Is Johannesburg Safe to Visit [2024]

Johannesburg is one city with a big reputation. Tell anyone you’re visiting Joburg and undoubtedly you’ll get some reactions (to say the least). If you’ve read any of the news on Johannesburg, or heard some of the stories, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’ll be shot at or robbed each time you venture into the streets. 

If you’re wondering whether Johannesburg is safe to visit, we get you. We’re pretty seasoned travellers and honestly, we were nervous before we visited too. 

We’ve spent a lot of time in Joburg. We used it as a base whilst buying our car in South Africa and have gotten to know this bustling city pretty intimately. We fell in love with the vibrancy of the city and its friendly people, not to mention the million and one things to do in Johannesburg too. 

So, if you’re asking yourself whether Johannesburg is safe to visit, read on for our complete guide on the ins and outs of travelling safely in Johannesburg. 

Is Johannesburg Safe to Visit? 

We’ll just say it here, yes, Johannesburg is safe to visit. But it’s also true that Johannesburg has an extremely high crime rate and that some pretty horrible things happen here too. 

What does this mean? 

Let’s break it down for you. 

Johannesburg’s safety, like all of South Africa’s, is a legacy of the country’s troubled and terrible history of apartheid and inequality. For decades, the majority of the country was excluded from political and financial participation. This left glaring inequalities that have yet to be addressed in any meaningful way. 

As a result, you have a deeply unequal society where wealth is concentrated in the hands of the very few. 

As with many other places in the world, this leads to crime. (And we’ll say it here – Cape Town has a higher murder rate than Johannesburg). 

Read: Is South Africa Safe to Visit in 2024?

Johannesburg Safety: Crime Statistics

When you look at them objectively, Johannesburg’s crime statistics are not that different from some US cities or other notable tourist destinations. Would you avoid going to Baltimore, Cancun, or Rio de Janeiro, simply because of crime?

Probably not. You’d just pick and choose the areas you can visit safely and avoid the no-go zones. Johannesburg is exactly the same. 

Sadly, most of the violent crime in Johannesburg occurs in lower socio-economic areas and other areas where tourists are unlikely to visit.

This means there are plenty of places you can go in Johannesburg where you can confidently walk around without feeling like you’re going to be mugged. It also means there are areas in Johannesburg that are not safe to visit and those should be avoided, full stop. 

Read about more of South Africa’s Hidden Gems

Security in Johannesburg

Johannesburg also has a thriving security industry. Within one day of visiting Joburg, you’ll notice the private security guards stationed everywhere (not to mention the 3-metre high walls topped with electric fencing).

As Johannesburg is being revitalised, with many areas being rejuvenated, businesses are hiring private security guards to watch over their property and customers. This means it’s a lot safer to visit inner-city areas than it once used to be. 

Read next: 15 Awesome Things to Do in Johannesburg

You do still, however, need to take precautions and not get lazy or apathetic about your security when visiting Joburg. You don’t need to be paranoid, but you do need to be aware of your surroundings. 

All that said, if it’s your first time travelling internationally, Johannesburg is probably not a great first place to start. In that case then, maybe Thailand is more your game – don’t worry, we have plenty of great resources for Thailand too. 

Is Johannesburg Safe to Visit: Crime in Johannesburg

The good news for potential visitors is that most crime in Johannesburg is petty in nature. 

Yes, violent crime still does occur, but this is largely confined to specific areas of town (where you shouldn’t go). The vast majority of crime, where tourists are concerned, is rather minor and opportunistic in nature. 

Whilst none of the above is ideal in any situation, these crimes are largely untraumatic, and so long as you follow a few precautions, can be avoided.

Travel insurance, as always, is essential. If something goes wrong, you want to be covered. Our preference is SafetyWing. Trust us, we’ve used a lot of travel insurance and they really are the best.

How To Stay Safe in Johannesburg 

It’s entirely possible to visit Johannesburg and not fall victim to crime. Follow a few simple precautions and it’s likely you’ll have a crime-free and totally exciting visit. 

Johannesburg Safety: Walking 

Compared to many other big cities in the world, Joburg isn’t the most walkable city (hello urban sprawl!). However, there are neighbourhoods where you can walk around pleasantly. 

Here are a few tips to follow when taking a stroll through Jozi: 

• Know where you’re going beforehand. Be sure to look at a map, know your destination in advance and how to get there. Avoid looking lost. If you do get lost, pop into a shop or cafe and use your phone to get your bearings. 
• When you’re walking around, make eye contact with people you meet, pay attention and demonstrate confidence. Avoid looking down or as if you aren’t aware of your surroundings. 
• Wear pants or tops with zippers (if possible). Avoid keeping your phone or wallet in a loose, open pocket where it can be easily grabbed. 
• Never look at or use your phone while walking. Keep that shit hidden!
• Never walk around with valuables. 
• If someone approaches you for money, a firm ‘no thank you’ will do. Don’t ignore the person, as they will most likely follow you for a bit. 
• Don’t walk around at night. Sometimes you may have to take an Uber for a very short distance, but your safety is worth it. 

