Cape Town · South Africa
December
Peak summer with Christmas premium — spectacular conditions, maximum prices.
Strong option
#12 of 12 months
There are better months for Cape Town — see the full ranking below.
See when to go instead →Climate
High
25.6°C
Low
15.3°C
Rain
16mm
Sun
11hrs/day
30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5
How December scores in Cape Town
Weather
Outstanding
Value
Low
Crowds
Low
Events
Very good
Atmosphere
Excellent
What you gain in December
- ↑Summer at its finest: 26°C, 11 hours of sunshine, and the Atlantic seaboard in full swing
- ↑New Year's Eve fireworks over Table Mountain: one of the world's great New Year's Eve settings
- ↑Cape Town jazz and outdoor festival season peaks — live music at the Waterfront and Green Point throughout the month
What you sacrifice
- ↓Peak of peak pricing: accommodation rates match February at annual highs
- ↓City extremely busy: Waterfront, Chapman's Peak, and Cape Point all heavily crowded
- ↓New Year accommodation surcharges make the final week the most expensive period of the year
How December compares to September (best month)
| Factor | December | September ★ |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | 9 | 7 |
| Value | 2 | 7 |
| Crowds | 2 | 7 |
December in other destinations
Lisbon (14.4°C)Barcelona (13.8°C)Tokyo (12°C)Bali (30.3°C)Santorini (14.5°C)Paris (6.9°C)New York (5.1°C)Marrakech (18.1°C)Amsterdam (6.4°C)Maldives (30°C)Rome (11.7°C)Bangkok (30.4°C)Istanbul (9.4°C)Vienna (3°C)Seoul (3.7°C)Dubrovnik (11.6°C)Rio de Janeiro (29.5°C)Kyoto (11.3°C)Phuket (31.8°C)Prague (3°C)Amalfi Coast (13°C)
Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within Cape Town, not across destinations. Methodology →