Getting around · Johannesburg · South Africa
Getting around Johannesburg
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Tim giddings, Public domain
Quick answer
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. Not for the city, where the Gautrain and ride-hailing cover most needs.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Train
- Airports
- JNB, HLA
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
- Travel pass
- Gautrain card
Ways to get around
Train
The Gautrain links OR Tambo airport, Sandton, Rosebank, Park Station and Pretoria with clean, fast trains; Sandton is about 15 minutes from the airport. Feeder buses serve some stations.
Buy a rechargeable Gautrain card at any station and keep it topped up; the system does not take cash at the gates.
Ride-hailing
Uber and Bolt are widely used, reasonably priced and the standard way to get around for visitors, including at night.
Bus
The Rea Vaya bus rapid transit system runs on dedicated lanes between Soweto, the CBD and Braamfontein, though most visitors find guided tours easier for Soweto.
Car
Hiring a car makes sense for the Cradle of Humankind, Pilanesberg and Kruger. South Africans drive on the left, and motorways around the city are good but busy.
Keep bags and phones out of sight on the seats; smash-and-grab theft at traffic lights is a well-known risk.
Walking
Walking works within Rosebank, Melrose Arch, Maboneng and parts of Braamfontein by day; avoid walking between areas or after dark.
Tickets and passes
Gautrain card
A rechargeable smart card used for Gautrain trains, buses and station parking; buy and top it up at station ticket machines or counters.
From the airport
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.
Do you need a car?
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.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Cradle of Humankind | About 1 hour by car | Car or organised tour |
| Pretoria | About 40 minutes by Gautrain from Sandton | Gautrain to Pretoria or Hatfield station |
| Pilanesberg National Park | About 2.5–3 hours by car | Car or safari tour; often combined with Sun City |
| Hartbeespoort Dam and the Magaliesberg | About 1 hour by car | Car |
| Kruger National Park | About 5 hours by road; stay two nights or more | Car via the N4, or a short flight to Skukuza or Nelspruit |
Questions travellers ask
+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.
+How do you get from the airport to Johannesburg?
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.
+What is the best way to get around Johannesburg?
Train: The Gautrain links OR Tambo airport, Sandton, Rosebank, Park Station and Pretoria with clean, fast trains; Sandton is about 15 minutes from the airport. Feeder buses serve some stations.