15 Awesome Things to Do in Johannesburg

Johannesburg, Joburg, Jozi, the City of Gold: whichever way you put it, this is one city with a big reputation. Often overlooked by visitors to South Africa, the country’s largest city is well worth a visit. Spend a bit of time here and you’ll see for yourself: there is an overwhelming amount of awesome things to do in Johannesburg. 

We’ve spent a lot of time in Joburg: we used it as a base when we bought our car in South Africa and kitted it out for our big overland journey. We absolutely loved exploring the city and uncovering so many fun things to do in Johannesburg.

From fascinating museums exploring the country’s tragic history to buzzing neighbourhoods to unique and creative walking tours, there are a ton of exciting things to do in Johannesburg. It’s easily one of South Africa’s top hidden gems.

So strap yourself in, get ready to have some fun and read on for our list of the best things to do in Johannesburg. 

Take an inner-city walking tour

We’re normally not big fans of organised tours, but Joburg is a unique city and this is one place where you definitely should take at least one. Taking a walking tour is definitely a great thing to do in Johannesburg.

Why? Because it’s not a super accessible city and especially to a newcomer, it can be downright intimidating. I mean its reputation is pretty fierce. 

While Joburg has some amazing neighbourhoods, there are still lots of places you can’t go to as a tourist. Making things even more challenging, the lines between these places can feel pretty vague and an accessible neighbourhood often sits right beside a dangerous one. 

Taking a walking tour allows you to get out and explore this vibrant city in a safe and engaging way. It also helps you get your bearings and shake off some of the scary stigma so associated with this city. 

Joburg being Joburg, there are heaps of super creative, funky and fun tours to join. Most focus on the inner city core, but you can also explore the Little Addis Ethiopian district or Maboneng on a street art tour. 

For recommended tour operators, check out One Day Africa, Mainstreetwalks (run by the popular Curiocity Backpackers) and LocalPlaces. Most cost around 500 – 600 ZAR for a half-day tour and include lunch. 

Our recommendation? For an inner-city tour, try LocalPlaces. They’re renowned for their storytelling. They also have heaps of options to explore different parts of the city, getting you to different and lesser-explored areas. 

Don’t feel like walking? Why don’t you try your hand at a skateboarding tour? Yep, that’s a possibility too. Told you this city was fun. 

Explore Joburg’s Vibrant Neighbourhoods

Joburg is buzzing with cool neighbourhoods, each with its own style and flavour. You have the leafy, posh suburbs of the north and the hip and gentrified inner-city enclaves. There are neighbourhoods filled with fascinating street art to others fringed with street-side cafes. 

Far from being one-dimensional, Johannesburg has so many sides to it, many of which are unknown to the outside world.

Take a few days to uncover a couple of neighbourhoods and you’ll see this city is bursting with infectious creativity and energy.

Read: The Top 5 Coolest Neighbourhoods in Johannesburg

Visit Hillbrow and Ponte Tower

This is our favourite thing to do in Johannesburg. Johannesburg is the “New York City of Africa” and nowhere else in the city displays this diversity than the neighbourhoods of Hillbrow, Berea and Yeoville. 

A walking tour of Hillbrow gives you an up-close look into one of the city’s most notorious neighbourhoods. On the tour, you walk around the areas of Hillbrow and Berea with a local guide, who provides invaluable local insight. 

You see some sketchy things, sure, but really the experience is tailored to de-stigmatise the area. It’s an incredibly vibrant area with a strong sense of community. Children are everywhere, people are hanging out and everyone says hello to the guides. 

It’s less a tour and more like a walking documentary. Well, at least that’s how Zandy described it while we were doing it. It’s an immersive experience, with fantastic storytelling to provide context. The guides take pains to not turn the experience into poverty porn. 

And yes, it’s safe. 

Read: Is South Africa Safe to Visit in 2024?

All Hillbrow Tours are run by Dlala Nje (which means ‘just play’ in Zulu). The Dlala Nje Foundation aims to provide a safe learning environment, where kids get to be kids. All operational costs are funded by the Dlala Nje Experiences Business – like the tours! Almost every guide or employee of Dlala Nje we’ve met started out as a kid who used the Centre. So cool! The Foundation has done a lot for the community and it’s great to support them. 

Apartheid Museum

The Apartheid Museum is, simply put, a can’t miss thing to do in Johannesburg. Seriously. It’s tragic, and confronting, but apartheid was all those things too. 

The museum is brilliantly put together. It’s a multimedia display of the true horrors of apartheid, through various mediums. You can expect displays, posters and videos. 

