Cape Town winters are known to be wet and grey. What locals like to keep quiet is the fact that in between the miserable days are beautiful, blue-skied, crisp ones. That's why it's called 'The Secret Season'. It is a great time to visit Cape Town, with fewer tourists about and no crowds to deal with. And ... even on rainy days, there are plenty of things to do in Cape Town.
Here we list just a few of the rainy day things to do when the foul winds from the northeast blow in the clouds and rain. There's no need to suffer from Cabin Fever during winter in Cape Town!
This soundtrack of Annie Lennox, performed in Cape Town during the 2003 46664 concerts in honor of our beloved Madiba, is the perfect accompaniment to a rainy day adventure.
Take the train from central Cape Town to seaside Kalk Bay. The journey's final stretch hugs the coastline and offers breathtaking sea views. Step off at Kalk Bay station straight into the Brass Bell, a cozy seaside spot perfect for enjoying a hearty meal while watching waves crash against the harbour wall.
Feeling a little bit of Cabin Fever inside in the rain? Head to The Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock and try HintHunt, a fun and interactive indoor escape room game where teams of three to five solve puzzles and riddles within an hour to break free. It's fun, interactive, gets the old cogs in the brain working, and is all indoors!
The Clay Café offers a fun, family-friendly pottery painting experience at several locations around Cape Town. Unleash your creativity and paint your chosen ceramics while enjoying hearty, homemade meals. Your painted piece is fired in a kiln to become a special keepsake. For a more grown-up vibe, Clay Café in the City combines ceramic art with tapas, drinks, and mellow tunes in a stylish, adults-focused setting.
Warm up on a rainy day by relaxing beside a roaring fire with a glass of world-class red wine made locally in Cape Town. There are countless cozy spots in and around the city offering fine wine, comforting food, and a welcoming winter atmosphere.
Our personal favourite locations for cosy fireside dining on a rainy day in Cape Town:
Societi Bistro & The Snug - With cozy fireplaces, hearty meals, and a welcoming vibe, Societi Bistro and its aptly named neighbor, The Snug, are perfect rainy-day retreats.
Waterkloof - Waterkloof, just outside Somerset West, offers a stylish escape with wine and cheese tasting by a designer fireplace, stunning views of False Bay, and exquisite French-inspired cuisine by chef Gregory Czarnecki.
Constantia Glen - Just a short drive from Cape Town, Constantia Glen offers cozy winter charm with mountain views, hearty soups, wine tastings, and delicious platters in a glass-walled restaurant warmed by stoves.
For a fun escape from the rain, head to Let's Go Bowling at Stadium-On-Main in Claremont. Ten Pin Bowling is popular with locals in Cape Town. Grab some friends, rent bowling shoes, and enjoy a few rounds of indoor bowling. It’s lighthearted, social, and perfect for all ages.
Tucked away on Orange Street, the Labia Cinema is Africa’s oldest independent cinema and a Cape Town classic, originally built as an Italian Embassy ballroom. It screens indie and art films, hosts festivals, and offers great 2-for-1 movie-and-meal specials on select nights. With a fully stocked bar, you can sip red wine with your popcorn and escape the rainy day in style.
Cape Town offers a host of excellent museums perfect for rainy days, each telling a unique part of South Africa’s rich and complex history. Visit the Slave Lodge on Adderley Street, stroll through the historic Company’s Garden to the South African Museum, and explore the Jewish Museum’s exhibits—including intricate Japanese Netsuke carvings. Don’t miss the District Six Museum, which powerfully captures the story of a community displaced during Apartheid and the old Cape Castle nearby. The Heart of Cape Town Museum at Groote Schuur Hospital, where Chris Barnard performed the world’s first heart transplant in 1967, lets you explore the story behind this incredible medical breakthrough.
Cape Town is filled with fantastic coffee shops, making it a haven for coffee lovers and hipsters alike. While there are many to choose from, we've picked four of our favorites, known for exceptional coffee, making for a perfect rainy day hideout.
Our personal favourite coffee locations for a rainy day in Cape Town:
Truth Coffee – A hive of activity in the heart of Cape Town. The decor is Steampunk and the staff are too, giving the whole place a rather romantic, movie-type feel. Well, romantic in a loud, busy, trendy way. The coffee is roasted on the premises (thus the noisiness).
