South Africa's legislative capital sits between Table Mountain — one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature — and the Atlantic Ocean. Founded by the Dutch East India Company in 1652 as a supply station, it was the first European settlement in southern Africa. Robben Island, visible from the waterfront, held Nelson Mandela for 18 of his 27 years of imprisonment and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Nights sit around 10°C and afternoons around 20°C, though some nights drop to 6°C.
The year in Cape Town moves gently: summer afternoons sit around 27°C, winter ones around 18°C.
Some summer days reach 33°C, and some winter nights drop to 4°C.
Most of the rain falls in winter, least in summer. The wettest month is June, with 92 mm.
Wind is a factor: January averages 23 km/h, enough to notice on a terrace or a bike. Air quality is worth watching: April averages an AQI of 82, while November clears to 61.
Days stretch to about 14.2 hours of light in December and shrink to 9.8 in June — something to weigh if you work to a fixed timezone.
For what you're after, the best months in Cape Town are January – February. Expect fast internet (100 Mbps) and a moderate cost of living (about €1200 a month).
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