Best Things to Do in Johannesburg, South Africa

Johannesburg (‘Joburg’ or ‘Jozi’) sits on the Witwatersrand Reef at 1,750m elevation — the world’s richest gold reef, which triggered the 1886 gold rush that created the city from nothing in a decade. The things to do in Johannesburg begin with the Apartheid Museum, universally acknowledged as one of the world’s finest historical museums, built around the story of racial segregation from its origins to its abolition in 1994; the ticket system (randomly assigned ‘white’ or ‘non-white’ on entry) begins the experience immediately. Soweto (South Western Townships), southwest of the city, is where the anti-apartheid movement was forged: the Hector Pieterson Museum documents the June 1976 student uprising; Nelson Mandela’s house (Vilakazi Street) and Desmond Tutu’s house are nearby (the only street in the world that housed two Nobel Peace Prize laureates). The Constitutional Hill precinct (the site of the Old Fort Prison where both Gandhi and Mandela were imprisoned, now the Constitutional Court) is a powerful testament to South Africa’s transition. The Cradle of Humankind (50 km northwest), with Sterkfontein Caves and the Maropeng Visitor Centre, has the richest hominin fossil record in the world. Maboneng, in eastern Johannesburg, is the city’s creative district: Art on Main, Market on Main (weekend food market), and galleries occupy reclaimed industrial buildings.

Best time to visit

May through August (winter) is best: dry, clear, and perfect temperatures (15-22°C days, cold nights). The Joburg Art Fair (May), Cape Town Jazz Festival (March-April), and the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz festival (September) are the key events. October-April is summer — warm (25-30°C), frequently thunderstormy in the afternoon, and the garden city is at its most lush and green.

Getting around

OR Tambo International Airport is Africa’s busiest and best-connected hub. The Gautrain rapid rail connects the airport to Sandton (15 minutes) and Rosebank; from Sandton, Uber or Gautrain bus serves key destinations. Uber is the recommended option throughout the city — metered street taxis have a mixed safety record. A rental car is useful for the Cradle of Humankind and Pilanesberg day trips.

What to eat

The Johannesburg food scene is South Africa’s most diverse. For South African traditional: the Neighbourgoods Market (Saturday, Braamfontein) and Market on Main (Sunday, Maboneng) are the best introductions. Braai culture: Joburg residents take seriously the quality of their charcoal meat. The Rupert and Rothschild tasting at Steenberg and La Colombe (Cape-based, but with Joburg outposts) represent the fine-dining tier. Ethiopian, West African, and pan-African cuisines are well-represented in areas with West and East African immigrant communities.