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$597+ Cheap flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Cape Town (CPT)

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 8/27. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SFO — CPT
Jun 17 — Jun 241
Tue 6/17
Tue 6/24
1 adult, Economy
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from San Francisco to Cape Town Intl are usually found in March or January, booked 87 days in advance, depart on a Wednesday or Sunday and return on a Wednesday

Cheap flight deals from San Francisco to Cape Town

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from San Francisco (SFO) to Cape Town (CPT). Learn about various techniques such as flexible date searches, comparing prices across and setting up price alerts. Use these methods to find the cheapest flights available for your travel needs. Data last updated June 12, 2025.

Round-trip from

$1,020
(Gotogate)

One-way from

$597
(FlightHub)

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

March

Average price

$1,891
From San Francisco to Cape Town Intl
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One-way flight from San Francisco to Cape Town Intl
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Highest demand for flights based on searches. 1% potential increase in price ($28 potential increase over avg. RT price).
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Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease ($44 potential savings vs. average RT price).
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Average for round-trip flights in June 2025
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Find flight deals from San Francisco to Cape Town

Cheapest flights from San Francisco to Cape Town
Explore the most affordable flight options available from San Francisco to Cape Town. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on June 12, 2025.

This Gotogate deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/11. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Gotogate is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 8/46:45 pmSFO - CPT
1 stop32h 05mTurkish Airlines
Tue 8/194:35 pmCPT - SFO
1 stop33h 05mTurkish Airlines
Deal found 6/11$1,020
This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/12. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure FlightHub is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 9/16:45 pmSFO - CPT
1 stop32h 05mMultiple Airlines
Wed 9/246:05 amCPT - SFO
2 stops43h 35mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 6/12$1,160
This oojo deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/10. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure oojo is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 10/2510:45 pmSFO - CPT
2 stops30h 00mEthiopian Air
Thu 10/301:50 pmCPT - SFO
3 stops34h 45mEthiopian Air
Deal found 6/10$1,180
This Singapore Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/11. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Singapore Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 11/119:40 amSFO - CPT
2 stops37h 45mSingapore Airlines
Tue 11/2510:40 amCPT - SFO
2 stops31h 10mSingapore Airlines
Deal found 6/11$1,249
This Kenya Airways deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/12. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Kenya Airways is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 9/207:00 amSFO - CPT
3 stops45h 45mKenya Airways
Thu 10/211:30 pmCPT - SFO
2 stops48h 42mKenya Airways
Deal found 6/12$1,406
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/11. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 8/313:21 pmSFO - CPT
2 stops34h 39mAmerican Airlines
Thu 9/116:55 pmCPT - SFO
2 stops33h 07mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 6/11$1,426
This Iberia deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/10. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Iberia is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 11/255:30 pmSFO - CPT
1 stop32h 40mIberia
Tue 12/166:45 pmCPT - SFO
2 stops35h 59mIberia
Deal found 6/10$1,427
This British Airways deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/10. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure British Airways is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 11/308:40 pmSFO - CPT
1 stop25h 20mBritish Airways
Sun 12/146:45 pmCPT - SFO
1 stop30h 15mBritish Airways
Deal found 6/10$1,439
This oojo deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/12. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure oojo is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 11/92:45 pmSFO - CPT
2 stops37h 50mQatar Airways
Sun 11/2312:35 pmCPT - SFO
1 stop33h 50mQatar Airways
Deal found 6/12$1,446

Cheapflights Fare Finder

Customize your flight search to find flights from San Francisco to Cape Town that fit within your specific budget. Explore options based on user searches and filter the results based on your desired price range. Find flights that match your budget for a cost-effective journey. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated June 12, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from San Francisco to Cape Town that are best for you.

