For couples · Johannesburg · South Africa
Romantic things to do in Johannesburg
Ideas for a couples' trip, from small moments to a special day out.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: James Ball, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Romance in Johannesburg means rooftop sundowners over the skyline, long dinners on leafy restaurant streets and dawn balloon flights over the Magaliesberg. Couples tend to stay in Rosebank.
Key facts
- Romantic ideas
- 5
- Couple-friendly sights
- 0
- Area for couples
- Rosebank
- Best months
- April–May and September
Romantic ideas
1.Rooftop sundowner in Braamfontein
Watch the Highveld sunset light up the city skyline and the Nelson Mandela Bridge from a Braamfontein rooftop bar.
2.Dinner on 4th Avenue, Parkhurst
Choose from bistros and wine bars under the trees, then walk the quiet residential streets.
3.Balloon flight over the Magaliesberg
Dawn hot-air balloon flights drift over the Magaliesberg and Hartbeespoort area, usually ending with breakfast.
4.Jacaranda drive in October
Drive or cycle through purple-flowered streets in Parkhurst, Saxonwold and Pretoria at the peak of the bloom.
5.Picnic at Emmarentia Dam
Spread a blanket on the botanical garden lawns above the dam on a warm afternoon.
Where couples should stay
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, food lovers and culture
Rosebank
Rosebank mixes office blocks with art galleries around Jellicoe Avenue and the Keyes Art Mile, the Mall of Rosebank with its long-running Sunday rooftop market, and a cluster of mid-range and boutique hotels. Its Gautrain station connects to Sandton, Park Station and the airport, and Parkhurst's restaurants are a short ride away.
- Good
- Gautrain station; Galleries and cafés within a few blocks; Central between north and south
- Watch out
- Busy roads around the station; Limited nightlife on weeknights
- Nearby
- Keyes Art Mile, Mall of Rosebank, Parkhurst, Johannesburg Zoo
Romantic day trips
- Hartbeespoort Dam and the Magaliesberg (About 1 hour by car) — A reservoir below the Magaliesberg range with weekend markets, waterside restaurants and the Harties Cableway, which lifts visitors to the ridge for wide views.
For dinner
Share local specialities such as Braai, Pap and chakalaka and Bobotie. Order local: South African wines and craft beers are good value compared with imported drinks.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Johannesburg romantic?
Romance in Johannesburg means rooftop sundowners over the skyline, long dinners on leafy restaurant streets and dawn balloon flights over the Magaliesberg.
+What is the most romantic thing to do in Johannesburg?
Rooftop sundowner in Braamfontein: Watch the Highveld sunset light up the city skyline and the Nelson Mandela Bridge from a Braamfontein rooftop bar.
+Where should couples stay in Johannesburg?
Rosebank: Galleries, a Sunday rooftop market and a walkable centre by Joburg standards.