Best time to visit Cape Verde

Kap Verde (v. a. die Insel Sal) bietet ganzjährig warmes, sehr trockenes Wetter und ist ein verlässliches Wintersonnenziel. Es ist oft windig, ideal für Wassersport; das Meer ist im Herbst am wärmsten.

Cape Verde carries an average daytime temperature of about 24 °C across the year, which makes the climate warm on the whole. Warmest is September at around 27 °C by day, while February is the coolest month at roughly 22 °C. The overall climate score for the destination is 90 out of 100.

Purely on climate, the most rewarding months are July, August, November and December. All values on this page are historical monthly averages rather than a forecast, so treat them as the typical pattern you can plan around, not a guarantee for a specific week.

As a coastal destination in Afrika, Cape Verde follows the seasonal rhythm you would expect for its latitude, and the guide below breaks that rhythm down season by season, then by rain, sun, sea and travel style so you can match the month to what you actually want from the trip.

spring (March to May) is pleasantly warm at around 22 °C by day and very dry with about 0 rainy days per month. Nights cool to about 21 °C. The sea averages around 22 °C. This stretch suits sightseeing, hiking and long days outdoors.

summer (June to August) is warm at around 24 °C by day and very dry with about 1 rainy days per month. Nights cool to about 24 °C. The sea averages around 25 °C. This stretch suits beach and swimming days.

autumn (September to November) is warm at around 26 °C by day and very dry with about 3 rainy days per month. Nights cool to about 25 °C. The sea averages around 26 °C. This stretch suits beach and swimming days.

winter (December to February) is warm at around 23 °C by day and very dry with about 1 rainy days per month. Nights cool to about 22 °C. The sea averages around 23 °C. This stretch suits sightseeing, hiking and long days outdoors.

Day and night can feel quite different here. In the warmest month, September, days reach about 27 °C while nights ease to around 26 °C, a spread of roughly 1 degrees. The mildest nights come in September (about 26 °C), the coolest in February near 21 °C, so a light layer for the evening is worth packing outside high summer.

Relative humidity averages about 82 percent across the year, which is humid, so heat feels stronger than the numbers suggest. Humidity shapes how warm a given temperature actually feels, so it is worth weighing alongside the raw degrees.

Across the year Cape Verde records roughly 14 rainy days. The wettest month is September with about 4 rainy days, the driest is February with around 0. If low rain is your priority, the run of months around February is the safest bet. With a gap of roughly 4 rainy days between wettest and driest, the year stays fairly even, without a dramatic rainy season.

Sunshine peaks in April at about 8 hours a day and bottoms out in December near 6 hours. Longer days naturally line up with the drier, warmer part of the year.

The sea is warmest in September at about 27 °C and coolest in March near 22 °C. Comfortable swimming, from roughly 21 °C, is realistic in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December, and the water turns genuinely warm (24 °C or more) in July, August, September, October, November and December. Remember the sea lags the air by a few weeks, so early summer can feel warm on land while the water is still catching up.

The same destination rewards different trips at different times. Based on the predefined monthly scores for Cape Verde:

Beach and swimming: the climate works best in August, September, October and November, when warm days and a swimmable sea line up.

City breaks and sightseeing: the climate works best in January, February, March and April, when temperatures are comfortable for walking without oppressive heat.

Hiking and active trips: the climate works best in January, February, March and April, when it is cooler and drier, better for effort.

Family holidays: the climate works best in August, October, November and December, when gentle warmth and low rain keep it relaxed with kids.

For packing, plan around light clothing.

If flexibility on dates is an option, the shoulder weeks just before and after the peak months tend to offer the best balance of good weather, lower prices and fewer crowds. The wetter stretch around September is worth planning around if rain would spoil your plans, while the driest window near February is the safest for outdoor days.

If you want the most reliable conditions, aim for July, August, November and December. The shoulder around these months usually keeps most of the upside with thinner crowds and lower prices. February is the least typical month for a warm-weather trip here, though it can still suit a city break or a quiet off-season stay. Match the month to your priority, whether sun, sea, low rain or sightseeing comfort, using the month-by-month table above.

In short, there is rarely a single right answer: Cape Verde shifts character across the year, and the best month is the one that lines up with the kind of trip you have in mind. Use the seasonal breakdown and the scores above to make that call with the numbers in front of you.