Average Monthly Sunshine in Cape Town

The graphs on this page shows the average number of hours per month and per day that Cape Town receives direct sunlight. The numbers are calculated over a 30-year period to provide a reliable average.

Monthly hours of sunshine

If you're visiting Cape Town, timing is key. In January, you can enjoy up to 338 hours of sunshine, while the shorter days of June provide just 175 hours. The total annual amount of sun is 3094 hours.

Daily hours of sunshine

In Cape Town, summer days are longer and more sunny, with daily sunshine hours peaking at 11.3 hours in January. As the darker season arrives, the brightness of the sun becomes less. June sees a soft sun for only 5.8 hours per day.

Cape Town’s total hours of sunshine compared to other major cities

Cape Town enjoys an average of 3094 hours of sunshine annually. Let’s compare this with some popular tourist destinations:

Athens, Greece, enjoys 2769 hours of sunshine each year, making it one of the sunniest destinations in the Mediterranean region.

In contrast, Reykjavík, Iceland, receives only about 1330 hours of sunshine per year, known for its frequently overcast and rainy skies.

Oslo, Norway, receives approximately 1690 hours of sunshine annually.

In Tokyo, Japan, the average annual sunshine is 1930 hours, with sunny periods between rainy seasons.

Other climate information

June, Cape Town’s wettest month, receives 19 mm of rainfall and has a maximum daytime temperature of 18°C. During the driest month February you can expect a temperature of 25°C.

For more detailed insights into the city’s temperatures, check out our Temperature page. To explore more about precipitation patterns, visit our Cape Town Precipitation page.