South Africa guide › South Africa's cities, history and culture
What to do in Johannesburg, and is it worth visiting?
Yes, for a day or two: Johannesburg is where you come for history, with the Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill and Soweto, before flying or driving on to Kruger. It lacks Cape Town's looks and its reputation for crime is partly deserved, but with a bit of planning it's well worth the stop.
Joburg (or Jozi to locals) was born in the 1886 gold rush and is the country's economic engine. Its O.R. Tambo airport is the region's biggest hub, so many long-haul flights from London, New York or Atlanta land here anyway. The pale yellow mine dumps south of the city are a reminder of where the money came from.
What you'll see:
- The Apartheid Museum, the most powerful museum in the country: your ticket randomly assigns you a "Whites" or "Non-whites" entrance. Allow two to three hours; it isn't recommended for children under 11.
- Constitution Hill, a former prison (the Old Fort held both Gandhi and Mandela) that now houses the Constitutional Court, the symbol of post-1994 South Africa.
- Maboneng and Braamfontein, old warehouse districts turned into cafés, galleries and street-art walls, best explored with a guide.
- Soweto, the country's best-known township, half an hour from the centre: see our Soweto safety and tour advice.
- Pretoria (Tshwane), the administrative capital, 40 minutes away on the Gautrain: the Union Buildings and their gardens, the Voortrekker Monument and, in October and November, whole avenues turned purple by flowering jacarandas.
- Lesedi Cultural Village, about an hour away: dancing and an introduction to the country's cultures, staged for visitors. Enjoyable, but a show rather than a village where people live.
Practical info. The Gautrain, a fast and safe rail link, runs from the airport to Sandton in about 15 minutes, then on to Pretoria. Elsewhere, use Uber or Bolt, and don't walk around at night. The CBD, Hillbrow and Berea are for guided visits only. Most visitors stay in Sandton, Rosebank or Melville. The Apartheid Museum costs around US$10 to US$15 and is closed early in the week, so check its opening days. For the bigger picture, read our South Africa safety advice.
Verdict: one day for the Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill, half a day for Soweto, and perhaps half a day at the Cradle of Humankind. It's an ideal first stop to shake off jet lag before Kruger.
Tip: on a first visit, book a guided day combining Soweto and the Apartheid Museum with a hotel pick-up: you see the essentials without handling the driving or guessing which areas to avoid.
Information checked in November 2026; confirm before you travel.