; 11–20 — 15.4 °C; 21 to month-end — 15.3 °C.
How many daylight hours are there in July?
The average is 10.1 hours. Spread walks between the morning and afternoon, then leave the evening for dinner or indoor activities.
Is Cape Town worth visiting in July?
The climate suits a trip if daytime temperatures around 15.5 °C and nights around 13.0 °C work for you. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
What can I do in Cape Town on a wet day in July?
Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag. Keep a museum, market, café or another indoor route near your accommodation.
What should I pack for Cape Town in July?
Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed shoes. Average daylight is 10.1 hours.