Cape Town weather in January
Cape Town averages 26°C by day and 17°C at night in January, with the sea at 14°C and about 15 mm of rain in the month. That is about 2°C warmer than December.
Day
26°C
Night
17°C
Sea
14°C
Rain
15 mm
Flight from London
12h
What January feels like
January is hot in Cape Town: proper beach weather.
The sea is 14°C: cold for swimming, so plan on a heated pool.
It is dry: only about 15 mm of rain in the month.
That is 18°C warmer than an average January day in London.
Of the 56 sun destinations we track, Cape Town is the #24 warmest in January.
Going to Cape Town in January?
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 January?
These are hotter than Cape Town this month for at most an hour and a half more flying:
Cape Town weather by month
January is highlighted. Compare with December and February, or see the full year in Cape Town.
Cape Town in January: quick answers
Is Cape Town hot in January?
January is hot in Cape Town: proper beach weather. Average highs are 26°C and lows 17°C.
Can you swim in Cape Town in January?
The sea is 14°C: cold for swimming, so plan on a heated pool.
Does it rain in Cape Town in January?
It is dry: only about 15 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 January for every destination ranked by temperature, sea and flight time.
How we measured this
Averages of every day in January 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 January?
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.
