Travel guide · South Africa
Johannesburg travel guide
Apartheid history, Soweto, gallery districts and the road to Kruger
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Mark Hillary, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
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 Vilakazi Street in Soweto, where Nelson Mandela's former house is a museum. Between them lie leafy northern suburbs such as Rosebank and Parkhurst, regenerated inner-city districts like Braamfontein and Maboneng, and the Gautrain line linking OR Tambo airport with Sandton and Pretoria. The Cradle of Humankind, Pilanesberg and the long drive to Kruger make it a natural start for a safari. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are April–May and September–October.
Key facts
- Country
- South Africa
- Best time to visit
- April–May and September–October
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- JNB, HLA
- Mid-range daily budget
- $100–$200 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Apartheid Museum, Soweto, Constitution Hill and Gold-rush history
Why visit Johannesburg
- The Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill, where both Gandhi and Mandela were imprisoned, are among the most powerful history museums in Africa.
- Vilakazi Street in Soweto, where Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu both lived, is lined with township restaurants, the Mandela House museum and the Hector Pieterson Memorial nearby.
- The Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where many early hominin fossils were found, is about an hour's drive north-west.
- Rosebank galleries, Braamfontein rooftops and weekend food markets show the city's creative side.
- Pilanesberg's malaria-free Big Five reserve is about 2.5 hours away, and Kruger National Park is reachable in about five hours by road.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 17 things to do.
Museum · Ormonde
Apartheid Museum
Opened in 2001 next to Gold Reef City, the museum tells the story of racial segregation from the gold-rush era to the 1994 elections through film, photographs, documents and personal testimony.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Rainy day
Historic site · Braamfontein
Constitution Hill
This former prison complex held Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and thousands of ordinary South Africans arrested under pass laws.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
Street · Soweto
Vilakazi Street and Mandela House
Nelson Mandela lived in the small brick house at 8115 Vilakazi Street in Orlando West from 1946 until his arrest in the early 1960s; it is now a museum with family photographs and bullet marks on the walls.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Food
Museum · Soweto
Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum
On 16 June 1976 police opened fire on students protesting against Afrikaans-language schooling, and 12-year-old Hector Pieterson was among those killed.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
Experience · Soweto
Soweto by bicycle or with a local guide
Guided bicycle and walking tours from Orlando West lead through residential streets, past shebeens, schools and informal settlements, with stops at Vilakazi Street and the Hector Pieterson Memorial.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Active
- Food
Theme park · Ormonde
Gold Reef City
A theme park built around an old gold mine shaft, with roller coasters and water rides, a recreated gold-rush streetscape and an underground tour that goes down into the former mine workings.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- History
- Active
Where to stay
Sandton is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 8 areas.
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping, luxury and families
Sandton
Glass towers, Nelson Mandela Square and the city's biggest malls
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, food lovers and culture
Rosebank
Galleries, a Sunday rooftop market and a walkable centre by Joburg standards
$$$ · Best for couples, food lovers and quiet stays
Parkhurst
Leafy suburb with a restaurant strip on 4th Avenue
$$ · Best for budget, nightlife and solo travellers
Melville
Bohemian bars and guesthouses on and around 7th Street
What to eat
- Braai — South Africa's barbecue, cooked over wood or charcoal: boerewors sausage, lamb chops, sosaties (kebabs) and steak, with pap, salads and garlic bread.
- Boerewors roll — A coil of spiced beef-and-pork farmer's sausage grilled and served in a soft roll with tomato-and-onion relish.
- Pap and chakalaka — Pap is maize-meal porridge, cooked stiff or crumbly, and chakalaka is a spicy relish of beans, carrots, peppers and chilli.
- Kota — A Johannesburg township favourite: a quarter loaf of white bread hollowed out and stuffed with chips, polony, Russian sausage, cheese, atchar and sometimes an egg.
- Bunny chow — A hollowed-out quarter or half loaf filled with curry, created by Durban's Indian community and eaten with your hands.
- Biltong and droëwors — Air-dried spiced meat, usually beef, sliced thin or sold in sticks; droëwors is the dried-sausage version.
When to go
The best times to visit Johannesburg are April–May and September–October, when days are warm and dry, evenings are mild and jacarandas bloom in October. Winter (June to August) is sunny and ideal for safaris at Pilanesberg and Kruger but cold at night. Summer brings short, heavy afternoon thunderstorms rather than all-day rain.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | December–February | Warm days with dramatic afternoon thunderstorms; the city is quieter in late December and early January while residents are at the coast. |
| Autumn | March–May | Settled, sunny weather and cooling evenings; one of the most comfortable times for sightseeing and day trips. |
| Winter | June–August | Dry, bright days and cold, sometimes frosty nights; excellent game viewing in nearby reserves. |
| Spring | September–November | Warming days, purple jacarandas in October and the return of summer storms from late October. |
Getting there and around
OR Tambo International (JNB) is about 25 km east of Sandton; the Gautrain reaches Sandton in about 15 minutes and Rosebank and Park Station a little later. Ride-hailing and metered taxis take 30–60 minutes depending on traffic. Lanseria (HLA), north-west of the city, handles some domestic flights.
Johannesburg is a car city: distances are long and walking between areas is rarely practical. Most visitors combine the Gautrain rail line with ride-hailing apps, and use guided tours for Soweto and the inner city.
Plan your days
Two days covers the Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill and a guided day in Soweto. A third day adds the Cradle of Humankind or Pretoria, plus an evening in Braamfontein or Rosebank; add two or more nights if you are heading to Pilanesberg or Kruger.
Practical information
- Currency
- ZAR
- Language
- English, isiZulu, Afrikaans and Sesotho
- Plugs
- Type M (large three round pins) is standard, with Type N and two-pin Type C also found; 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is treated and generally safe to drink; supply interruptions occur at times, so many hotels keep backup water.
- Emergency number
- 10111 (police), 10177 (ambulance), 112 from mobiles
- Tipping
- Tip about 10–15% in restaurants, a small amount to petrol attendants and car guards, and round up for ride-hailing drivers.
Street crime and smash-and-grab theft from cars at traffic lights are well-documented problems. Most visits are trouble-free if you use ride-hailing or the Gautrain, avoid walking between areas or after dark, keep valuables out of sight and visit the inner city and townships with a local guide.
Flights to Johannesburg
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Johannesburg?
Two days covers the Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill and a guided day in Soweto. A third day adds the Cradle of Humankind or Pretoria, plus an evening in Braamfontein or Rosebank; add two or more nights if you are heading to Pilanesberg or Kruger. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Johannesburg?
The best times to visit Johannesburg are April–May and September–October, when days are warm and dry, evenings are mild and jacarandas bloom in October. Winter (June to August) is sunny and ideal for safaris at Pilanesberg and Kruger but cold at night. Summer brings short, heavy afternoon thunderstorms rather than all-day rain.
+What is Johannesburg known for?
Apartheid Museum, Soweto, Constitution Hill, Gold-rush history, Braai culture, Street art and Gateway to Kruger. The Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill, where both Gandhi and Mandela were imprisoned, are among the most powerful history museums in Africa.
+Is Johannesburg expensive?
Johannesburg is affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $100–$200 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Johannesburg?
Not for the city, where the Gautrain and ride-hailing cover most needs. A car is useful for day trips to the Cradle of Humankind and Pilanesberg and for self-drive safaris in Kruger.