Fly from

San Francisco

Fly to

Cape Town

Route

Depart

Return

Price

San FranciscoCape Town

SFO - CPT

SFOCPT

San Francisco

Mon 8/4

6:45 pm-11:50 am

1 stop32h 05m

Cape Town Intl

Tue 8/19

4:35 pm-4:40 pm

1 stop33h 05m

$1,020

San FranciscoCape Town

SFO - CPT

SFOCPT

San Francisco

Mon 9/1

6:45 pm-11:50 am

1 stop32h 05m

Cape Town Intl

Wed 9/24

6:05 am-4:40 pm

2 stops43h 35m

$1,160

San FranciscoCape Town

SFO - CPT

SFOCPT

San Francisco

Sat 10/25

10:45 pm-1:45 pm

2 stops30h 00m

Cape Town Intl

Thu 10/30

1:50 pm-3:35 pm

3 stops34h 45m

$1,180

San FranciscoCape Town

SFO - CPT

SFOCPT

San Francisco

Tue 11/11

9:40 am-9:25 am

2 stops37h 45m

Cape Town Intl

Tue 11/25

10:40 am-7:50 am

2 stops31h 10m

$1,249

San FranciscoCape Town

SFO - CPT

SFOCPT

San Francisco

Sat 9/20

7:00 am-1:45 pm

3 stops45h 45m

Cape Town Intl

Thu 10/2

11:30 pm-3:12 pm

2 stops48h 42m

$1,406

San FranciscoCape Town

SFO - CPT

SFOCPT

San Francisco

Sun 8/31

3:21 pm-11:00 am

2 stops34h 39m

Cape Town Intl

Thu 9/11

6:55 pm-7:02 pm

2 stops33h 07m

$1,426

San FranciscoCape Town

SFO - CPT

SFOCPT

San Francisco

Tue 11/25

5:30 pm-12:10 pm

1 stop32h 40m

Cape Town Intl

Tue 12/16

6:45 pm-8:44 pm

2 stops35h 59m

$1,427

San FranciscoCape Town

SFO - CPT

SFOCPT

San Francisco

Sun 11/30

8:40 pm-8:00 am

1 stop25h 20m

Cape Town Intl

Sun 12/14

6:45 pm-3:00 pm

1 stop30h 15m

$1,439

San FranciscoCape Town

SFO - CPT

SFOCPT

San Francisco

Sun 11/9

2:45 pm-2:35 pm

2 stops37h 50m

Cape Town Intl

Sun 11/23

12:35 pm-12:25 pm

1 stop33h 50m

$1,446

San FranciscoCape Town

SFO - CPT

SFOCPT

San Francisco

Wed 8/27

3:55 pm-10:50 am

1 stop33h 55m

$597

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 6/11

Showing 1-10 of 21 results
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Best time to book a flight from San Francisco to Cape Town

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Cape Town from San Francisco with our price prediction graph.
Estimated round-trip price
Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.

Cheapflights Insights

Everything you need to know about your flight from San Francisco to Cape Town

How far ahead should I book a flight from San Francisco to Cape Town?

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from San Francisco to Cape Town. Price data was last updated on June 9, 2025.

The best time to book flights from San Francisco to Cape Town is 87 days before your desired departure date. The cost of your flight will likely increase significantly if you book two weeks in advance of your flight.

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from San Francisco to Cape Town?

Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Cape Town (average of $1,292). Flying from San Francisco to Cape Town in December is currently the most expensive (average of $1,830). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from SFO to CPT?

Find hourly flight availability from San Francisco to Cape Town. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated June 12, 2025.

A simple way to save on the total cost of your ticket is to fly from San Francisco to Cape Town in the afternoon. If you’re flexible enough to do this you can expect to save up to 21% on your trip compared to booking a flight in the morning.

What is the cheapest day to fly from San Francisco to Cape Town?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from San Francisco to Cape Town. Price data was last updated on December 16, 2024.

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their San Francisco to Cape Town flight should consider departing on Wednesday afternoons when fares are most often at their lowest. Friday mornings flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

Rainfall in Cape Town by month

Plan your trip to Cape Town by taking into account the average rainfall totals by month.

In terms of precipitation, rainfall in Cape Town ranges from 0.8 - 3.9 inches per month. July is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 3.9 in. January is typically the driest time to visit Cape Town when rainfall is around 0.8 in.

Temperature in Cape Town by month

Plan your trip to Cape Town by taking into account the average temperature totals by month.

If weather is an important factor for your trip to Cape Town, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, January is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 69.8 F. Travelers looking to avoid the cold should look outside of July, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 53.6 F).

