Cape Town weather in December
Cape Town averages 24°C by day and 16°C at night in December, with the sea at 14°C and about 28 mm of rain in the month. It warms up by about 2°C into January.
Day
24°C
Night
16°C
Sea
14°C
Rain
28 mm
Flight from London
12h
What December feels like
December is warm in Cape Town: T-shirt days, a light layer for evenings.
The sea is 14°C: cold for swimming, so plan on a heated pool.
It is dry: only about 28 mm of rain in the month.
That is 15°C warmer than an average December day in London.
Of the 56 sun destinations we track, Cape Town is the #33 warmest in December.
Going to Cape Town in December?
Share the TikToks and Instagram Reels you've saved for Cape Town to Dream Trip. It finds the places, pins them on a map and builds your days around them.
Want it warmer in December?
These are hotter than Cape Town this month for at most an hour and a half more flying:
Cape Town weather by month
December is highlighted. Compare with November and January, or see the full year in Cape Town.
Cape Town in December: quick answers
Is Cape Town hot in December?
December is warm in Cape Town: T-shirt days, a light layer for evenings. Average highs are 24°C and lows 16°C.
Can you swim in Cape Town in December?
The sea is 14°C: cold for swimming, so plan on a heated pool.
Does it rain in Cape Town in December?
It is dry: only about 28 mm of rain in the month.
What is the warmest month in Cape Town?
February, at an average high of 26°C. The coolest is July at 17°C.
How long is the flight to Cape Town from the UK?
About 12h direct from London, estimated from the 9,672 km distance. Check your airline for exact times.
Still choosing? See where is hot in December for every destination ranked by temperature, sea and flight time.
How we measured this
Averages of every day in December from 2016 to 2025, from the Open-Meteo historical weather archive (ECMWF ERA5 reanalysis). Sea temperature is the 2023 to 2025 average from the Open-Meteo marine archive. Rain is the average monthly total. Reanalysis describes an area about 25 km across, so sheltered resorts can run a degree or two warmer. Flight time is a distance-based estimate from London Heathrow.
Planning Cape Town in December?
Save the restaurants, beaches and views you find on TikTok and Instagram for Cape Town straight to a map, then let Dream Trip turn them into a day-by-day plan.
