Reasons to visit Cape Town during winter

Winter has reached the Mother City and those winter chills are starting to creep in for most locals and visitors alike. Cape Town is known for its long summer days and sunny outdoor activities, causing many visitors to shy away from visiting during the winter months. However, contrary to popular belief, Cape Town is a hub of activity and beautiful days during the winter months of June to August.  With an ideal warm-summer and mild, moderately wet winter, Cape Town’s Mediterranean climate allows for you to explore the city all year round. You can expect an average maximum temperature of 18°C to 20°C, and scattered showers throughout the winter months. Scattered rain? Fear not, on rainy days you can explore all the interesting indoor activities that Cape Town has to offer. Take a look at our 8 reasons below to make Cape Town your perfect winter destination.

Reason 1: Off season pricing = tourist affordability.

The number one reason to choose Cape Town as your winter holiday destination is the affordability that Cape Town offers during these months. To travel to South Africa is inexpensive all year-round, however, in winter Cape Town offer’s off-season prices to its visitors. This means that you get even more for less. Bonus! Look out for off season specials which results in great value for money allowing you to stay even longer and experience all that Cape Town has to offer. Accommodation, flights, attractions and restaurants often have off season pricing specials. Affordability has never been more prominent.

Reason 2: The Cape Town scenery becomes a mecca of luscious greenery.

Cape Town’s scenery really shows off in the winter months with the greenery becoming even more luscious and the air becoming fresh and clear. Grass becomes bright green and as the rain falls more, the greener Cape Town becomes. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is a great place to visit during this time due to the richness of the flowers and the abundance of greenery around the garden. You should definitely take a walk over the incredible Boomslang Canopy Walk to see the trees in all their glory when visiting Kirstenbosch. Hiking is also very popular in the winter. The cooler weather adds to the freshness of the Cape and lets you enjoy your hike without the boiling sun belting down on you. A plus for those who tend to overheat quickly and are prone to sunburn.

Reason 3: Cape Town becomes a true surfer’s paradise.

Winter has been dubbed the surfing season of Cape Town by locals throughout the years. If you are a pro surfer, or a surfing enthusiast, then Cape Town beaches are the place to be in winter months. Muizenberg beach is a popular choice for surfers in Cape Town due to its central location between the world-renowned Table Mountain and Cape Point, and it is the perfect spot for beginners to take the plunge. You can expect a good swell of constant 2 to 4 foot sized waves with 4 to 6 foot sized waves the further you venture into the ocean. If you are more experienced and are looking for a challenge, you can take a short trip down the road to where you will find a surfer’s gem in the form of Kalk Bay Reef, an exposed reef break in Cape Town that draws in many local surfers daily. It is a shallow reef however, so you should only surf this spot during high tide due to the exposed rocks. Big Bay is our local surfer’s hub that is set against the perfect Table Mountain backdrop. Big Bay surfing spots are located next to Eden on the Bay centre which hosts a wide selection of restaurants and hang outs for after your surf, or if you would like to grab an ice cream.

Reason 4: You are guaranteed to see a shark!

Shark Cage Diving is the most successful during winter month’s in the Mother City. There is a 99% guarantee that you will see a shark if you embark on a cage diving experience during July to October. This is due to the clear visibility of the ocean water and the increased activity in the sharks feeding behaviour. During May to September, more than 60 000 Cape Fur seals, the Great Whites favourite meal of choice, journey to Shark Alley for their annual breeding. Shark Alley is a major hotspot to view Great White sharks located in Gansbaai. Shark Cage Diving is a very popular attraction for Cape Town that allows you to see these majestic sea creatures up close and personal in their natural habitat. This is a must see and there is no better time than winter.

Reason 5: Local is lekker.

Local really is lekker at The Cape Town Comedy Club. Located at the Pumphouse in the V & A Waterfront, Cape Town’s only dedicated comedy club is highly recommended for visitors who want to enjoy a laugh with the best comedians the Cape has to offer.  Rain or shine, the Cape Town Comedy Club promises endless laughter and will give you a taste of South African humour. There is also a restaurant at the club which will fill your tummy while the show commences. There is a new show every Wednesday through Saturday with an exciting line up of new budding talent and accomplished renowned comedians. A thrilling host ensures that your evening is packed full of amusement and humorous moments. Another local hang out is Bay Harbour Market in Hout Bay that is fill of culturally rich products and curios for you to explore, along with live music entertainment and an array of food stalls. District 6 Museum will transport you back to a time where residents used to live and prosper in the iconic District 6 area before they were forcibly removed and relocated to outlying areas by the Apartheid government. The museum celebrates these residents and shows the injustice of the past that has never been corrected. Cape Town is so rich in local culture and history that you will never be short of things to do and see.