Be warned: there is more information than any human could possibly digest in a day, so don’t try to read it all. Instead, feel free to walk through and browse, reading what you want and taking the time to reflect. 3 hours is a good amount of time to budget, but if you’re super keen, there are plenty of spaces to take a break if you want to make a whole day out of it. 

Admission to the museum costs 150 ZAR.

Read about more of South Africa’s Hidden Gems

Constitution Hill

Turn a former military fort and prison complex into a dedicated human rights space, and you’ve got Constitution Hill. 

This former city centre prison housed some of the country’s most infamous prisoners, including Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Joe Slovo, Albertina Sisulu and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. Now, it’s a ‘living museum’ and a shrine to human rights, housing the country’s most important symbol of democracy: the Constitutional Court. 

To get a sense of South Africa’s history, its struggles and its vision of the future, then visiting Constitutional Hill is one of the best things to do in Johannesburg. Like so many things to do in Johannesburg, it’s a creative repurposing of a space that was once used to oppress but that has now been turned into an area of creativity celebrating human rights. 

The site is much larger than you’d expect, so be sure to budget at least a couple of hours to really make the most out of it. We easily spent 3 hours walking around, checking out the permanent and temporary exhibitions. We particularly enjoyed exploring the Constitutional Court and its outstanding art collection. 

We recommend watching the introductory film, which gives you a great overview of Constitutional Hill and some perspective on the site. Taking a walk on the ramparts is a bit of fun, plus it provides an additional perspective of the former prison, Hillbrow and Braamfontein. 

And while you’re in the precinct, be sure to pop your head in at Food, I Love You. It’s a cafe/catering company/private dining studio set up within the old fort and not only is it a beautiful space, but the food is meant to be out of this world (sadly it was closed when we visited). 

Check out our list of The Coolest Neighbourhoods in Cape Town

Cradle of Humankind

The Cradle of Humankind is thought to be the place where humankind began, thanks to the discovery of the first-ever hominid fossil, Australopithecus africanus there. 

Around a 40-minute drive from Joburg, the Cradle of Humankind is a Unesco World Heritage site, with 13 different excavation sites in the complex.

Related: 15 Awesome Things to Do in Lesotho + Essential Guide

10 km away is the Sterkfontein Caves, with 6 linked underground chambers about 40 metres below ground level. This is where Mrs Ples (a pre-human skull) and Little Foot (a complete hominid skeleton) were found. 

If you don’t have your own car, it’s easy to arrange a visit to the Cradle of Humankind and Sterkfontein Caves as part of a tour. 

Visit Soweto

Soweto is awesome and one of our favourite things to do in Johannesburg. Once you reach the city limits of the township, you’ll notice a markedly different vibe: it’s chiller with plenty of people hanging out in the streets. 

You can visit all of the main sights independently, but a tour is a great way to introduce yourself to Soweto. With a local guide (preferably one who grew up in Soweto), you’ll get a lot more out of the experience. 

Tours come in all shapes and sizes: you can go by foot, bike or tuk-tuk. The bike option is highly recommended! 

Pro tip: don’t worry about entering the Nelson Mandela Museum. It’s a pretty teeny tiny house, and mostly just a collection of pictures, posters, honorary degrees, etc., and not really worth the 60 ZAR price tag. 

Vilakezi Street, where both Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu’s houses are, is the main tourist street. And we’re talking SUPER touristy: stalls, kitsch, dancing performances (for a tip). It’s the most touristy place I’ve seen in Johannesburg. 

Hector Pieterson Square is a sobering experience but good to visit and understand. The Orlando Towers are cute, but you don’t need a lot of time – unless you want to bungee jump. At 630 ZAR, it’s a bargain!

One of the best parts about visiting Soweto is just cruising around the neighbourhoods. People are welcoming, and lots of kids want to say hello. It’s a great way to gain insight into local life. 

While you’re there, be sure to stop at Native Rebels (see below). 

And if you’re looking to explore another township, you can do an Alexandra bike tour.

Looking for something different in South Africa? Read our AfrikaBurn 2024 Survival Guide

Enjoy the Nightlife

Joburg is filled with cool bars. Seriously, you could visit a different, super cool, trendy bar each night and one year later, still have a long list to get through. Visiting at least one cool bar is definitely an essential thing to do in Johannesburg. 

I don’t even drink and I like hanging out at these places! 

A Streetbar Named Desire

Located on the popular Park Corner in Parkwood, A Streetbar Named Desire is a posh bar with velvet furnishing and a gorgeous patio facing Art Gallery Row.

Adding to the posh feeling is a sophisticated cocktail list and 1950s cinema posters.  

