About Johannesburg
Johannesburg, Johannesburg is a lively, diverse city with an extensive blend from the country's history, culture, and life as a whole. Johannesburg is also referred to as the “City of Gold,” Johannesburg began as a small settlement that had an economy fueled by gold and is now one of South Africa’s largest and the most influential city in the country In 2022, the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality had a population of 4,803,262, and had a wider metropolitan area of 15,099,422, making it one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. Despite not being the country’s official judicial capital (Bloemfontein), it is the seat of the country's highest court, the Constitutional Court. Situated on the mineral-rich Witwatersrand, the city has long been at the epicentre of the international mineral and gold trade.
Places to visit in Johannesburg
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Apartheid Museum
Museum · 3 mi from centreA powerful museum documenting the rise and fall of apartheid through film, photographs and personal stories. Visitors enter through segregated entrances. Allow at least several hours.
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Constitution Hill
HistoricA former prison complex where Gandhi and Mandela were held, now home to the Constitutional Court. Guided tours cover the cells and the court, which incorporates bricks from the old jail.
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Soweto
Neighborhood · 12 mi from centreA large township central to the struggle against apartheid. Visit Vilakazi Street, once home to both Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, and the Mandela House museum.
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Hector Pieterson Museum
MuseumA museum and memorial in Soweto honoring the students killed during the 1976 uprising against Afrikaans-language education. Photographs and testimonies tell the story of that day.
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Cradle of Humankind
NatureA World Heritage Site northwest of the city with caves that have yielded important hominin fossils. The Maropeng visitor center and Sterkfontein Caves explain human evolution.
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Maboneng
NeighborhoodA regenerated urban district east of downtown with galleries, studios, cafes and a weekend food market. It is a good place to see street art and the city's creative scene.
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Gold Reef City
Entertainment · 3 mi from centreA theme park built on an old gold mine, with thrill rides, period buildings and tours that descend into a historic mine shaft. It sits next to the Apartheid Museum.
Things to do in Johannesburg by type
12 tours, tickets and experiences across 4 categories. Pick a type to see what is available for your dates.
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Day Trips & Excursions 7 experiences Apartheid Museum and Soweto Township - Half-Day Tour -
Art & culture 5 experiences Apartheid Museum and Soweto Township - Half-Day Tour -
Transport & Rentals 2 experiences Full Day Johannesburg Private Chauffeur Services -
Tickets & Attraction Passes 2 experiences City Sightseeing Johannesburg Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
- Over 6 hours 4
- Flexible 2
- 3-6 hours 2
- Families 3
- Senior 3
- Youth 3
- Couples 3
- Private 7
- Small group 6
Top experiences in Johannesburg
Tours, tickets and experiences you can book with Destina Holidays, from 12 available.
Ground Transportation Chauffeur Service with English Driver
From $129 per adult
Discover the History of Johannesburg - Full-Day Tour
From $142 per adult
Pretoria and The Cullinan Mine - Full-Day Tour
From $234 per adult
Discover Sun City and Pilanesberg Nature Reserve Safari - Full-Day Tour
From $290 per adult
Johannesburg and Soweto - Half-Day Tour
From $116 per adult
Pretoria City - Half-Day Tour
From $169 per adult
Apartheid Museum and Soweto Township - Half-Day Tour
From $149 per adult
Johannesburg, Soweto and Gold Reef City - Full-Day Tour
From $163 per adult
Travel Internet eSIM Data Card - South Africa
From $10 per adult
Best time to visit Johannesburg
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Johannesburg is May and August to September, when average daytime highs are around 69–76°F and rain falls on about 3 days a month.
Average daily low and high temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of rain, from recent weather records. Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.
Johannesburg weather forecast
- Wed 21 Oct 83° 58° 0%
- Thu 22 Oct 83° 61° 0%
- Fri 23 Oct 83° 59° 0%
- Sat 24 Oct 81° 56° 4%
- Sun 25 Oct 84° 59° 22%
- Mon 26 Oct 85° 64° 25%
Know before you go
- Currency
- South African rand (ZAR)1 US dollar ≈ R16.4
- Languages
- Afrikaans, English, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho
- Calling code
- +27
- Driving
- On the left
- Time zone
- Africa/JohannesburgUTC+2
- Capital
- Pretoria
Upcoming public holidays in South Africa
- Election Day
- Day of Reconciliation
- Christmas Day
- Day of GoodwillSt. Stephen's Day
- New Year's Day
- Human Rights Day
Banks, offices and some attractions may close on public holidays, and flights and hotels often fill up early around them.
