Packing lists

What to pack for Cape Town in December

December is summer in Cape Town: warm, dry, sunny and busy. The days are long, the beaches are full, and the Winelands are at their best. The city's famous southeaster wind blows hard on many afternoons, though, and the Atlantic is much colder than people expect.

So the list is built for sunny days and windy evenings. Pack light summer clothes, one warm layer and a windbreaker, plus shoes for hiking Table Mountain or Lion's Head. Cape Town is casual and outdoorsy by day and a little smarter for dinner, especially in the wine country.

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The weather

Daytime high
79°F
26°C. Hotter inland in the Winelands.
Overnight low
61°F
16°C. Windy evenings feel cooler.
Sea temperature
59°F
15°C on the Atlantic side. False Bay is warmer.
Daylight
14.5 h
Sunset around 8pm. The UV is very strong.

The capsule

Ten days, one traveler, Harbor palette. Navy, ivory and rust that work on a hike, a beach and a Winelands lunch. A capsule is a few clothes in one palette (a base color, a neutral and an accent) that all go together. The full list below adds what sits outside it.

Harbor palette · 11 pieces · 20 outfits

Layers

  • WindbreakerWindbreaker
  • Light cardiganLight cardigan

Tops

  • Linen shirtLinen shirt
  • Cotton tankCotton tank
  • Striped cotton topStriped cotton top

Bottoms

  • Linen shortsLinen shorts
  • Wide-leg linen pantsWide-leg linen pants
  • Dark jeansDark jeans

Dresses

  • SundressSundress

Shoes

  • Trail runnersTrail runners
  • Leather sandalsLeather sandals

Three days from this capsule

Table Mountain hike
Beach day at Camps Bay
Winelands lunch

Shown for one traveler. Packlier packs a capsule like this for each person on the trip.

The full list

Clothes

  • Four or five light tops
  • Shorts and light pants
  • Jeans for windy evenings
  • A dress or outfit for a Winelands lunch or dinner
  • Windbreaker
  • Light sweater or cardigan
  • Two swimsuits
  • Hiking clothes, if you are climbing Table Mountain

Shoes

  • Trail shoes with grip for the mountain hikes
  • Sandals
  • Flip-flops for the beach

Sun and wind

  • High-SPF sunscreen
  • Hat with a chin strap
  • Sunglasses
  • Refillable water bottle
  • Packable daypack

Documents and tech

  • Passport with two blank pages
  • Driver’s license, if you are renting a car
  • Travel insurance details
  • Card for tap-to-pay, plus some rand for tips
  • Type M/N plug adapter (230V)
  • Power bank

Toiletries

  • After-sun lotion
  • Lip balm with SPF
  • Any prescriptions, in your carry-on

Gear worth the space

  • A windbreaker

    Light, packable and windproof, for the southeaster on the beaches, the ferry and the mountain.

  • Trail runners with grip

    The hikes up Table Mountain and Lion's Head are steep and rocky, with chains and ladders in places.

  • A hat that stays on

    The wind takes loose hats straight off, and the sun is too strong to go without one.

  • A packable daypack

    For water, sunscreen and a layer on a hike, and room for a few bottles on a Winelands day.

The southeaster blows for days, and the Atlantic sits at 59°F. Packlier packs your December for the sun and the wind.

Tell it where, when, why, which bag and which palette, and it packs the capsule, checks it against the bag and adds everything that is not clothing. Launching this year on Android, with iOS to follow.

One email at launch, nothing else.