Marabi Club

We had a tough time deciding whether The Marabi Club should be classified under ‘food’ or ‘nightlife’. We couldn’t decide, so we’ve put it under both. 

The Marabi Club is a speakeasy-style restaurant and jazz club. Located in the basement of the Hallmark House, this place serves up delicious fine-dining-esque food with live jazz. The plates are super tiny, so be prepared to order at least 4 – 5 per couple. 

It’s not a cheap night, but it’s a great one. 

The Marabi Club is open Thursday to Saturday and reservations are required. The music generally starts at 8 pm. 

Note that you’ll be required to pay a 200 ZAR deposit when you book and this WON’T be applied to the balance of your bill. Instead, it’s an ‘entertainment surcharge’ (aka, cover charge). 

Pro tip: if your international card gets blocked when booking things on foreign websites, try using a Wise card. It’s what we do and it’s never let us down!

While you’re at Hallmark House, take in a pre-dinner drink at the rooftop bar. (Sadly, it was closed due to filming a movie when we were there). 

The Artivist/Untitled Basement 

Since the legendary The Orbit closed down, Untitled Basement in Braamfontein is now Jozi’s biggest jazz club. 

Artivist is a trendy restaurant attached to Untitled Basement, creating a two-in-one venue. 

There are events almost every weekend. Just pop on their Facebook or Instagram pages to stay in the loop.

Native Rebels

Native Rebels, in Soweto, is probably our favourite bar in Joburg. Set on the second floor of a commercial building in low-key Jabavu, Native Rebels excels in creating an amazing vibe. The decor is great, the music is on-point and everyone is friendly. We made friends! 

Mad Giant Brewery

Mad Giant Brewery is an award-winning brewery, set right in Jozi’s beating heart. For a tipple, only their taproom, in Blairgowrie is open. You can also grab some food and if it’s wine you’re after, Mr Pants Wine Bar, just around the corner, is another stellar option. 

The Living Room

The Living Room is a laid-back rooftop bar in bustling Maboneng. The plants and good music provide a good ambience and it’s a great place to kick back with a sundowner. 

Yeoville Dinner Club

The Yeoville Dinner Club is hosted by Sanza Sadile in Joburg’s pan-African Yeoville neighbourhood.

The location is rooftop, the meal is communal and the menu is a ‘Pan Afrikan Plate’, featuring dishes that represent the incredible diversity of the neighbourhood. All the ingredients are sourced locally and story-telling features heavily throughout the night.

It’s become a big hit in Joburg: Anthony Bourdain even paid a visit. Doesn’t that say how good it is?

At 635 ZAR per person, it’s far from the cheapest meal you’ll find in Johannesburg, but undoubtedly the most unique.

Dinners book up quickly, so booking in advance is essential. For another option, check out this Yeoville Taste of Africa Food Tour.

Eat Some Delicious Food

Joburg is a big-time foodie city, with unlimited options for a good meal. Tucking into some incredible food is the most delicious thing to do in Johannesburg!

Some of our favourite places include:

• Kolonaki in Parkhurst (Greek)
• Little Addis at 44 Stanley (Ethiopian). Note: don’t over-order. One platter is enough for two people. 
• The Marabi Club (see above)
• Baha Taco in Norwood (Mexican)
• Chef Mickey’s Thai Dining in Melrose (Thai)
• Thava in Norwood (Indian)
• Namak in Craighall (Indian)

Shopping

Unless I’m buying hiking or camping gear, I hate shopping, but even I have to admit that checking out some of Jozi’s markets and complexes is a great thing to do in Johannesburg. 

But I’m not talking about the huge-ass malls in Rosebank and Sandton. I’m talking about the creative, re-purposed industrial spaces and buzzing weekend markets that pop up in various neighbourhoods.

44 Stanley

44 Stanley is a sophisticated and hip outdoor shopping complex. Yes, a shopping complex sounds boring, but this is anything but. 44 Stanley is a re-designed industrial space with plenty of greenery around. 

It’s a great place to stroll around, grab a coffee or some food and soak in the vibes. Think high-quality local designers, bookshops and plenty of restaurants and cafes. If you’re looking for a chill thing to do in Johannesburg, look no further. 

Our favourite place in 44 Stanley is The Bioscope, a multi-purpose space that is both an independent cinema and an events space. On Sunday evenings they host live comedy (which, at 130 ZAR per person is great value!) and they always have other events on – from storytelling to improv, so be sure to check out their calendar. Their pizza is pretty good too.

Victoria Yards

Victoria Yards is yet another cool re-purposed inner-city space in Johannesburg. The old brick buildings which house Victoria Yards used to be a steam-powered laundry. 

