How many days · Johannesburg · South Africa
How many days do you need in Johannesburg?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: NJR ZA, Public domain
Quick answer
3 days is the sweet spot for Johannesburg, and 2 days is the minimum to see the main sights. 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.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 3 days
- Minimum
- 2 days
- Day trips available
- 5
- Daylight
- 10.5 h (Jun) to 13.8 h (Dec)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill, Vilakazi Street and Mandela House and Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum |
| 2 days | Good | Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum, Soweto by bicycle or with a local guide and Gold Reef City |
| 3 days | Ideal | Orlando Towers, Maboneng street art and galleries and Nelson Mandela Square |
| 5 days | Relaxed | The highlights plus a day trip to Cradle of Humankind |
| 7 days | Plenty | A slow trip with day trips such as Cradle of Humankind and Pretoria |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Johannesburg add up to roughly 19–27 hours of visiting time — about 3–4 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Soweto by bicycle or with a local guide (Half a day), Gold Reef City (Half a day) and Apartheid Museum (2–3 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Apartheid Museum | 2–3 hours | Ormonde |
| Constitution Hill | 2 hours | Braamfontein |
| Vilakazi Street and Mandela House | 1–2 hours | Soweto |
| Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum | 1 hour | Soweto |
| Soweto by bicycle or with a local guide | Half a day | Soweto |
| Gold Reef City | Half a day | Ormonde |
| Orlando Towers | 1–2 hours | Soweto |
| Maboneng street art and galleries | 2–3 hours | Maboneng |
| Nelson Mandela Square | 45 minutes | Sandton |
| Nelson Mandela Bridge | 30 minutes | Braamfontein |
| Johannesburg Botanical Garden and Emmarentia Dam | 1–2 hours | Emmarentia |
| Johannesburg Zoo | 2–3 hours | Parkview |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 3 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 2 days | Focus on Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill |
| With children | 4 days | Slower days and time for Gold Reef City |
| With day trips | 5 days | Add Cradle of Humankind and Pretoria |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in June (about 10.5 hours of daylight) than in December (about 13.8 hours). Daylight varies little through the year, so plan by weather instead.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Johannesburg with other destinations
Questions travellers ask
+Is 2 days enough in Johannesburg?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 3 days is more comfortable. 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.
+Is a week too long in Johannesburg?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Cradle of Humankind and Pretoria.