How to get from San Francisco to Cape Town

No nonstop flights. The fastest way is via New York: about 23h 3m including the connection. Other options: via Amsterdam, London, Zurich and Munich. Two tickets from $1,068.

Flights from San Francisco to Cape Town

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We search agencies and airlines for your day: nonstop and connecting flights, baggage, departure and arrival times.

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Where to connect

Options with one connection, fastest first

fastest, via New York
23h 3m
two tickets, via London
$1,068
connection options
5
straight-line distance
10,244 mi (16,486 km)
fastest
Via New York
23h 3m
with the connection
San Francisco to New York flight 5h 35m
Connection of about 3h Arrival: John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia, Newark Liberty International. Departure to Cape Town: Newark Liberty International.
New York to Cape Town flight 14h 28m
two ticketsfrom $1,358
Via Amsterdam
Netherlands
24h 53m
with the connection
San Francisco to Amsterdam flight 10h 30m
Connection of about 3h
Amsterdam to Cape Town flight 11h 23m
two ticketsfrom $2,410
Via London
United Kingdom
25h 5m
with the connection
San Francisco to London flight 10h 30m
Connection of about 3h Arrival: London Heathrow. Departure to Cape Town: London Gatwick, London Heathrow.
London to Cape Town flight 11h 35m
two ticketsfrom $1,068
Via Zurich
Switzerland
25h 5m
with the connection
San Francisco to Zurich flight 11h 10m
Connection of about 3h
Zurich to Cape Town flight 10h 55m
Via Munich
Germany
25h 30m
with the connection
San Francisco to Munich flight 11h 15m
Connection of about 3h
Munich to Cape Town flight 11h 15m
two ticketsfrom $2,486

One ticket or two

How the options are calculated and what to keep in mind at the connection

Flight times come from the nonstop schedule (estimated from the distance where there is no schedule), with 3h allowed for the connection. The price of an option is the sum of the lowest known fares for each leg; their dates may not match, so treat it as a guide. The search shows tickets for your dates, including connections on a single ticket.

When to visit Cape Town

Weather by month

Best time to visit: January, February, March, April, May, June, August, September, October, November and December, +18° to +28° by day, sea +14° to +18°. In November it is +25° by day and +15° at night, sea +17°, with 5 rainy days.

Jan
+28° +17° +18° 3 days
Feb
+28° +17° +18° 3 days
Mar
+26° +16° +17° 7 days
Apr
+24° +13° +16° 4 days
May
+20° +11° +16° 8 days
Jun
+19° +10° +15° 10 days
Jul
+17° +8° +14° 12 days
Aug
+18° +8° +14° 10 days
Sep
+19° +9° +15° 6 days
Oct
+23° +12° +16° 5 days
Nov
+25° +15° +17° 5 days
Dec
+26° +16° +18° 5 days

Daytime and night temperatures in °C, sea temperature (in blue), rainy days. Months with the most comfortable weather are in green. Long-term averages.

Nearest nonstop flights

The closest you can get without a connection

Frequently asked questions

Is there a nonstop flight from San Francisco to Cape Town?
There are no nonstop flights in the schedule. You will need a connection, the fastest is via New York.
What is the fastest way to fly from San Francisco to Cape Town?
Via New York: 5h 35m to the connection, 14h 28m after it, about 23h 3m in total with 3h for the connection.
How much does a flight from San Francisco to Cape Town with a connection cost?
Two nonstop tickets via London from $1,068. This is the sum of the lowest known prices for each leg, and their dates may not match.
Which cities can you connect in between San Francisco and Cape Town?
New York (23h 3m total), Amsterdam (24h 53m total), London (25h 5m total), Zurich (25h 5m total) and Munich (25h 30m total).
How far is Cape Town from San Francisco?
10,244 mi (16,486 km) in a straight line between the cities.
How much time should I allow for the connection?
The options allow 3h. On a single ticket the carrier is responsible for the connection; on separate tickets you set the margin yourself, allowing time to collect and re-check your bags.