Comparison · Cape Town vs Johannesburg · South Africa
Cape Town vs Johannesburg
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Choose Cape Town for Table Mountain, Robben Island and beaches; choose Johannesburg for Apartheid Museum, Soweto and a short break. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 1,262 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,262 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Cape Town
- February–April and November
- Best time for Johannesburg
- April–May and September–October
Side by side
| Cape Town | Johannesburg | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | South Africa | South Africa |
| Known for | Table Mountain, Robben Island and African penguins | Apartheid Museum, Soweto and Constitution Hill |
| Best time to visit | February–April and November | April–May and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 7 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $100–$200 | $100–$200 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | February, 27°C (81°F) | January, 26°C (79°F) |
| Coldest month | June, 18°C (64°F) | June, 16°C (61°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 6 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 5 |
| Beaches | Clifton 4th Beach | — |
| Airports | CPT | JNB, HLA |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Cape Town for…
Table Mountain, Robben Island and beaches. Cape Town wraps around the base of Table Mountain, with the City Bowl and V&A Waterfront facing Table Bay, the Atlantic beaches of Sea Point, Clifton and Camps Bay to the west, and the warmer False Bay shore of Muizenberg and Kalk Bay to the south. Most…
Choose Johannesburg for…
Apartheid Museum, Soweto and a short break. Johannesburg grew out of the 1886 Witwatersrand gold rush and is now South Africa's largest city, sprawling across the Highveld at about 1,750 metres. Its essential sights are about history: the Apartheid Museum, the prison complex at Constitution Hill and…
Top sights compared
| # | Cape Town | Johannesburg |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Table Mountain and the Aerial Cableway | Apartheid Museum |
| 2 | Robben Island | Constitution Hill |
| 3 | Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden | Vilakazi Street and Mandela House |
| 4 | V&A Waterfront | Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum |
| 5 | Bo-Kaap | Soweto by bicycle or with a local guide |
Food compared
| Cape Town | Johannesburg |
|---|---|
| Bobotie | Braai |
| Cape Malay curry | Boerewors roll |
| Gatsby | Pap and chakalaka |
| Hake and chips | Kota |
Which is cheaper?
Cape Town and Johannesburg cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $100–$200 in Cape Town and $100–$200 in Johannesburg (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Cape Town on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,262 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 11 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Cape Town or Johannesburg cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $100–$200 in Cape Town and $100–$200 in Johannesburg (estimates).
+Is Cape Town or Johannesburg better for a first trip?
Pick Cape Town for Table Mountain, Robben Island and beaches, or Johannesburg for Apartheid Museum, Soweto and a short break.
+How far is Cape Town from Johannesburg?
About 1,262 km in a straight line.