The sea temperature at Cape Town (Boulders Beach) today is 17.3 °C (63 °F) – icy water, most people reach for a wetsuit. The usual October average is 15.5 °C. Over the last 30 days the sea has warmed from 14 °C to 17.3 °C. Rarely swimmable – the sea seldom averages 18 °C or more. Source: Sea Temp Map (seatempmap.com) – NASA MUR satellite data and the Copernicus Marine sea forecast.
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16.7°C / 62.0°F | 17.6°C / 63.8°F | 19.5°C / 67.0°F |
| February | 15.9°C / 60.6°F | 17.9°C / 64.3°F | 19.5°C / 67.0°F |
| March | 16.0°C / 60.8°F | 16.7°C / 62.1°F | 18.0°C / 64.5°F |
| April | 14.1°C / 57.4°F | 15.2°C / 59.4°F | 16.4°C / 61.5°F |
| May | 15.0°C / 59.1°F | 15.6°C / 60.0°F | 16.2°C / 61.2°F |
| June | 14.8°C / 58.7°F | 15.3°C / 59.6°F | 15.7°C / 60.3°F |
| July | 14.2°C / 57.5°F | 14.6°C / 58.3°F | 15.2°C / 59.4°F |
| August | 14.3°C / 57.8°F | 14.5°C / 58.0°F | 14.7°C / 58.4°F |
| September | 14.3°C / 57.7°F | 14.9°C / 58.7°F | 15.3°C / 59.5°F |
| October | 15.0°C / 59.0°F | 15.5°C / 59.9°F | 16.0°C / 60.8°F |
| November | 16.3°C / 61.3°F | 16.5°C / 61.7°F | 17.1°C / 62.7°F |
| December | 16.5°C / 61.8°F | 17.8°C / 64.1°F | 18.9°C / 65.9°F |
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18.4°C / 65.1°F | 18.9°C / 66.0°F | 19.3°C / 66.8°F |
| February | 18.6°C / 65.4°F | 19.1°C / 66.3°F | 19.5°C / 67.0°F |
| March | 17.6°C / 63.6°F | 18.1°C / 64.5°F | 18.5°C / 65.2°F |
| April | 15.9°C / 60.6°F | 16.3°C / 61.4°F | 16.8°C / 62.2°F |
| May | 15.2°C / 59.3°F | 15.6°C / 60.1°F | 16.1°C / 60.9°F |
| June | 14.7°C / 58.4°F | 15.1°C / 59.2°F | 15.6°C / 60.2°F |
| July | 13.3°C / 56.0°F | 13.8°C / 56.8°F | 14.3°C / 57.8°F |
| August | 13.2°C / 55.7°F | 13.7°C / 56.6°F | 14.3°C / 57.7°F |
| September | 13.7°C / 56.7°F | 14.3°C / 57.8°F | 14.9°C / 58.9°F |
| October | 15.3°C / 59.5°F | 16.0°C / 60.7°F | 16.6°C / 61.8°F |
| November | 16.5°C / 61.8°F | 17.2°C / 62.9°F | 17.7°C / 63.8°F |
| December | 17.8°C / 64.0°F | 18.4°C / 65.1°F | 18.8°C / 65.9°F |
5-year averages (2021–2025). Min/Max are typical daily lows and highs, not record extremes. (Copernicus ERA5)
Boulders Beach holidays
In Simon's Town, on the False Bay side of the Cape Peninsula south of Cape Town, Boulders Beach is a set of small sandy coves sheltered by huge granite boulders and home to a colony of African penguins. The colony began with a few breeding pairs in the early 1980s, and the beach is now part of Table Mountain National Park.
Beaches
The main swimming beach at Boulders lies between the boulders, so the water in its coves is calm and shallow, which makes it popular with families; penguins often walk or swim among the visitors. Next to it, Foxy Beach is a penguin viewing area with boardwalks, where people watch the birds from above rather than go onto the sand. Entry to both areas is managed by Table Mountain National Park, and an entry fee applies. Along the False Bay coast to the north, Fish Hoek has a long sandy beach and St James is known for its colourful bathing huts and a tidal pool.
Things to do
Simon's Town is a naval base with a historic main road, a small harbour and Jubilee Square, where a statue of Just Nuisance, a Great Dane enlisted in the Royal Navy during the Second World War, looks out over the bay. Boat trips from the harbour head out into False Bay, and from about June to November southern right whales can often be seen from the shore. Cape Point, roughly 30 km away by road to the south, has a lighthouse on the cliffs and walking trails in the Cape of Good Hope section of the national park.
Weather and best time to visit
The Cape has a Mediterranean climate: summers from November to March are dry and sunny, often with a strong south-easterly wind known as the Cape Doctor, while winters from June to August are cooler and bring most of the year's rain. The penguins are at the colony all year, with breeding peaks in different seasons. December and January holidays are the busiest time at Boulders, so an early visit is quieter.
Hotels and where to stay
Simon's Town has guesthouses, bed and breakfasts and self-catering apartments on the slopes above the bay, many within walking distance of Boulders Beach, and a hotel on the harbour. Fish Hoek and Kalk Bay offer more choice a short drive north.
Signature hotels: Simon's Town Quayside Hotel (Simon's Town)
Airport and getting there
Cape Town International Airport (CPT) is about 45 km away, usually under an hour by car, depending on traffic. Metrorail's Southern Line runs along the coast from Cape Town to Simon's Town (check current services), and from the station Boulders Beach is about a 3 km walk or a short taxi ride.