What to Wear in Cape Town

Short answer: layers, a windproof jacket in every season, proper trainers or hiking shoes, and high-factor sunscreen.

Cape Town's microclimates catch visitors out every day. It can be a windless 28°C on Clifton 4th Beach while the top of Table Mountain is wrapped in damp cloud and gusting at 12°C, and the headland at Cape Point feels braced against the Southern Ocean even in January. Never go up the mountain or out on the water without a warm top and a windbreaker in your daypack.

The city's everyday style is relaxed and outdoorsy. Even at top restaurants and wine estates in Constantia, smart-casual (neat jeans or linen trousers, a shirt or summer dress) is completely normal. You do not need formal evening wear unless you want to dress up.

Packing list

• Grippy trainers or light trail shoes: sandstone paths on Lion's Head and Table Mountain are rocky and steep.
• A windproof jacket and a fleece: essential for the mountain, the Robben Island ferry deck and evening breezes by the sea.
• Sun hat, sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen: the southern hemisphere UV is fierce even when the coastal breeze keeps the air cool.
• Swimwear and a quick-dry towel: for tidal pools and beaches; a short wetsuit helps if you surf at Muizenberg.
• A waterproof rain shell (May to September): winter storms blow sideways, so a hooded jacket works far better than an umbrella.
• A modest scarf or shawl: if you visit a mosque or community heritage site in the Bo-Kaap.
• A South African Type M plug adapter: three large round pins, easiest to pick up at the airport on arrival.