From Johannesburg, have a great weekend away at Golden Gate National Park

Johannesburg Safety: Driving 

Due to its sprawling nature, many visitors opt to rent a car whilst visiting Johannesburg. This is a great option to get around and see the many sites and fun things to do in Johannesburg. 

Pro tip: use Discover Cars to find the best deals on rentals.

When driving in Johannesburg, always check your route with a local. Google Maps will often try to take you the quickest (but not necessarily the safest) way. Ask a local friend, someone who works at your hotel, or your guesthouse owner which areas are okay to drive through and which aren’t. Local knowledge is key!

Other important tips for driving around Jozi:

• Don’t keep your phone on the seat next to you while driving. If you are using it as a GPS, be discreet about it. 
• Always lock your doors while driving. 
• When you get out of your car, double-check to see if it’s locked. Lock-blockers are sadly common. 
• Only park in secure locations. You’ll notice the informal parking attendants offering to watch your car for a tip. 5-10 ZAR is usually sufficient. 
• Never leave valuables in your car and avoid having them on the seat beside you whilst driving (to avoid a smash-and-grab). 

Johannesburg Safety: Other Tips 

• If you’re dining al-fresco, don’t put your phone on the table and don’t hang your bag on the back of the chair. Leave your bag under your feet or under the table. 
• Don’t hold your phone if you’re waiting for an Uber outside. Either wait inside or memorise the car details and if you have to wait outside, keep your phone in your pocket. 
• Use card for everything. Actually, this is a bit of a necessity as most businesses won’t accept cash. 
• Speak to locals. They’re the experts. They’ll tell you where you can and cannot go. 
• Use ATMs in malls. 

Johannesburg Safe Areas: Which Johannesburg Neighbourhoods Are Safe to Visit? 

There are many pleasant, safe areas in Johannesburg to explore. 

The leafy and posh northern suburbs of Sandton, Melrose and Rosebank are very safe to visit. Spending time here, you could be mistaken for thinking you’re in Melbourne, London or Los Angeles. You’ll find lots of shopping malls and plenty of nice restaurants and cafes. 

The cool neighbourhoods of Parkhurst, Linden and Melville are also areas of Johannesburg that are safe to visit and walk around. These are actually our favourite neighbourhoods in Johannesburg. They’re a bit closer to the CBD so have a bit more of an urban vibe, but largely still feel pleasant and green. 

Read: The Top 5 Coolest Neighbourhoods in Johannesburg

The rejuvenated areas of Maboneng and Braamfontein are largely safe to visit: these are little oases in Joburg’s bustling urban core. They border some of the toughest areas in town, so be sure to stay within each precinct and always have your wits about you. 

Johannesburg’s central business district (CBD) has a bad reputation. Whilst there are some inner-city neighbourhoods that are perfectly fine during the day (such as Newtown and Marshalltown), others are definitely no-go zones. 

Places to Avoid in Johannesburg

There are some areas in Johannesburg that you absolutely shouldn’t visit on your own. This mostly includes Hillbrow, Yeoville, Berea, and Alexandra.

Just because you can’t visit these neighbourhoods independently doesn’t mean you can’t visit them though!

Hillbrow, Berea and Yeoville have some really incredible walking tours, which we highly recommend you take! You’ll get to explore these fascinating, and misunderstood, neighbourhoods with an engaging local guide. We rate our Hillbrow Walking Tour with Dlala Nje as one of the best things we’ve ever done in Johannesburg. There’s also an incredible Taste of Africa Food Tour in Yeoville that comes highly, highly recommended.

Johannesburg Safe Areas: Getting your Bearings

The trouble with visiting Johannesburg as a visitor is knowing exactly where one of these ends and the other begins. You’ll be very shocked at how quickly a neighbourhood can turn from friendly to intimidating. 

That’s why, we recommend starting a visit with an innercity walking tour to get your bearings. They’re super fun and interesting and visiting with a local guide will help you understand the area and build your confidence. 

And while we’re normally not into the ‘big red bus’ thing, the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour in Johannesburg is actually a great way to get oriented with the city and get around in a pretty cost-effective manner.

Is Johannesburg Worth Visiting? 

Definitely! We love Joburg. Johannesburg is one of the friendliest big cities we’ve ever visited – not to mention one of our favourite cities ever!  It’s a vibrant and modern city and should be on any South African itinerary. 

There are so many amazing things to do and see in Johannesburg. Don’t let its bad reputation scare you away: given you take precautions, Johannesburg is safe to visit and 100% worth visiting. 

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