20 Unmissable Attractions in Johannesburg
Johannesburg has so much on offer it’s often difficult to decide how to spend a day in this bustling city. We’ve narrowed it down to 20 unmissable experiences to ensure you make the best of your stay.
1. Get a panoramic view of the inner city from The Carlton Centre
Building
2. Take a stroll in the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens
Botanical Garden
Check out the street art
Johannesburg’s street art scene is expanding by the day as artists from all over the globe colour the city’s walls, buildings and streets. Book a street art tour to ensure you see as much as possible.
3. Sip on cocktails at The Living Room rooftop bar
Bar, Cafe, Pub Grub, Coffee, Tea , Fast Food, Vegan, Vegetarian, Wine, Beer
4. Get into nature at the Melville Koppies Nature Reserve
Hiking Trail, Natural Feature
5. Take a historical tour of Constitution Hill
Museum
6. Catch a show at the Soweto Theatre
Building, Theatre
7. See the stars at the WITS Planetarium
Building, Museum
8. Bungee jump from the Orlando Towers
Bridge, Park
The colourful silos are an adrenaline junkie’s dream come true. Choose between a 100 metre (328ft) bungee jump or free fall, there’s also rock climbing and a paintball course.
Orlando Towers, Chris Hani Road & Dynamo Street, Power Park, Soweto
9. Browse local artisanal products at Neighbourgoods Market
Market, South African
10. Learn at Sci-Bono Discovery Centre
Museum
11. Watch a film at the Bioscope Independent Cinema
Cinema, Movie Theater, Theater
12. Play at The Escape Room
Sports Center
13. Drink hand-crafted beer at Gilroy’s
Craft Ale Bar, Pub, Pub Grub
14. Get your hands on fresh cut flowers at the Multiflora Flower Market
Market, Shop, Store
15. See the birds at the Montecasino aviary
It might be hard to believe but there’s a birder’s paradise in the heart of Johannesburg. The walk-through aviary is home to more than 60 bird species and visitors will spot the endangered Southern Ground-Hornbills, a pelican, loeries and more.
Have a true African experience at Lesedi Cultural Village
The village is a homestead to different African cultures who live according to specific traditions and visitors get to experience this first hand.
16. Listen to live jazz at The Orbit
Bistro, American, Vegetarian, Pub Grub
17. See the best of local art at The Goodman Gallery
Art Gallery
Take a tour of Soweto
Soweto, short for South Western Township, is a large informal settlement just outside of Johannesburg. A tour of Soweto includes a visit to the Hector Pieterson Museum and Freedom Square, as well as a stop by the home of Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.
Culture Trips launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes places and communities so special.
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All our travel guides are curated by the Culture Trip team working in tandem with local experts. From unique experiences to essential tips on how to make the most of your future travels, we’ve got you covered.