A culturally and historically rich city like Johannesburg offers a multitude of places and things to do for every traveller. If you are looking for inspiration for must-visit places, we've rounded up some highlights of Johannesburg to keep in mind for your next visit.
Cycle Tour of Soweto
A cycle tour of Soweto always offers one of the best ways to experience this famous township. Busi from Cycle in Soweto can even include a stop-over in a church with 7000+ believers. The tour includes stop overs at Nelson Mandela House, Hector Pietersen Memorial and Vilakazi Street.
Maboneng Precinct
Maboneng meaning “place of light” in Sotho is a hub of creative brilliance for urban artists and designers. Situated in the east side of Johannesburg it has dozens of public artwork, and notable sculptures and murals. The Main Street offers you art galleries, rooftop events and even a traditional healers market! You can also find shops offering a range of African cuisines and local crafts and designs on offer. If you are interested in local interest films head to the Bioscope.
Apartheid Museum
Close to downtown Johannesburg, this museum focuses on the racial discrimination that was prevalent in South Africa from 1948 - 1994. There are two entrances labelled “white” and “non-white” which based on your ticket you enter, to get a real feel of the racially segregated society in South Africa.
Walking Tour of Johannesburg for all the public art
Past Experiences or Joburg Places can take visitors on a walking tour through Johannesburg’s Central Business District that will showcase its emerging public art. Tour also goes past local attractions like SAB Brewery, Chancellor House (one housed the law firm for Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo) and Newtown Precinct.
44 Stanley
44 Stanley is a boutique shopping heaven for fashion and design. You can shop for ceramics at Anatomy Design, shop for wardrobe classics at Lunar and stop for a coffee and eats at Salvation Café. You can explore the beautifully interlinked courtyards, and enjoy a long lunch with your friends.
Nirox Sculpture Park
Part of the nature reserve in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, this park has 15 hectares filled with sculptures from a wide range of artists across the world. Once a commercial trout farm, it now has wide green expanses, with water features and walkways which create a relaxing atmosphere, in the middle of bustling Gauteng province.
Neighbourgoods Market
Originating from Cape Town, this market has found home in this urban city, attracting thousands of people every day to a beautiful array of food and drinks, designer clothing, household items, and leather-ware. This market takes place every Sunday at 73 Juta Street in Braamfontein Johannesburg. The Balkan burgers, craft beers, and paella stand are the most popular with terraces offering a beautiful city view.
Galleries in Rosebank and Parkhurst
- Circa Gallery - Circa is a contemporary art gallery that offers the very best of Johannesburg’s art, music and exhibits.
- Everard Read gallery - Everard Read has become synonymous with the finest art emanating from Southern Africa. Many of this region´s most celebrated painters and sculptors, both traditional artists of the past and emerging talent, exhibit with Everard Read which is also the agent for fine artists from elsewhere in the world.
Johannesburg Art Gallery
The Johannesburg Art Gallery houses Fifteen exhibition with more than 9,000 artworks that span seven centuries. The collection includes European greats such as Matisse, Picasso, Monet and Rodin as well as contemporary South African names such as Gerard Sekoto and landscape star Pierneef.
Museum of Africa Design
The Museum of Africa Design is the first museum on the African continent dedicated to design and is situated in the Maboneng Precinct. “MOAD” is considered less as a collecting institution, and more as a cultural centre, to experience the design world across Africa.
Newtown Heritage Trail
This trail shows the rich and colourful Newtown precinct and gives you the stories behind the birth of Newtown, Kippies, the Potato Sheds and Railway Sidings etc. You can walk through core cultural precinct which contains the Market Theatre, Museum Africa and several buzzing music venues that reflect the area’s roots as a home to African jazz, as well as the historic Mary Fitzgerald Square.
Start planning your holiday to Johannesburg today. Get in touch with our Africa Travel experts, who will give you unbiased advice on how to tailor the right holiday for you. Call on 020 7843 3500.