Christmas in Cape Town is like no other. Boasting a year-round mild Mediterranean climate, Cape Town’s festive season takes place during the Mother City’s vibrant summer season. Thereby adding a whole lot more fun and sun to your traditional Christmas celebrations.
Christmas in Cape Town is therefore characterised by warm summer days, stunning scenery, fun-filled beach missions, late sunsets and a laid-back cool summer vibe. And trust us, you wouldn’t want to spend it any other way.
Here is everything you need to know about celebrating Christmas in Cape Town and what to do during the holidays.
Soak up all the Cape Town summer sun on the beach
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There is no better way to celebrate Christmas in Cape Town than by soaking up all the summer sun it has to offer. And what better way to do just that than by spending the day on one of Cape Town’s beautiful beaches? In Cape Town, Christmas is all about cool summer vibes and chilled beach times. Thereby making a fun-filled beach day one of the best things to do during the holidays in Cape Town. And the fact that the whole family can join in on the holiday season beach fun makes it all the more special. You might even love it that much that you decide to spend Christmas day on the beach too. Some of the most beautiful beaches in Cape Town that all deserve a spot on your holiday bucket-list are: Camps Bay, Clifton Beach, Llandudno, Boulders Beach, Bakoven, Bloubergstrand, Noordhoek, Hout Bay and Muizenberg Beach.
See the famous Adderley Street Christmas lights with the whole family
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Add some Christmas spirit to your Cape Town holiday by going to see the famous Adderley Street Lights in the city centre. The Adderley Street Festival of Lights is a long-standing Christmas tradition in Cape Town. And one of the best things to do during the holidays with the whole family. Especially if you’re looking to add some Christmas cheer and festive spirit to your Cape Town holiday.
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Go wine farm hopping in the Cape Winelands
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What would a Cape Town holiday season be without tasting some of the Western Cape’s most unique, award-winning wines? Wine tasting when in Cape Town is not only a cherished past time, it’s one of the best things to do during your holidays too. The Western Cape is home to some of the most beautiful and authentic wine routes in South Africa, if not the world. And you now have the opportunity to explore as many of them as your heart desires. Embarking on a train, tram, walking or bicycle tour through some of the Mother City’s most scenic wine estates is an extra special treat that adds a good dose of adventure to the experience. Many of the Cape Winelands’ sought-after wine estates not only offer exceptional wine, but spectacular dining and pairing experiences too. As well as a variety of activities to keep the kiddies happy and entertained.
Chill with the cool Cape Town ocean locals the African Penguins
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The ever charming and charismatic African Penguins is one of Cape Town’s most beloved inhabitants. People travel from all over the globe to catch a glimpse of these magnificent ocean creatures in their natural habitat. Simonstown, Boulders Beach and Betty’s Bay are among the beaches these tuxedo cuties like to call their home. But beside merely observing them from the penguin viewing site, which is a pretty spectacular treat in itself, you can now also kayak, walk, swim and lounge on the beach with them. Your Cape Town holiday season just wouldn’t be complete without including the glorious African Penguins on your list of incredible things to see.
Explore the thriving Cape Town restaurant and market scene
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Food, oh glorious Cape Town food! What would a holiday season be without sharing some good food with the people you love? From premium roasting coffee café’s, thriving inner city 5-star restaurants and trendy cocktail hotspots to local harbourfront fish and chips, beautiful beach side eateries and countless exciting markets to explore, there truly is something for everyone. Time to prepare your taste buds for a culinary adventure of a lifetime. It promises to be quite a special Christmas treat.
Go on the ultimate tidal pool adventure
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Holiday season in Cape Town means glorious hot summer days. And what better way to cool down than in one of the Mother City’s cool tidal pools? Besides the ocean, a refreshing dip in a tidal pool is great for cooling off after lounging on the beach for a bit. But more than that, exploring Cape Town’s unique tidal pools is an amazing adventure. And the kids absolutely love it! Some of the top tidal pools to explore are Dalebrook, St James, Maiden’s Cove, Wooley’s, Glencairn, Millers Point and Camps Bay tidal pools.
Take a boat trip to Duiker Island in Hout Bay
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Duiker Island, also known as Seal Island, is home to thousands of Cape Fur Seals. What better way to celebrate and enjoy the Cape Town holiday season with the whole family than by going on a boat trip to Duiker Island. Besides seeing the charismatic Cape Fur Seals sunbathing, playing around and diving in and out of the water, the boat ride is filled with tons of excitement and spectacular views too. The world-renowned Chapman’s Peak will be among the backdrops for your boat trip. And it is every bit as mesmerizing as people say.
Enjoy all the summer festivals & musical performances Cape Town has to offer
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Holiday season in Cape Town truly is a celebration. And what better way to celebrate the glorious festive season and warm summer weather than with some of the Mother City’s most vibrant musical delights? The Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concert Series, the V&A Waterfront’s musical performances, incredible performances at the Labia Theatre and live music and entertainment at the Bay Harbour Market are merely a few of the incredible music and entertainment events on offer this holiday season in Cape Town.