Getting to Johannesburg
These are the airports closest to central Johannesburg. Compare fares into each one, as a slightly longer transfer can sometimes mean a much cheaper flight.
- QRA Rand Airport7 mi (12 km) from the city centre
- JNB OR Tambo International Airport13 mi (22 km) from the city centre
- GCJ Grand Central Airport16 mi (26 km) from the city centre
Getting around Johannesburg
Johannesburg was a city built for the car and so public transport is in the development process. The Gautrain (a speed train not part of the metro system) is a good, clean and safe way to jump fast between the airport, Malboro, Midrand, Rosebank, Pretoria and Centurion. There are buses and minicabs on the streets, but there tends to be no designated stops, so buses may be flagged down on main roads such as Oxford street and Jan Smuts.
Car rental
Renting a car is your best option if you are a confident driver, as the city's public transport is very, very limited. It is worth buying a good road map of Johannesburg, using a GPS (available when you rent a car) and planning your trips carefully before setting out. The city is large and somewhat poorly signposted. Make sure to be exceptionally clear with your rental agency what types of things are covered by their insurance plans. The phrase "full coverage" doesn't necessarily mean full coverage.
By bus
Public transport in Johannesburg is provided by city buses and informal minibus services. Bus (other than Gautrain buses and the City Sightseeing ones) is not a viable option if you are a foreign tourist/business visitor unfamiliar with South Africa and Johannesburg in particular. Large blue city buses run up and down the main roads and mini buses can be flagged down on the side of the street although they are not the best mode of transport as they are unreliable and often associated with crime.
By taxi or ride share
It is commonly recommended that foreigners use ride sharing services to travel around Johannesburg. Uber is considered reliable and safe, especially if the 'comfort' or 'Uber black' options are selected. As is the case everywhere, the quality of drivers and their vehicles can be somewhat variable. There have been incidents where taxi and minibus taxi operators have attacked Uber cars, and they are unable to do pickups at some locations (most notably most Gautrain stations) as a result.
Johannesburg travel FAQ
When is the best time to visit Johannesburg?
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Johannesburg is May and August to September, when average daytime highs are around 69–76°F and rain falls on about 3 days a month.
What is the weather like in Johannesburg?
February is usually the warmest month in Johannesburg, with average highs of 79°F (26°C). June is the coolest, with average lows of 40°F (4°C). The wettest month is typically February, with about 112 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Johannesburg?
Rand Airport (QRA) is the closest airport, about 7 miles (12 km) from the centre of Johannesburg. Other nearby airports include OR Tambo International Airport (JNB, 13 mi) and Grand Central Airport (GCJ, 16 mi).
What currency is used in Johannesburg?
Johannesburg uses the South African rand (ZAR). At the latest exchange rate, 1 US dollar ≈ R16.4.
What time zone is Johannesburg in?
Johannesburg uses the Africa/Johannesburg time zone (currently UTC+2). Remember to check for daylight saving changes when planning connecting flights.
How do I get around Johannesburg?
Johannesburg was a city built for the car and so public transport is in the development process. The Gautrain (a speed train not part of the metro system) is a good, clean and safe way to jump fast between the airport, Malboro, Midrand, Rosebank, Pretoria and Centurion.
What are the best places to visit in Johannesburg?
Top sights in Johannesburg include Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill, Soweto and Hector Pieterson Museum. A powerful museum documenting the rise and fall of apartheid through film, photographs and personal stories. Visitors enter through segregated entrances. Allow at least several hours.
What are the top things to do in Johannesburg?
Popular experiences you can book in Johannesburg include Ground Transportation Chauffeur Service with English Driver, Discover the History of Johannesburg - Full-Day Tour and Pretoria and The Cullinan Mine - Full-Day Tour. Destina Holidays offers 12 tours and activities here.
What kinds of tours and activities can I book in Johannesburg?
The most popular types of experiences in Johannesburg are day trips & excursions (7), art & culture (5), transport & rentals (2) and tickets & attraction passes (2). Filter by type when you search to compare prices and availability for your dates.
