Today in Cape Town, South Africa, the sun rises at 7:52 AM and sets at 5:51 PM, giving the city exactly 9h 58m of daylight. That is 0 minutes longer than yesterday—approaching the solar plateau near the Winter Solstice. With 167 days until the Winter Solstice on December 21, Cape Town is currently in its Winter season.
Golden Hour & Twilight Windows in Cape Town
For photographers, filmmakers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the morning golden hour in Cape Town runs from N/A to 8:30 AM. The evening golden hour begins at 5:13 PM and lasts until 5:51 PM.
Civil twilight—when there is still sufficient ambient light to see clearly outdoors—begins at N/A. Cape Town sits in the subtropics, where the annual swing in daylight is moderate.
Solar Noon & UV Index
Solar noon in Cape Town falls exactly at 12:52 PM, which is the moment the sun reaches its peak altitude of 31.17 above the horizon. At this specific time, the solar angle produces a moderate UV level. Light protective clothing is adequate for most outdoor activities in Cape Town today.
Why Does Sunrise Shift in Cape Town?
At Cape Town's latitude of -33.9288301°, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 521.47° (SSE). Because of the Earth's axial tilt, this position shifts slightly every day. Sunrise and sunset times for Cape Town are calculated using advanced solar algorithms (SunCalc) based on coordinates -33.9288301, 18.4172197. Times are mathematically accurate to ±30 seconds.
Historical Sunrise in Cape Town (Past Years)
Due to the Earth's precise orbit, solar times remain highly consistent year over year. Here is a comparison of today's sunrise and sunset times in Cape Town versus 1 year and 5 years ago:
| Year | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 7:52 AM | 5:51 PM | 9h 58m |
| 2025 | 7:52 AM | 5:51 PM | 9h 59m |
| 2021 | 7:52 AM | 5:51 PM | 9h 59m |
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the sun rise in Cape Town today?
In Cape Town, the sun rises at exactly 7:52 AM and sets at 5:51 PM today. This gives the city a total of 9h 58m of daylight.
When is golden hour in Cape Town today?
Today, morning golden hour in Cape Town runs from N/A to 8:30 AM. Evening golden hour begins at 5:13 PM and lasts until 5:48 PM.
Why does sunrise in Cape Town shift every day?
At Cape Town's latitude, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 521.47° (SSE). Because of Earth's tilt, the city is approaching the solar plateau near the Winter Solstice until the Winter Solstice on December 21.
What is the UV Index in Cape Town at solar noon?
Solar noon occurs at 12:52 PM when the sun reaches 31.17. This produces a moderate UV level. Light protective clothing is adequate for most outdoor activities in Cape Town today.
Has the sunrise time in Cape Town changed compared to previous years?
Due to the Earth's precise orbit, solar times remain highly consistent year over year. Exactly one year ago in 2025, sunrise was at 7:52 AM, and five years ago in 2021, it was at 7:52 AM.