Cape Verde
Cape Verde · Africa
There is no bad time to visit Cape Verde — all twelve months are climatically recommendable. In summer, daytime highs average 31°C (88°F), with peaks around 33°C (91°F); in winter, nights average 20°C (68°F), dropping to around 17°C (63°F) on the coldest. During the best travel months, the sun shines up to 9 hours per day — ideal for beach and outdoor activities.
Cape Verde – What you should know
The Cape Verde Islands — an archipelago off the West African coast — are Europe's favourite winter sun destination in the Atlantic. Thanks to the cool Canary Current, temperatures remain year-round between 21°C (70°F) and 29°C (84°F): never too cold in winter, never too hot in summer. The main islands of Sal and Boavista offer flat sandy beaches and over 300 sunny days a year.
The Harmattan — a dry desert wind from the Sahara — can carry sand dust over the islands from November to March and reduce visibility. It usually only lasts a few days and is more frequent on the sandy eastern islands than on the greener western islands of São Vicente and Santo Antão. The best travel time for a beach holiday is November to June; surfers appreciate July to October, when the north-easterly trade wind creates world-class windsurfing conditions.
Climate Overview
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ø day, range from coolest to warmest dayØ dayrange | 26° (79°)23– (73–)28 (82) | 25° (77°)22– (72–)27 (81) | 26° (79°)23– (73–)29 (84) | 26° (79°)24– (75–)29 (84) | 27° (81°)25– (77–)29 (84) | 28° (82°)25– (77–)30 (86) | 29° (84°)26– (79–)31 (88) | 30° (86°)27– (81–)32 (90) | 31° (88°)28– (82–)33 (91) | 30° (86°)27– (81–)33 (91) | 29° (84°)26– (79–)31 (88) | 27° (81°)24– (75–)29 (84) |
Ø night, range from coldest to warmest nightØ nightrange | 20° (68°)17– (63–)22 (72) | 20° (68°)17– (63–)21 (70) | 20° (68°)18– (64–)21 (70) | 21° (70°)18– (64–)21 (70) | 21° (70°)19– (66–)22 (72) | 22° (72°)20– (68–)23 (73) | 24° (75°)22– (72–)25 (77) | 25° (77°)23– (73–)26 (79) | 26° (79°)23– (73–)27 (81) | 25° (77°)22– (72–)26 (79) | 23° (73°)20– (68–)25 (77) | 22° (72°)19– (66–)23 (73) |
☀️Sunshine | 9h UV 8 | 9h UV 8 | 10h UV 9 | 10h UV 10 | 11h UV 10 | 11h UV 9 | 10h UV 9 | 9h UV 9 | 9h UV 9 | 10h UV 9 | 9h UV 8 | 9h UV 6 |
🌊Water Temp | 23° (73°) | 23° (73°) | 23° (73°) | 23° (73°) | 23° (73°) | 24° (75°) | 25° (77°) | 27° (81°) | 27° (81°) | 27° (81°) | 26° (79°) | 25° (77°) |
🌧Rain Days | 0d0mm (<0.1") | 0d3mm (0.1") | 0d1mm (<0.1") | 0d0mm (<0.1") | 0d1mm (<0.1") | 0d1mm (<0.1") | 0d2mm (0.1") | 2d24mm (1.0") | 4d28mm (1.1") | 1d7mm (0.3") | 0d0mm (<0.1") | 0d2mm (0.1") |
Best travel timeØ = average · small figures = range: coolest–warmest day / coldest–warmest nightClimate data 2005–2025 · Source: ERA5 + station data
Travel Tips
From February to October, UV levels in Cape Verde reach 10 — very high on the WHO scale. High-SPF sunscreen and shade around midday are essential.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is the best time to visit Cape Verde?
- Cape Verde can be visited year-round: all twelve months meet the criteria of sunshine, temperatures, and low rainfall.
- How warm does it get in Cape Verde?
- In summer, daytime highs in Cape Verde average 31°C (88°F), with peaks around 33°C (91°F); in winter, nights average 20°C (68°F), dropping to around 17°C (63°F) on the coldest.
- How much rain does Cape Verde get?
- Cape Verde has a relatively even rainfall pattern with an average of 1 rain day per month. The driest months are January, April, and November.
- How warm is the water in Cape Verde?
- Water temperature in Cape Verde ranges from 23°C (73°F) (March) to 27°C (81°F) (September). During the best travel months (January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December), the water is most pleasant for swimming.
Best Travel Time by Vacation Type
🏖️
Beach Holiday
Warm, sunny, little rain
JunJulOct
🏙️
City Trip
Pleasantly mild, not too hot
JanFebMar
