Cape Verde
Cape Verde · Africa
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 and 29°C: 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MAXMax Temp | 26° | 25° | 26° | 26° | 27° | 28° | 29° | 30° | 31° | 30° | 29° | 27° |
MINMin Temp | 20° | 20° | 20° | 21° | 21° | 22° | 24° | 25° | 26° | 25° | 23° | 22° |
☀️Sunshine | 9h | 9h | 10h | 10h | 11h | 11h | 10h | 9h | 9h | 10h | 9h | 9h |
🌊Water Temp | 23° | 23° | 23° | 23° | 23° | 24° | 25° | 27° | 27° | 27° | 26° | 25° |
🌧Rain Days | 0d0mm | 0d3mm | 0d0mm | 0d1mm | 0d0mm | 0d0mm | 0d1mm | 1d17mm | 4d30mm | 1d13mm | 0d2mm | 0d3mm |
Best travel time
The best time to visit Cape Verde is January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December. In summer, temperatures rise to 31°C; in winter they can drop to 19°C. During the best travel months, the sun shines up to 8 hours per day — ideal for beach and outdoor activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is the best time to visit Cape Verde?
- The best time to visit Cape Verde is January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December. These months offer the most favourable combination of sunshine, temperatures, and low rainfall.
- How warm does it get in Cape Verde?
- In summer, temperatures in Cape Verde can reach up to 31°C. In winter, they may drop to 19°C.
- How much rain does Cape Verde get?
- Cape Verde has a relatively even rainfall pattern with an average of 1 rain days per month. The driest months are January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December.
- How warm is the water in Cape Verde?
- Water temperature in Cape Verde ranges from 22°C (March) to 27°C (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