Reviews of airlines servicing Cape Town

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Cape Town. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to Cape Town. Reviews last updated June 12, 2025.
Peruse reviews from past customers who have flown with Emirates, Singapore Airlines and Delta from San Francisco to Cape Town to help guide your decision. Reviews also offer insight into each airline's entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Emirates
8.1
Very good
3,264 reviews

Food

7.8

Entertainment

8.2

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.3

Reviews

1 / 20
4.0
Okay

Anonymous,Dec 2024

IAD - DXB

Not so good. Flight was departed 2 hours late from DC and we missed our connecting flight from Dubai to Mumbai. Our flight Dubai to Mumbai got delayed by three hours. Once we arrived Bombay airport we didnot get all our luggage bags. We were missing two luggage bags so found out that our those two luggage bags are coming in different flight. First they gave us wrong flight information in which our missing luggage coming and wrong phone number to whom we should reach out. I spent hours and hours at the airport to find out our luggage bags. After four five hours later and hectic time at the airport to get our luggage bags. Overall poor communication with emirates staff at the airport and no one is helpful.
Emirates
8.1
Very good
3,264 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very good
3,264 reviews

Food

7.8

Entertainment

8.2

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.3

Reviews

1 / 20
4.0
Okay

Anonymous,Dec 2024

IAD - DXB

Not so good. Flight was departed 2 hours late from DC and we missed our connecting flight from Dubai to Mumbai. Our flight Dubai to Mumbai got delayed by three hours. Once we arrived Bombay airport we didnot get all our luggage bags. We were missing two luggage bags so found out that our those two luggage bags are coming in different flight. First they gave us wrong flight information in which our missing luggage coming and wrong phone number to whom we should reach out. I spent hours and hours at the airport to find out our luggage bags. After four five hours later and hectic time at the airport to get our luggage bags. Overall poor communication with emirates staff at the airport and no one is helpful.
Singapore Airlines
8.1
Very good
1,302 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very good
3,264 reviews

Food

7.8

Entertainment

8.2

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.3

Reviews

1 / 20
4.0
Okay

Anonymous,Dec 2024

IAD - DXB

Not so good. Flight was departed 2 hours late from DC and we missed our connecting flight from Dubai to Mumbai. Our flight Dubai to Mumbai got delayed by three hours. Once we arrived Bombay airport we didnot get all our luggage bags. We were missing two luggage bags so found out that our those two luggage bags are coming in different flight. First they gave us wrong flight information in which our missing luggage coming and wrong phone number to whom we should reach out. I spent hours and hours at the airport to find out our luggage bags. After four five hours later and hectic time at the airport to get our luggage bags. Overall poor communication with emirates staff at the airport and no one is helpful.
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,950 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very good
3,264 reviews

Food

7.8

Entertainment

8.2

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.3

Reviews

1 / 20
4.0
Okay

Anonymous,Dec 2024

IAD - DXB

Not so good. Flight was departed 2 hours late from DC and we missed our connecting flight from Dubai to Mumbai. Our flight Dubai to Mumbai got delayed by three hours. Once we arrived Bombay airport we didnot get all our luggage bags. We were missing two luggage bags so found out that our those two luggage bags are coming in different flight. First they gave us wrong flight information in which our missing luggage coming and wrong phone number to whom we should reach out. I spent hours and hours at the airport to find out our luggage bags. After four five hours later and hectic time at the airport to get our luggage bags. Overall poor communication with emirates staff at the airport and no one is helpful.
SWISS
7.5
Good
1,623 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very good
3,264 reviews

Food

7.8

Entertainment

8.2

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.3

Reviews

1 / 20
4.0
Okay

Anonymous,Dec 2024

IAD - DXB

Not so good. Flight was departed 2 hours late from DC and we missed our connecting flight from Dubai to Mumbai. Our flight Dubai to Mumbai got delayed by three hours. Once we arrived Bombay airport we didnot get all our luggage bags. We were missing two luggage bags so found out that our those two luggage bags are coming in different flight. First they gave us wrong flight information in which our missing luggage coming and wrong phone number to whom we should reach out. I spent hours and hours at the airport to find out our luggage bags. After four five hours later and hectic time at the airport to get our luggage bags. Overall poor communication with emirates staff at the airport and no one is helpful.
Qatar Airways
7.4
Good
3,584 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very good
3,264 reviews

Food

7.8

Entertainment

8.2

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.3

Reviews

1 / 20
4.0
Okay

Anonymous,Dec 2024

IAD - DXB

Not so good. Flight was departed 2 hours late from DC and we missed our connecting flight from Dubai to Mumbai. Our flight Dubai to Mumbai got delayed by three hours. Once we arrived Bombay airport we didnot get all our luggage bags. We were missing two luggage bags so found out that our those two luggage bags are coming in different flight. First they gave us wrong flight information in which our missing luggage coming and wrong phone number to whom we should reach out. I spent hours and hours at the airport to find out our luggage bags. After four five hours later and hectic time at the airport to get our luggage bags. Overall poor communication with emirates staff at the airport and no one is helpful.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from San Francisco to Cape Town. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.

