Cape Town in July

In July, Cape Town averages 17°C (63°F) during the day and 7°C (45°F) at night, with around 12 days of rain (82 mm total).

Shoulder

Conditions are cool — bring a jacket for evenings. Plan for unsettled weather and bring rain gear.

July in Cape Town is outside the typical sweet spot for sightseeing weather. It can still be a great time to visit if you have specific reasons (festivals, off-season pricing, etc.).

17°C
Avg high
7°C
Avg low
12
Rain days
82 mm
Rainfall

How July compares to the rest of the year in Cape Town

12th
warmest month of the 12
1st
wettest month of the 12
16%
of yearly rainfall falls in July
10 h 6 min
daylight on the 15th

July is one of the coolest months in Cape Town (12th of 12) and one of the wettest months (1st of 12). Daytime temperature runs 5°C below the annual average (22°C). July runs 1°C cooler than June (18°C) and warms a further 1°C into August (18°C).

July sunrise & sunset in Cape Town

🌅
Sunrise (15th)
7:49 AM
🌇
Sunset (15th)
5:54 PM
Day length
10 h 6 min

Times shown for Cape Town local time (Africa/Johannesburg), calculated for the 15th of July. They shift by a few minutes day to day across the month.

Photography light in Cape Town — July

Golden-hour and blue-hour windows for the 15th of July, in Cape Town's local time. Use these for soft warm light (golden) or cool architectural twilight (blue).

🌅 Blue hour (AM)
6:49 AM – 7:29 AM
🌄 Golden hour (AM)
7:29 AM – 8:29 AM
🌇 Golden hour (PM)
5:14 PM – 6:14 PM
🌆 Blue hour (PM)
6:14 PM – 6:54 PM
Milky Way galactic core
Fair
Core only briefly above the horizon — a marginal month even from dark sites near Cape Town.

📅 When to book — Cape Town in July

Travel writers usually only tell you when to go. Here's when to book flights and lodging for the best mix of price and availability, based on July's tier (Shoulder) and Cape Town's popularity.

✈ Flights — lead time
6-10 weeks
Sweet spot for value. Major fare-sales (US: Black Friday, EU: post-Easter) hit hardest in shoulder months for shoulder travel.
🏨 Lodging — lead time
4-8 weeks
Lots of selection. Look for shoulder-season packages — many hotels add value (free breakfast, spa credit) to fill rooms.

Crowds & pricing — July in Cape Town

Shoulder

Cape Town is in a shoulder season month — fewer crowds, slightly lower prices, and a calmer atmosphere than peak weeks. Most major sights stay open with normal hours, though a handful of seasonal restaurants or boat trips may run reduced schedules. Many regulars consider these months the best time to visit because you trade a small amount of weather reliability for a much more pleasant on-the-ground experience.

Why this tier: comfortable tourism weather

Sun & mosquito risk — July in Cape Town

☀️ UV Index (noon, 15th)
6.3
High
Cover up and apply SPF 30+ for any outdoor activity longer than 30 minutes.
🦟 Mosquito risk
●●○○○
Low
Mosquitoes present but manageable. Pack repellent (DEET 10-20%) for evenings near water.

UV is a clear-sky sea-level estimate — clouds, altitude, and reflective surfaces (snow, water) shift it ±30%. Mosquito risk is climate-derived only; for current disease advisories (dengue, malaria, zika) check the CDC or WHO travel pages before your trip.

Sea temperature in Cape Town — July

13.5°C (56°F)
very cold
thick wetsuit; tolerable only for short dips

Cape Town's sea temperature barely shifts through the year — within 1.6°C of itself, month to month.

Cape Town in other months

MonthAvg highAvg lowRainfallRain daysSnow days
January 26°C / 79°F 16°C / 61°F 15 mm 4
February 27°C / 81°F 16°C / 61°F 17 mm 4
March 25°C / 77°F 14°C / 57°F 20 mm 5
April 23°C / 73°F 12°C / 54°F 41 mm 8
May 20°C / 68°F 9°C / 48°F 69 mm 10
June 18°C / 64°F 8°C / 46°F 93 mm 11
July 17°C / 63°F 7°C / 45°F 82 mm 12
August 18°C / 64°F 8°C / 46°F 77 mm 11
September 19°C / 66°F 9°C / 48°F 40 mm 8
October 21°C / 70°F 11°C / 52°F 30 mm 7
November 24°C / 75°F 13°C / 55°F 14 mm 5
December 25°C / 77°F 15°C / 59°F 17 mm 4

Other cities with similar July weather

🌍 See the full ranked list of climate twins for Cape Town in July →

Frequently asked questions

How hot is Cape Town in July?

In July, Cape Town averages a high of 17°C (63°F) and a low of 7°C (45°F) — generally mild and pleasant.

Does it rain a lot in Cape Town in July?

July can be fairly wet in Cape Town, with about 12 rainy days on average.

Is July a good time to visit Cape Town?

July is mild and pleasant. It suits travelers who are comfortable with mild and pleasant weather; check the month-by-month ranking to compare it against the rest of the year.

What should I pack for Cape Town in July?

Pack a warm jacket and layers, plus a compact umbrella or rain jacket. See the full July packing list for Cape Town for a complete, climate-based checklist.

Open Cape Town on the interactive map

Check the live 10-day forecast and sunrise/sunset.