Cape Town is known for sizzling summers but winter? When the crowds leave to chase the sun elsewhere, the real ones know to stay for the loads of fun Cape Town winter activities. Here are the top 7 things to do in Cape Town in winter.  Whether you’re after indoor activities or just family friendly fun in winter, Cape Town is the place to be. 

Family Friendly Things to do in Cape Town in Winter

1. Chasing Dreams with Zip Zap Circus

Juggle winter fun, trapeze and acrobatics with a vibe like no other at Zip Zap’s July Family Show. If you feel like Chasing Dreams then you’re in luck. Watch the magic of the circus come to life with high flying acts and Zip Zap’s three performing troupes on stage. Think The Greatest Showman with a South African twist. And here’s a treat: Travelstart readers get 10% OFF!

Promo Code: Travel10

Where: Zip Zap Dome – 10 Jan Smuts Street, Cape Town

Dates: 12, 13, 19, 20 July 2025

Book here 

*Promo code only valid for the first 100 redemptions

2. Paint away the chills at Clay Café

Nothing creates a core memory like an afternoon spent painting pottery. The best part is you don’t even have to have an artistic bone in your body to participate, scribble what your heart desires and have it etched in stone forever! 

Where: Hout Bay, CBD and Paarl, pick the location closest to you (or farthest, up to you)

Pro Tip: Try the Date Night Wednesday special, which includes your choice of pizza or pasta, dessert, a bottle of wine and of course the fun of painting! 

Paint the sky with R500 off your next domestic flight! Upgrade to Travelstart+

3. Bounce at the Freedom Adventure Park

Don’t be fooled into thinking bouncing is just for kiddies because Freedom Adventure Park will gladly disagree with you. This fun winter activity in Cape Town will get you sweating away all the icy chills in no time! 

When to go: 9 am – 9 pm daily, (sessions start hourly)

Cost: R150 (per hour), R85 for kids under 4 years

Pro tip: work and play? Use the quiet work pods to attend quick meetings or send some emails.

You might also like: 8 Free things to do in Cape Town this weekend!

Indoor Things to do in Cape Town in Winter 

4. Crawl up walls at CityROCK

If there’s one place that will make you tap into your inner spider man in Cape Town, it’s CityROCK. This is rock climbing that’s great for all, beginner to expert mountain climbers. It’s hiking but with a softer and safer landing to fall on! 

Where: Unit 5, The Island, 9 Milner Street, Paarden Eiland, Cape Town

Cost: R210 Adults, R180 Students and R170 children. 

Pro Tip: Book beforehand for children under 13 years. 

5. Let it Go at The Ice Station

Self dubbed as the ‘COOLEST’ place in Cape Town, The Ice Station might be onto something. This is where figureskaters get their dose of fun indoor activities in Cape Town.

• Is it cold: Well, it is ice so yeah it’s coldish (just pretend you’re in Moscow), the fun makes up for it, 

• Where: The GrandWest Casino

• Cost: R70 – R95, depending on the length of the chosen session.

Outdoor Things to do in Cape Town in Winter 

Who says you have to stay indoors in winter? There are loads of outdoor winter activities in Cape Town, get out there and explore!

6. Hike up Table Mountain (Or any mountain)

It’s no doubt that this city has great mountains but the downside is that they are always crowded with avid hikers all day long. Luckily, that’s a summer-only problem. With fewer crowds in June, July and August, you have more time to explore Lion’s Head without worrying about bumping another person off the mountain. 

Where: Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, Devil’s Peak (whichever mountain rocks your boat)

Cost: Absolutely FREE!

Best Part: Thanks to Cape Town’s winter rains, you’ll get to see the mountain waterfalls at the fullest strength!

7. Go Whale Watching! 

While whale season only goes from August to November (it technically starts in winter). So head beyond the shore, flask of coffee in hand and fix your eyes on these majestic creatures of the seas. 

• Best places to whale watch: St James, Kalk Bay, Hermanus, False Bay (specifically the Simon’s Town and Cape Point areas)

• Best times of day to whale watch: Early morning (before 9 am)  and late afternoon (after 3 PM), but there is no predicting when exactly they’ll catch your eye. 

You might also like: Your rough guide to hiking the whale trail

Now that you know…

As you can see, Cape Town is more than just a summer haven. Just because the temperature drops doesn’t mean the vibe has to. Whether you’re looking ahead to June, July and August or just looking for something to do this weekend, there are plenty of fun winter activities to do in Cape Town. From indoor activities to family friendly winter activities and more! Go out there and explore things to do in Cape Town in Winter. Oh, don’t forget to redeem 10% OFF the  Zip Zap circus!