Now, they house a community of artists and artisans who make everything from jewellery to furniture, craft beer and baking. There’s even an urban farm in the complex! 

On the first Sunday of the month, they have a great market, plus resident artists open their studio doors to the public. There’s delicious food, so many cool things to buy and an amazing vibe. It’s honestly one of the coolest markets we’ve ever been to. If you’re in Jozi on the first Sunday of the month, be sure to check it out.

Important: unless you’re going with a local, take an Uber to Victoria Yards. There is secure parking, but it borders some pretty tough neighbourhoods that Google Maps will try to take you through. An Uber is just plain easier.

The Playground Market in Braamfontein 

The Playground Market has taken the spot of the previous, and uber-popular, Neighbourgoods Market (which, sadly, closed down due to COVID). 

Running every Saturday from 10 am – 6 pm, you can expect food, superb cocktails, live music performances and a small assortment of local fashion items. Entrance is 20 ZAR and the entire premises is card-only.

Whilst we found The Playground a bit touristy and ‘too-cool’, it’s still worth a visit. Be sure to pop across the road to Kitcheners, one of the oldest pubs in the area for an authentic Braam experience. It’s super fun and you’ll probably be treated to some kind of awesome music!

Catch Some Culture

Joburg is blessed with three great theatres: the Market Theatre, Joburg Theatre and Soweto Theatre. All offer performances on a regular basis – you can catch dance, theatre, concerts and more. 

We went to a performance of the Joburg Ballet and thought it was world-class. It’s a fun thing to do in Johannesburg that we would definitely do again.  

Keep an eye out for Wednesday matinee tickets – these are often heavily discounted. (Our cost was a whopping 100 ZAR for front-row seats!).

Joburg Art Galleries

Being the New York City of Africa, Joburg has an impressive collection of art scattered around the city. If you’re an art lover, checking out some of Joburg’s galleries is a great thing to do in Johannesburg. 

Johannesburg art gallery 

The Johannesburg Art Galley is Sub-Saharan Africa’s most extensive art gallery. 

Located in Joubert Park, there are around 9,000 works of art, with such names as Picasso, Rodin and Dali on display. But be sure to check out local talent too, such as Battiss and Sekoto. 

Wits Art Museum

Located near Constitution Hill, and part of the University of the Witwatersrand, Wits Art Museum houses a large collection of South African, West African and Central African art. 

Everard Read Gallery

Everard Read Gallery is the oldest contemporary art gallery in Joburg, boasting over 100 years of fine and modern art.

Melrose Gallery

The Melrose Gallery focuses on works for new and already-established Pan-African Artists. Located at the Melrose Arch, it’s a lovely open space. 

Get some nature therapy

Yeah, I know, nature isn’t really what you’re probably thinking of when you think of Joburg. I mean, it is a massive urban conglomerate after all. 

But believe it or not, there are actually some nice parks and reserves where you can escape from the concrete jungle. If you’re looking for some urban respite, then this is definitely a thing to do in Johannesburg. 

The Wilds 

The Wilds is Joburg’s nicest park. Whilst it once had a fearsome reputation for crime, the park has been revitalised and has gone through a major renaissance. This resurgence has been aided by the artist James Delaney, who has not only cleared up most of the park but also created dozens of steel sculptures now displayed throughout. 

The Wilds is open during the day and safe to walk around. Admission is free. 

Zoo Lake 

Zook Lake is a popular and large park situated on a human-made lake. As the name suggests, it is just opposite the Johannesburg Zoo. Admission is free. 

Walter Sisulu Botanic Gardens 

Another beautiful park just west of Joburg, the Walter Sisulu Botanic Gardens is particularly noteworthy for birdlife. 

Entrance costs 70 ZAR per person. 

Melville Koppies 

“Koppies” is a South African word for a small hill in an otherwise flat area. Located just behind Melville, the Melville Koppies is a Johannesburg City Heritage Site and are the last conserved remnants of Joburg’s ridges before the discovery of gold in 1886.

The Melville Koppies is divided into three sections – Central, East and West. Entrance costs 80 ZAR per person and there are guided walks on Sunday mornings. 

Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve

With over 700 hectares of space, the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve is the largest of all reserves in the Johannesburg metropolitan area. It’s located to the south of Joburg’s CBD. It is free to visit and open during daylight hours. 

Do a Day Trip to Pilanesberg National Park

Full disclaimer here, we haven’t been to Pilanesberg National Pak, but we have spoken to plenty of locals who have, and many say they prefer this to Kruger! Bold claim, I know. 

