Best things to do in Cape Town in June

When June rolls around, Capetonians tend to wrap up and hibernate, sheltering from the winter rains. To entice them out of their homes, restaurants and attractions around Cape Town begin to offer all kind of special offers, so it can be a great time to pick up a bargain. Luckily, the rain is not relentless and in any given week you can also count on at least one day of sunny skies.

A bread roll sits on a wooden-plank table next to a white plate topped with white rice and a traditional ste of potatoes, carrots, greens and beef; sat next to both is a traditional three-legged cast iron pot (aka potije); a great warming meal for Cape Town in June — A warming potjiekos stew made in a traditional South African three-legged potjie © Sproetniek / istock / Getty Images

Find a bargain at one of the city’s restaurants

Throughout the winter months, restaurants across the Cape Peninsula try to entice people out into the cold with a variety of restaurant specials. These can range from a reduced price on a main course and a glass of red to themed menus at a discounted cost. Expect to see plenty of places offering soup nights, pie pairings and potjiekos – stews made in the traditional three-legged cast iron potjie. The ones to really look out for though are the winter set menus held at some of the city’s swankiest restaurants, such a La Colombe, La Mouette and Foxcroft. Many restaurant specials are available at lunchtime only and bookings are recommended, especially for the fancier spots.

Three bottles of red wine, two standing and one laying horizontally, sit in a low wooden box on a table — Enjoy the best of the best wines at the tasting event associated with the Old Mutual Wine Trophy competition © Ariadne Van Zandbergen / Lonely Planet

Sample award-winning wines

The Old Mutual Wine Trophy is perhaps the most prestigious wine competition in South Africa, judged annually by a panel of carefully chosen wine judges from around the world. And once the judges have sifted through the rest, the wine-loving public get to taste the best at a popular event held at Cape Town’s convention centre on June 20. As well as tastings of all the medal winners, the show offers a rare chance to chat to dozens of winemakers under one roof. And if you’re looking for gifts to take home – or some liquid refreshment to take on the rest of your South Africa trip – you can buy the winning wines at special show prices.

Rounded granite peaks, frosted with snow and lit with a beam of sunlight, stand in front of a dark broody sky — With snow on the mountains around Tulbagh in the Cape Winelands, it can feel a lot like Christmas © Louis Vorster / iStock / Getty Images

Celebrate Christmas

'Christmas in Winter' is a popular premise in the southern hemisphere and there are numerous places to get festive in June and July. The best known mid-year Christmas celebration is held 90 minutes from Cape Town in the pretty town of Tulbagh on June 23 and 24. Restaurants put on filling festive banquets, wineries host special events and there are concerts and parties throughout town. Plus of course, jolly old Saint Nick pops in to dish out candy to grinning kids. Check the annual programme with Tulbagh Tourism and be sure to book accommodation and restaurants in advance as the town gets very busy.

Keep the kids occupied

South African school holidays begin in the second half of June so you’ll find all manner of family-friendly activities advertised on lamp posts across the city. Most theatres put on special kid-friendly shows, while some of the museums – notably the Cape Town Science Centre – offer extra activities while the kids are off school. This does of course mean that most family attractions are busier than usual, so it’s wise to arrive early if you want to beat the crowds.