Do you know what's the best place to escape the winter cold? South Africa! Why? Because from December to April (which are usually the winter months in other parts of the world), the country enjoys the summer season. It's one of the many benefits of its southern geographical location. So where else should you enjoy this time of year than in one of the warmest places on Earth? You'll especially love
Cape Town, a city full of natural wonders as much as it is rich in urban delights. Here, you can spend winter going to the beach, hanging out at the V&A Waterfront, drinking wine, and more!
Hang out at The V&A Waterfront
Out of all the different
neighborhoods in Cape Town, the V&A Waterfront is undoubtedly the most exciting. The entire place is one huge commercial district, complete with popular restaurants, cool bars, chic boutiques, quirky stores, and more. And since winter in Cape Town is still warm and sunny, you won't be too cold to go out and about in this part of the city. You can eat out, go shopping, play at the arcades and other fun attractions, and just have a ball. While winter will have you staying indoors to stay warm in other parts of the world, you can still go out and have some fun here in Cape Town!
Shop at a Flea Market
Speaking of shopping, you can take this time to check out Cape Town's various flea markets. Check out Greenmarket Square on Burg Street, for example, which is a treasure trove of authentic African crafts. It's not an exaggeration to say that you won't find anything quite like these anywhere else. The Old Biscuit Mill at the
V&A Waterfront is also worth your while. Some regard it as a shopping mall but in truth, it's simply an indoor flea market full of fascinating finds. These and more are perfect for winter as you can still go out and get some much-needed sun!
Spend The Day at The Beach
Is it any surprise that this is part of the best ways to enjoy winter in Cape Town? Take advantage of all that warmth and sunshine and head on over to the beach. Fortunately,
Cape Town’s beaches are some of the best in the world. Not only are they white sandy shorelines paired with crystal clear waters, but a lot of them are surrounded by sweeping landscapes too! It'll be quite the experience to spend winter getting a tan or going out for a swim at the beach. You won't ever forget it!
Surf The Sea
While you're already at the beach, why not go surfing too? Around this time of year, the waves get really wild here in Cape Town, whether in
Camps Bay or Muizenberg Beach. They're perfect for getting your adrenaline pumping and getting that rush that you barely experience during winter, which is mostly a pretty slow season in other parts of the world. Here, you can grab your board and go wild! You'll be surfing all day in Cape Town and you'll only know it's time to pack it in when the sun goes down!
Hike Up The Nearby Mountains
When you get to Cape Town, look around you. Is there something about the city that stands out? If you answer that there are many mountains nearby, you're right!
Cape Town's majestic mountains are some of the most stunning in the world. There's Table Mountain, for example, which is famous for its perfectly flat top. Lion's Head, on the other hand, is as iconic a peak as Mount Everest! Wouldn't you want to see these natural wonders up close? Well, nothing's stopping you from hiking up these mountains when you spend winter in Cape Town!
Escape to The Vineyards
South Africa's wine country is deeply underrated. Most people only talk about the
vineyards in Italy or the
wineries in France. Those places are beautiful, true, but so are the captivating wine estates in Cape Town. The Delaire Graff Estates, the Spier Wine Farm, the Vergelegen Estate, and the Leeu Estates are just a handful of places you ought to check out in this city. Yes, they all produce such fabulous wine, arguably even richer than those in Europe. But these scenic retreats are also filled with the kind of botanical bliss and countryside charm that makes spending winter in Cape Town worth it!
Go on a Safari
South African safaris are a must-see! They feature exotic animals, stunning landscapes, and some even offer a bit of luxury in between. If you spend winter in Cape Town, you ought to include going to a safari on your itinerary. The warm sunshine paired with relatively mild weather is perfect for going on an adventure in the great outdoors. And in places like the Aquila Game Reserve, the Cape of Good Hope, the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, and the Fairy Glen Private Game Reserve, you'll get the thrill of your life. It's not every day that you'd get to be this close to the planet's most majestic mammals.
Host a Pool Party
Despite how much you can enjoy the great outdoors in Cape Town in winter, what if you're simply a homebody? Do you need to go outside to make the most out of your stay in this gorgeous city? Not necessarily! If you simply host a pool party in your luxury home in Cape Town, that'll already be a winter well-spent! Since Cape Town is sunny and warm around this time of year, why not go all out and invite people over? You can serve food, play music, and have a ball! Doesn't that sound so fun?
When the rest of the world is freezing in winter, Cape Town is enjoying the warmth of summer. This is why the South African city is one of the best destinations to escape the winter cold. There's so much to do here around this time of year!