Pilanesberg National Park is around a 2.5-hour drive from town and is located in an extinct volcano crater. Because the park lies in a transition zone between the Kalahari Desert and the Loweveld, the wildlife is extremely varied: the Big Five, zebras, giraffes, antelopes – they’re all found there. 

Best yet, it’s an easy day trip from Johannesburg. 

Bonus: Take a Weekend Trip to Golden Gate National Park

Golden Gate National Park is located just 3 hours away from Johannesburg and is the perfect city retreat. We’re talking golden sandstone mountains, scenic vistas, hiking trails for all levels and a bit of wildlife to boot. With plenty of excellent accommodation options in the nearby endearing town of Clarens, or the option to stay directly in the park, Golden Gate makes for a fantastic weekend getaway from the big city.

Read more about Golden Gate National Park

Is Johannesburg worth visiting?

Yes, yes, yes! Have we not convinced you yet? Johannesburg is absolutely worth visiting. It’s fun, it’s vibrant and it offers an authentic South African experience. 

We’ll go so far as to say that if you haven’t visited Johannesburg, you haven’t visited South Africa. 

Practical Tips for Visiting Johannesburg

How to get to Johannesburg 

Joburg is serviced by O.R. Tambo Airport, which is relatively well connected with most of the world. There are frequent flights to and from Europe, the Middle East and Singapore.

The airport is pretty new, with all the facilities you could expect, and a lot less hectic than we were anticipating. There is security everywhere and overall, it feels pretty safe. We’ve heard reports of people pilfering through bags, so shrink-wrapping your bag before setting off is always an option here. 

Looking for cheap flights? We always use Skyscanner to find the best details.

How to get around Johannesburg

Joburg is a big, sprawling city, so getting around takes some time. You’ll be surprised at how far away things are in Johannesburg and how much time you’ll need to get from A to B. 

Public Transportation in Johannesburg 

Joburg’s public transportation system is quite limited. Whilst Johannesburg has a train network, the Gautrain (and it’s safe with guards at every station), it doesn’t go to a lot of places. Plus, you’ll have to catch a lift to and from the station, and when you add this in, doesn’t really really save that much time or money. 

There’s also a bus system, the Reya Vea and the informal network of minibuses that drive like crazy all throughout the city. While these are both safe to take, figuring them out is another matter. There’s no set schedule and for the minibuses, you need to understand the complex hand signals which indicate where you want to go. Sound confusing? Even many locals don’t understand it!

Walking in Johannesburg 

Simply put, Johannesburg is not a walkable city. Due to a combination of factors (mostly safety and cultural), walking isn’t really a thing in Joburg. 

The neighbourhoods where all the action is are quite far apart, meaning you can’t really walk from one to the next. 

There are a few suburbs where you can walk around. Notably, these are Melville, Sandton, Rosebank, Parkhurst, Linden, Craighall and the main areas of Marshalltown, Maboneng and Braamfontein. 

Ridesharing in Johannesburg

Ride-sharing is by far the most convenient and easiest way to get around Johannesburg.

There are two main providers: Uber and Bolt. Uber is more expensive, but all drivers go through a criminal record check and security is higher. We use Bolt as well, but mostly during the day. We’ve never had a Bolt with functioning seatbelts, so if you’re a sticker for safety, then go with Uber.

Rides on Uber and Bolt aren’t that expensive (compared to North American and European standards), but because Jozi is so spread out, it adds up fast. You’ll notice it. 

Driving in Johannesburg

A popular option, and a great way to get around Johannesburg, is to rent a car. Prices are pretty low and after a few days, you’ll figure out how to get around Johannesburg. The drivers can be a bit manic, so practice defensive driving. 

Exercise caution if driving at night and always park in secure locations. It’s a good idea to check your route out with a local, to ensure you don’t inadvertently drive through some sketchy areas.

You’ll also notice the informal parking attendants, well, everywhere. These guys (and sometimes women too) in yellow vests watch your car in exchange for a small tip. 5 ZAR is standard. 

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

Safety in Johannesburg 

You can’t talk about Johannesburg without talking about safety – it’s a national obsession. 

We won’t beat around the bush: Johannesburg has crime. A lot of it. But that doesn’t mean you can’t visit Johannesburg and, given you take the right precautions, it’s more likely than not you’ll have an incredible visit without any issues. 

Instead of leaving Johannesburg traumatised, it’s more likely you’ll leave super impressed by how cool this city is.

Be sure to pay attention to your surroundings, don’t walk around at night, seek local advice and don’t carry flash items.

Read more about safety in Johannesburg

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