South Africa Cape Town Weather in May — Climate Guide
May in Cape Town is moderate
May is moderate for Cape Town.
Cool autumn. Hotel rates moderate, crowds thin out.
Travel score
Cape Town May Weather Stats
Avg High
20°C
Avg Low
10°C
Rainy Days
8
100mm total
Sunshine
6h
Daily avg
Humidity
78%
high
UV Index
5
Moderate
Wind
15 km/h
Gusts 30
Sea Temp
16°C
cold for swimming
Crowds
Moderate
At attractions
May Sunrise & Sunset
Air Quality
PM2.5
15 μg/m³
PM10
28 μg/m³
Status
good
Feels-Like Temperature & Wind
Feels like
Daytime
21°C
Nighttime
10°C
Humidity and wind affect how the actual temperature feels.
Wind
15 km/h
Max gust 30 km/h
Activities Recommended for May
May Travel Pros & Cons
Pros
- Hotel rates moderate
- Quieter than peak months
Cons
- Rain 8 days/month
- Cool 10-20°C
May Events & Festivals
- Korean Golden Week shoulder
- Mid-autumn
Cape Town in May — Full Picture
Cool autumn. Hotel rates moderate, crowds thin out.
What to Wear & What to Pack
Sweater and light jacket.
Packing Checklist
Seasonal Weather Overview
Spring (Mar·Apr·May)
Current23°C
12°C
6.3/mo
Summer (Jun·Jul·Aug)
17.7°C
7.7°C
8.7/mo
Autumn (Sep·Oct·Nov)
22°C
12°C
5.7/mo
Winter (Dec·Jan·Feb)
26.7°C
15.7°C
3.7/mo
Cape Town Monthly Weather Comparison
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun | Humid | UV | Crowd | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January (Best) | 27° | 16° | 4d·15mm | 11h | 65% | 11 | Very busy | Peak |
| February (Best) | 27° | 16° | 4d·20mm | 11h | 65% | 11 | Very busy | Peak |
| March (Best) | 26° | 14° | 5d·25mm | 10h | 70% | 10 | Very busy | Peak |
| April (Best) | 23° | 12° | 6d·50mm | 8h | 73% | 7 | Busy | Shoulder |
| 20° | 10° | 8d·100mm | 6h | 78% | 5 | Moderate | Shoulder | |
| 18° | 8° | 9d·110mm | 6h | 80% | 3 | Quiet | Low season | |
| 17° | 7° | 9d·90mm | 6h | 80% | 3 | Quiet | Low season | |
| 18° | 8° | 8d·80mm | 7h | 75% | 4 | Moderate | Low season | |
| 20° | 10° | 7d·50mm | 8h | 70% | 6 | Busy | Shoulder | |
| October (Best) | 22° | 12° | 6d·35mm | 10h | 70% | 9 | Busy | Shoulder |
| November (Best) | 24° | 14° | 4d·20mm | 11h | 65% | 10 | Very busy | Peak |
| December (Best) | 26° | 15° | 3d·15mm | 11h | 65% | 11 | Very busy | Peak |
View Other Months
Cape Town May Hotel Picks
Frequently Asked Questions
Is May a good time to visit Cape Town?
Cape Town in May is moderate. Tourist crowds are moderate and flight/hotel prices are shoulder.
What's the average temperature in Cape Town in May?
Cape Town May averages a high of 20°C and a low of 10°C.
Does it rain much in Cape Town in May?
Cape Town May averages 100mm of rainfall over about 8 rainy days.
What should I wear in Cape Town in May?
Sweater and light jacket.
What time are sunrise and sunset in Cape Town in May?
Cape Town May sunrise is 07:15 and sunset is 17:50, with 10h 35min of daylight.
What's the air quality like in Cape Town in May?
Cape Town May air quality (AQI) averages 40, rated Good. PM2.5 averages 15μg/m³.
What activities are recommended in Cape Town in May?
In May, Cape Town is great for Table Mountain (weather permitting), Stellenbosch winelands, Indoor cultural sites.
Is May peak season in Cape Town?
Cape Town May crowds are moderate and prices are shoulder. You can travel relatively comfortably without long queues.
Best Months to Visit Cape Town
View Other Months
Why you can trust weather guide
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.