Johannesburg, South Africa: travel guide
South Africa's largest city and economic hub, Johannesburg—known locally as "Joburg" or "Jozi"—offers vibrant contrasts: from the poignant Apartheid Museum to hip Maboneng and Sandton's world-class malls.
- Country
- South Africa
- Currency
- ZAR
- Time zone
- Africa/Johannesburg
- Nearest airport
- JNB
Top places to visit in Johannesburg
Apartheid Museum Johannesburg
Museum · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · entry ZAR 170
Chronicles the rise and fall of apartheid through harrowing film footage, photographs, and artefacts. One of the most important museums on the continent — a must-visit to understand modern South Africa.
Soweto Township & Vilakazi Street
Cultural · 4.7 rating · about 4 h
South Africa's most famous township — home to both Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu and birthplace of the 1976 Uprising. Guided tours cover Vilakazi Street, Walter Sisulu Square, and Hector Pieterson Museum.
Maboneng Precinct Johannesburg
Cultural · 4.5 rating · about 2.5 h
Johannesburg's vibrant arts and culture precinct. Fox Street is lined with galleries, coffee shops, and street food. The Sunday Market at Arts on Main is a Joburg institution.
Gold Reef City Theme Park
Activity · about 6 h
South Africa's biggest theme park on a 19th-century gold mine. Includes thrill rides, a 200-m mine descent, and live entertainment.
Constitution Hill
Heritage · about 2 h
Former prison complex now housing the Constitutional Court. The Old Fort, Number Four, and Women's Jail document apartheid through powerful exhibitions.
Zoo Lake Park & Johannesburg Zoo
Nature · about 2.5 h
Lush public park with a boating lake, Sunday art market, and adjacent zoo. Popular family and picnic destination.
Things to do
- Apartheid Museum Self-Guided Visit Cultural · 3.5 h · from ZAR 38 per person
- Full-Day Soweto Heritage Tour Cultural · 7 h · from ZAR 170 per person
- Gold Reef City Casino & Theme Park Adventure · 5 h · from ZAR 50 per person
- Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve Day Visit Nature · 5 h · from ZAR 83 per person
Day trips and tours
- Soweto & Apartheid History Full-Day Tour 9 h · from ZAR 240
- Cradle of Humankind & Sterkfontein Caves Day Trip 8 h · from ZAR 270
- Joburg Art, Street Food & Maboneng Precinct Tour 5 h · from ZAR 130
Where to stay in Johannesburg
- Sandton Central about ZAR 4,800 per night
Johannesburg's financial and lifestyle hub. Highest concentration of 5-star hotels, Sandton City mall, and the Gautrain station.
- Rosebank about ZAR 2,800 per night
Cosmopolitan suburb between Sandton and the city. Excellent restaurants, the Rooftop Market, and good Gautrain access.
- Maboneng Precinct about ZAR 1,800 per night
Johannesburg's creative regeneration district. Boutique hotels, galleries, Markets on Main, and street art.
Hotels
- Four Seasons The Westcliff Johannesburg 5-star · ZAR 5,000 to ZAR 11,000 per night
- Curiocity Backpackers Johannesburg 2-star · ZAR 300 to ZAR 900 per night
- Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Melrose Johannesburg 3-star · ZAR 1,100 to ZAR 1,800 per night
- Protea Hotel Johannesburg Wanderers 4-star · ZAR 1,200 to ZAR 2,800 per night
Where to eat
- Sakhumzi Restaurant Soweto south african, traditional, zulu · about ZAR 250 per person
- The Marble Joburg steakhouse, south african, contemporary · about ZAR 700 per person
- Arts on Main Sunday Market street food, south african, international · about ZAR 150 per person
- The Butcher Shop & Grill Sandton Steakhouse · about ZAR 650 per person
- Salvation Cafe Melville contemporary, south african, brunch · about ZAR 280 per person
- Moyo Zoo Lake Johannesburg African Fusion · about ZAR 280 per person
Getting around
- Ride Hail main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Shared Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Train main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.
Safety and scams to avoid
ATM Card Skimming
Johannesburg CBD and OR Tambo Airport ATMs
A device installed on the ATM slot copies your card data while a person nearby shoulder-surfs your PIN.
How to avoid it: Use ATMs inside bank branches during opening hours. Cover the keypad when entering your PIN. Check for loose card slot attachments before inserting your card.
Taxi Kidnapping (Bogus Taxi)
OR Tambo Airport parking areas and CBD
Fake Uber drivers or unlicensed taxis convince tourists to get in. The vehicle is taken to an isolated area for robbery.
How to avoid it: Always verify Uber driver name, plate number, and photo inside the app before entering. Never accept rides from drivers who approach you in the terminal.
Friendship Bracelet Hustle
Neighbourgoods Market, Maboneng
Someone places a "free" bracelet on your wrist before you can object, then demands payment. Refusing leads to aggressive behaviour.
How to avoid it: Decline politely and firmly. Do not let strangers tie anything on you. Walk away without engaging.