By air
O. R. Tambo International (JNB), ~25 km
South Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
Soweto, history and a buzzing city
Getting there
Best time to visit
March to May and September to November — mild
Don't miss
The Apartheid Museum
Soweto
Constitution Hill
The Cradle of Humankind
Things to do
The Apartheid Museum
Soweto's Vilakazi Street
Constitution Hill
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Evan Bench · CC BY 2.0
What to pack
Layers
A quieter corner
The Maboneng art district
Questions travellers ask
When is a good time to visit Johannesburg?
March to May or September to November, when it's mild. Bring layers.
What history can I explore in Johannesburg?
Start at the Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill, then head to Soweto's Vilakazi Street. The Cradle of Humankind belongs on the list too.
Where can I find Johannesburg's creative side?
In the Maboneng art district. While you're out, try a shisa nyama barbecue.
How far is O. R. Tambo from Johannesburg?
O. R. Tambo International (JNB) is about 25 km away.
About Johannesburg
- Inland
Where it is
Johannesburg is South Africa's largest city and the capital of Gauteng province, on the high plateau of the Highveld at about 1,750 m above sea level, built along the gold-bearing ridge of the Witwatersrand.
History
Johannesburg was founded in 1886 after gold was discovered on the Witwatersrand, and it grew with astonishing speed as workers came from across southern Africa to the mines. Under apartheid black residents were confined to townships such as Soweto, where the 1976 student uprising began, and the city was at the heart of the struggle that ended apartheid in 1994. The former prison complex on Constitution Hill is now home to the Constitutional Court and a museum.
People
Johannesburg draws people from every part of South Africa and beyond, and isiZulu, English, Sesotho, Setswana, Afrikaans and many other languages are heard on its streets. Kwaito and amapiano music, shisa nyama barbecues and a lively township culture shape the city's life.
Known for
- The Apartheid Museum
- Soweto and Vilakazi Street
- Constitution Hill
- The Cradle of Humankind nearby
- The Maboneng art district
Did you know?
Vilakazi Street in Soweto is famous as the street where two Nobel Peace Prize winners, Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, both once lived.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.