  • What are the cheapest airlines flying from San Francisco to Cape Town round-trip?

    Our cheapest airline available from San Francisco to Cape Town is Turkish Airlines. Our recent data shows that you can find tickets from as low as $1,020 on this airline. Additional options worth looking into are Ethiopian Air and American Airlines, starting at $1,288 and $1,426 round-trip. Turkish Airlines is priced at 35% lower than the current average price of a flight leaving 3 months from now.

  • What are the cheapest airlines to fly from San Francisco to Cape Town one-way?

    One-way options have recently been found by users for as low as $597 on Qatar Airways. Other airlines that offer cheap prices include American Airlines from $752 and Ethiopian Air from $921 one-way.

  • Where are the most common layover locations when flying from San Francisco to Cape Town?

    San Francisco to Cape Town flights have a layover in London most often. Istanbul sees the second most layovers for non-direct flights flying from San Francisco to Cape Town.

  • What are some popular things to do or see while on a layover in London?

    London travelers tend to visit Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, and Piccadilly Circus more than anywhere else. Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, and Piccadilly Circus are located about 12.5 mi, 13.7 mi, and 14.1 mi, respectively from London Heathrow. Those on a layover in London in need of a rental car can book one at London Heathrow for about $44.

  • What are some popular points of interest to see during a layover in Istanbul?

    The majority of Istanbul visitors spend their time at Taksim Square, Sultan Ahmet Camii, and Beyazit Meydani. Taksim Square, Sultan Ahmet Camii, and Beyazit Meydani can be accessed by traveling approximately 20.8 mi, 22.3 mi, and 21.7 mi, respectively from Istanbul. Those looking to explore during their layover in Istanbul can rent a car from Istanbul for about $40 per day.

  • Where are the least popular layover locations for San Francisco to Cape Town flights?

    The least popular layover on flights from San Francisco to Cape Town is Washington, D.C..

  • Can I find deals for flights from San Francisco to Cape Town that include hotel bookings?

    Yes. In addition to deals on San Francisco to Cape Town flights, Cheapflights offers vacation packages that include both flights and hotel.

  • How can I find direct flights from San Francisco to Cape Town?

    After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from San Francisco to Cape Town.

  • Can I find deals for business class flights from San Francisco to Cape Town?

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from San Francisco to Cape Town by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

  • What is the cheapest month to book a flight from San Francisco to Cape Town?

    Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Cape Town (average of $1,292). Flying from San Francisco to Cape Town in December is currently the most expensive (average of $1,830). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

See more FAQs

Traveling to a place near San Francisco?

Book flights to San Francisco if you plan to visit one of these locations
Stellenbosch
Gordon's Bay
Hermanus
Wellington
Somerset West
Simon's Town

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Alternative routes for San Francisco to Cape Town

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.
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Top 10 airlines flying from San Francisco to Cape Town

Discover the top 10 airlines that operate flights from San Francisco to Cape Town. Compare their services, reliability, and customer satisfaction ratings to choose the airline that best suits your travel preferences and needs. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated June 12, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Turkish AirlinesCheapest$956Average$1,190FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time77%
British AirwaysCheapest$989Average$1,475FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time70%
Qatar AirwaysCheapest$1,043Average$1,346FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time68%
American AirlinesCheapest$1,140Average$1,400FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
LufthansaCheapest$1,209Average$1,788FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time76%
DeltaCheapest$1,210Average$1,909FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
KLMCheapest$1,269Average$1,656FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time75%
EmiratesCheapest$1,281Average$1,691FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time75%
United AirlinesCheapest$1,292Average$1,835FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
SWISSCheapest$1,414Average$1,581FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time79%

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