Watch a movie under the stars at the Galileo Open Air Cinema
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Known as the first and finest outdoor movie experience in Cape Town, attending a screening at the Galileo Open Air Cinema has become one of the best things to do in Cape Town for locals and travellers alike. And the fact that the whole family is invited to join in on the outdoor cinema fun, undoubtedly makes it one of the best ways to spend your holidays in Cape Town. Running from the 16th of October 2019 – 25 April 2020 with screenings from Wednesday – Saturday and selected Sundays, the Galileo Open Air Cinema boasts a jam-packed line-up of blockbuster hits. All of which can be enjoyed in some of the most beautiful settings in Cape Town.
In addition to a bucket-list worthy outdoor movie experience under the stars, The Galileo is taking it to a whole new level for their eighth season. They’ve added an amazing mini-market to every show as well as an array of giant lawn games. Ensuring that tons of fun will be had by every member of the family. The Galileo will also be hosting a very special Christmas movie screening on the 25th of December. Thereby bringing tons of magic and Christmas joy to families and friends looking for something exciting to do once the sun sets on Christmas day.
Visit the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
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Besides attending one of the Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts, visiting the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens for a fun day out with the family is one of the best things to do during your holidays in Cape Town. Acclaimed one of the great botanical gardens of the world, Kirstenbosch not only boasts endless natural beauty, but a variety of fun and exciting things to do too. From a ‘walk in the trees’ along the Treetop Canopy Walk, also known as the Boomslang, to exploring the exciting walking routes and waterfalls and having a fun-filled picnic on the lawns, Kirstenbosch makes for an incredible day out in Cape Town during the summer.
Go sandboarding in the Atlantis Dunes
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Located about a 40-minute drive from the Cape Town city centre, the Atlantis Dunes is the perfect place to enjoy a sandboarding adventure with the whole family. Plus, it will undoubtedly add a bit of thrill and excitement to your Cape Town holiday. Boasting an endless stretch of fine white sand dunes, it’s the ultimate sandy playground to tick a truly exhilarating experience off your bucket-list. And the best thing is, you don’t need any prior experience to join in on the sandboarding fun.
Take a trip to Cape Point
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Known as one of the Western Cape’s most glorious natural wonders, a visit to Cape Point should be on everyone’s Cape Town bucket-list. And what better time to enjoy the ultimate Cape Point adventure than during your holiday? Located at the Southern most tip of Africa, Cape Point boasts unparalleled natural beauty. But besides its scenic wonder, it’s also home to some of the most spectacular secret beaches, exciting hiking trails and nature walks, adventure activities and thrilling experiences. Thereby making it the perfect place to enjoy an incredible day out exploring Cape Town with the whole family.
Enjoy a thrilling adventure experience
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The holidays is the perfect time to tick a thrilling adventure off your bucket-list. And there’s no better place to do it than in the adventure capital of Africa, the Western Cape. Home to a variety of natural wonders and landscapes, Cape Town boasts an incredible range of adventure experiences for every thrill seeker at heart. Whether you’re looking to enjoy the ultimate adventure holiday in Cape Town or merely want to add a bit of thrill to your trip, the Mother City has the perfect adventure activity for you. From shark cage diving, snorkelling with Cape Fur Seals, kayaking with African Penguins or paragliding from Lions Head or Signal Hill to learning to surf, going hiking, abseiling off Table Mountain, enjoying a water bike adventure or cycling around the city, Cape Town has something for everyone to enjoy.
Go on a tour & explore the city
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Home to some of the most beautiful natural wonders, stunning beaches, iconic landmarks and exciting attractions, exploring Cape Town is a bucket-list worthy experience in every way. Why not discover and experience everything it has to offer in the ultimate way by going on an exciting tour around the city? From a jam-packed Table Mountain and Robben Island Tour, Cape Peninsula Tour and Best of the Cape Full Day Tour to an exciting Cape Town City Cycle Tour, we have the perfect tour experience for everyone this holiday season.
Enjoy the day at the V&A Waterfront
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The vibrant V&A Waterfront in the heart of the Mother City is not only one of Cape Town’s top attractions, but one of the best places to visit on your holiday in Cape Town. The V&A Waterfront has established itself as the ultimate hub of food, culture, art, shopping, music and entertainment. Divided up into five shopping districts: Victoria Wharf, the Watershed, The Alfred Mall and Pierhead, The Clock Tower, and Breakwater Point, the waterfront has an endless variety of things to explore and experience.
In addition to being one of the leading shopping districts in Cape Town, home to over 450 stores, the V&A Waterfront also boasts an incredible variety of restaurants, bars, markets, landmarks, art, music and cultural experiences as well as adventure activities. Not to mention the fact that it’s a working harbour and showcases some of the most magnificent harbour front views in the city. The Two Ocean Aquarium, Springbok Experience Rugby Museum, the Clock Tower, Scratch Patch, the Cape Wheel and various ocean adventures and boat rides are just some of the exciting activities that can be found in and around the Waterfront
Celebrating Christmas in Cape Town is an absolute treat. With so much to do, see and experience, you’ll never run out of things to do during the holidays in Cape Town. From stunning scenic sites, beautiful beaches, natural wonders and landmarks to exciting adventures, thrilling experiences and fun-filled family activities, there is something for everyone to enjoy this holiday season in Cape Town.
Planning on spending this holiday season in Cape Town? Learn more about the Mother City, how to get around, things to do in Cape Town, and more from our blog. We can help you find the perfect place to stay. Get in touch if you’d like help finding accommodation or Cape Town tours to indulge in when you are around.