Deluxe Coffee – A hidden gem near Greenmarket Square, this tiny spot focuses solely on serving excellent coffee, with nearby Yard offering delicious food and an even more unique atmosphere.
The Dog's Bollocks & The Bitch's Tits (with Deluxe Coffee) – A quirky combination of two popular spots, offering both Deluxe coffee and delicious food in a hidden corner on Roodehek Street.
Empire Cafe – Enjoy beautiful views of the wild sea while sipping coffee and indulging in baked goods at this cozy spot in Muizenberg, which is easily accessible by train.
Cape Town boasts a vibrant art scene. Its galleries are the perfect escape for a rainy day. Start with the South African National Gallery's permanent collection and rotating exhibitions. Explore diverse art at galleries like Michael Stevenson in Woodstock, AVA Gallery in Church Street, the Zeitz Mocaa at the V&A Waterfront, and further south to the Norval Foundation art museum and sculpture garden situated in Tokai. Experience South Africa's dynamic art world in Cape Town, showcasing local and international artists.
CityROCK indoor climbing gym in Observatory offers a fun way to boulder indoors, rain or shine. With climbing walls suited for all levels, from beginners to experts, you can get your climbing fix without worrying about the weather. Rent gear there. Day passes are under R200.
The Cape Town Science Centre in Observatory offers over 250 interactive exhibits, making it a fun and educational experience for both kids and adults. It's a great place to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and it's perfect for a rainy day. Aimed mainly at encouraging the learning of science, technology, mathematics, and engineering in kids, it's an incredibly fun place for adults too.
It may be too wet for the beach, but you can get your fill of marine activities with a visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium at the V&A Waterfront. There's so much to see, from a tankful of tiny 'Nemo' fish to an enormous central tank full of sharks and rays, and a close-up view of a whole range of seaside creepy-crawlies. Catch the daily feeding of the penguins upstairs. The seahorses and the jellyfish exhibit are my favourite. Be careful ... it's easy to spend a full day here!
Escape from the gloomy weather outside as you recline in your seat, and the lights dim. A spectacular show of stars, planets, and galaxies unfolds on the massive domed ceiling above. It’s a magical and educational experience for both kids and adults, bringing the breathtakingly beautiful universe to life. The magical Planetarium is next to the South African Museum in the Company's Garden.
How about spending a rainy morning volunteering at one of the hundreds of places trying to make the world we live in a better place?
There are loads. Here is a list of a couple you could get hold of:
Scalabrini Centre: helps refugees to draw up CVs and restore their basic human rights
Friends of the Hospital: read/play with the kids at the Red Cross Children's Hospital
Ons Plek: a shelter for girl street children
Yiza Ekhaya: a community project based in Khayelitsha that offers food, care, and safe shelter for 250 children & adults on medication
SANCCOB: hang out and help out with the li'l penguins
Nazareth House: provides residential care to abandoned and neglected children, as well as the elderly
Escape the rain to the V&A Waterfront. Next to the Scratch Patch, you'll find a quirky indoor 18-hole Putt-Putt course designed to look like a cave. It's family-friendly fun, perfect for a rainy day, with some surprisingly tricky holes to challenge your putting skills. There's also a second Cave Golf course in Simon's Town for those looking to explore out of central Cape Town.
Take one of our budget-friendly short Big 5 Safaris from Cape Town to Aquila or Inverdoorn game reserves in the drier Klein Karoo region. These safaris can be done in a day or over a few days and often include transfers, meals, and guided 4x4 game drives. It's a budget-friendly way to get a taste of the wild without travelling too far from Cape Town. Even if it's raining in Cape Town, the Karoo is often dry as can be. Budget-friendly Cape Town Safari options (with ABS) include transfers, some meals, and guided 4x4 game drives. When in Africa... Why not?
Together, they offer a perfect mix of natural beauty and cultural richness. Cape Town has a stunning coastal setting beneath Table Mountain, while Kruger is a premier safari destination known for its Big Five wildlife encounters. To blend vibrant city life with thrilling wilderness adventures, see our guide on the Best Ways to Combine Kruger and Cape Town in South Africa.
A safari is an adventure into the heart of Africa’s wild beauty, from beautiful Cape Town at the very tip of Africa. Our travel experts at African Budget Safaris are experienced travellers and are passsionate about Africa. They can help you plan your trip - from understanding all the iconic safari destinations to finding the right itinerary options to suit you and your budget.
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