Reason 6: We know how to keep you warm.

Red, red wine rolls off the tongue when thinking about keeping warm in Cape Town. With an abundance of winelands running throughout Cape Town, there is a wine to please every palate. Spier Wine Estate in Stellenbosch is a popular wine tasting venue in Stellenbosch that gives you the picturesque views of the Helderberg mountains as your backdrop as you enjoy award-winning wine paired with avant-garde style food. Spier offers 6 ranges with their signature range being a classic favourite. Another popular estate is the lovely Constantia Glen found below Constantia Nek. They offer a variety of wine tasting experiences that starts with the Classic Tasting at R55 per person. Constantia Glen offers four distinct wines, namely Constantia Glen Two, Constantia Glen Three, Constantia Glen Five, as well as a special Sauvignon Blanc. Constantia has been producing wine since 1685, making it the oldest wine producing region in the country. What is better than a glass of wine and a fire to warm you up. 

Reason 7: You are likely to have an absolute whale of a time.

Winter brings you the opportunity to spot whales along the Western Cape coasts regularly. The whales are in the area for over 3 months so you can decide when you would like to go watch them enjoying the waves. We recommend that you take a tranquil drive to Hermanus to really appreciate the whale sightings that the Cape has to offer. Hermanus has been labelled the land-based whale watching capital of the world and is a quaint seaside town located around 120kms from Cape Town. You can also take an exciting boat out to see that brings you a much closer look at the whales in their own playground. The Hermanus Whale Festival is also a top tourist pick that occurs in mid-September and celebrates all things whales with a focus on the migration of Southern Right Whales. It is currently the only eco-marine festival in South Africa.

Reason 8: Foodies can experience an array of winter meal delights.

Last on our list is probably my absolute favourite reason to come to the city in the winter months. The copiousness amounts of food spots throughout the town that will send your taste buds into overdrive of course. Not only are Capetonians food obsessed but we know what good food should taste like. You are guaranteed to find the perfect restaurant that you will love for life. A bonus is the special deals that many restaurants have such as buy one get one free, and so forth. Cost effective and delicious – how could that get any better? Well Cape Town doesn’t disappoint with many restaurants offering cosy fireplaces with a selection of hot chocolates never far on cold winter days. 

If you would like to taste the “best coffee in the world” be sure to stop at Truth Coffee in the heart of the CBD. For an authentic African dinner extraordinaire adventure, have dinner at Gold Restaurant in Green Point. Gold Restaurant is set in a safari style venue with live African acts and offers a 14-course menu. Posticino Italian Restaurant boasts some of the best pizza in town and is found on Main Road, Sea Point. If you love a gourmet burger, then Hudsons is for you. A US style restaurant in look and taste, Hudsons offers a selection of gourmet burgers, ribs, sliders, pizza, and more. Hudsons is located in Green Point. Homespun by Matt is a Table View local bistro style restaurant that has taken the Blouberg area by storm over the past few years with a wide selection of starters, mains and desserts that will blow your mind. Primi Piatti is our resident favourite for pizza and pasta dishes with it overlooking Table View beach with Table Mountain in the background. 

There is such a large selection to experience that we can’t include every establishment on our list. We suggest that you keep a look out for the ones that suit your taste.

As you can tell, Cape Town does not lose its incredible spark during the winter months, it really brings alive a different side to the Mother City for tourists to experience. Keeping warm is easy to do with the various eateries located in abundance throughout the city with delicious warm meals on offer along with a large selection of hot beverages. The city has many things to do during these months with Mother Nature really bringing Cape Town to life. Sharks and Whales are also very prominent during these months with spotting one of these creatures being almost guaranteed. And most importantly the special offers are not to be missed out on, so don’t delay your Cape Town visit just because it is winter. Come down and experience the best of Cape Town in winter.

Enjoy some wine and champagne in the Cape Winelands