Hotels in Johannesburg (and vicinity)

Johannesburg Introduction

Buzzing and creative, Johannesburg has done plenty to deserve its reputation as one of South Africa's most up-and-coming cities. Having undergone a transformation of sorts in the last couple of decades, the area of Central Johannesburg is now a medley of boho coffee shops and soaring high-rises that ooze enterprise and business. However, other treats lurk in the suburbs here, from great museums about Apartheid to African craft markets and the vibrant, lived-in Soweto township.

Hotels in Johannesburg

Hotels in Johannesburg range from 5-star luxury to 2-star budget digs. At the top end of the scale, you can bed down in the affluent area of Sandton, enjoying a room with a view, and access to pools, private gardens, rooftop cocktail lounges and sunning terraces. On the shoestring end of things, there are the small homestays and guesthouses close to the airport – some of these even come with outdoor pools and family hosts. Countless 3 and 4-star hotels add to the mix, ranging from cool boutique places to spa hotels.

Where to stay

Braamfontein and Newtown form a duo of districts that simply burst with cultural pursuits. This is where you'll find the theatre troupes and the live music bars – often packed out with chattering students from the nearby Auckland Park university area. Meanwhile, cool and quirky Maboneng is the place to be for foodies and bohemians, thanks to its vibrant scene of collaborative public art and international eateries – think tasty African fusion food and Greek mezze alike. Then there's the vast suburb of Soweto, which comes laden with totemic sites from the years of Apartheid, and even Mandela’s old home.

Things to see

Travel in Johannesburg is all about getting to know the heart and soul of the Rainbow Nation. A gritty, lived-in city that's now changing its looks for the better, there's everything from great museums to vibrant bars to enjoy. One that's simply not to be missed is the acclaimed Apartheid Museum in Gold Reef. This moving exhibition centre chronicles the tumultuous days of South Africa's 20th-century past, with film shows, photography and more. A jaunt to the township of Soweto should also be top of the menu to reveal Jo'burg's blue collar side, and the old homes of both Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. And if you're eager for a taste of that fabled South African safari, then there are the wilder corners of Krugersdorp to explore where you'll find the roaring prides of the aptly-named Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve.

How to get to Johannesburg

Johannesburg is served by the O.R. Tambo International Airport, which is one of the largest airports in the country and enjoys regular services from cities like London and Frankfurt. Johannesburg is also neatly placed at a crossroads of various highways – most notably the N1 from Cape Town, the N3 from Durban and the N4 from Kruger National Park. Major rail connections arrive and depart from the Park Station, with links to most other large cities in South Africa.