# Things to see in Johannesburg (South Africa): 47 places and when to go

> Johannesburg is a major city in South Africa with around 3,435,000 inhabitants, and this site lists 47 places in and around it, mainly Museums and art (18), Nature (9), Wildlife (8). The best known are Cradle of Humankind, Sterkfontein and Union Observatory. The best time to come is July to April; also possible: May to June. In December there are 13 h 38 of daylight, and in June, 10 h 22. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/johannesburgo/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-08
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **Where:** South Africa · -26.1681, 28.0281
- **Population:** About 3,435,000
- **Places:** 47 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- **What people come for:** [Museums and art](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/museos/) (18) · [Nature](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/naturaleza/) (9) · [Wildlife](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/fauna/) (8) · [Temples](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/espiritual/) (7) · [History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/historia/) (4) · [With kids](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/familia/) (4)
- **Best time:** July to April.
- **Also possible:** May to June.
- **Nearest airport:** JNB Johannesburg, 22 km as the crow flies

## What to see in Johannesburg

The places in and around Johannesburg, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.

- [Cradle of Humankind](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/maropeng-cradle-of-humankind-museum-the-tumulus-building/): Paleoanthropological site near Johannesburg, South Africa · 43 km
- [Sterkfontein](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/sterkfontein/): Archaeological site in South Africa · 34 km
- [Union Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/union-observatory/): Decommissioned astronomical observatory · 5.0 km
- [Satyagraha House](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/satyagraha-house/): Historical house in Johannesburg - previous residence of Mahatma Gandhi · 5.7 km
- [Apartheid Museum](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/apartheid-museum/): Museum on the history of Apartheid in South Africa · 8.0 km
- [Hillbrow Tower](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/hillbrow-tower/): Architectural structure · 3.0 km
- [Wonder Cave](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/bothongo-wondercave/): Nature · 34 km
- [Nelson Mandela Bridge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/nelson-mandela-bridge/): Bridge in Johannesburg, South Africa · 3.2 km
- [Cooper's Cave](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/cueva-de-cooper/): Cave in South Africa · 33 km
- [Johannesburg Art Gallery](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/johannesburg-art-gallery/): Art museum in Joubert Park, Johannesburg · 3.7 km
- [Mandela House](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/mandela-house/): The Nelson Mandela National Museum, commonly referred to as Mandela House, is a house in South Africa · 14 km
- [Johannesburg Zoo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/johannesburg-zoo/): With kids · Wildlife · 1.0 km
- [Brixton Tower](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/sentech-tower/): Architectural structure · 3.4 km
- [Hector Pieterson Museum](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/hector-pieterson-museum/): History museum · 14 km
- [Johannesburg South Africa Temple](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/johannesburg-south-africa-temple/): Temple of the LDS church · 1.6 km
- [Mondeor](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/mondeor/): Place in Gauteng, South Africa · 12 km
- [MuseuMAfricA](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/museum-africa/): History museum · 3.8 km
- [Goodman Gallery](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/goodman-gallery/): Art gallery, Johannesburg · 2.2 km
- [Johannesburg Planetarium](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/johannesburg-planetarium/): Building in Africa · 2.3 km
- [Kloofendal Nature Reserve](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/kloofendal-nature-reserve/): Nature reserve near Roodepoort, South Africa · 15 km
- [South African National Museum of Military History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/national-museum-of-military-history/): Military museum in Johannesburg, South Africa · 1.5 km
- [Regina Mundi Catholic Church](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/regina-mundi-roman-catholic-church/): Building in South Africa · 18 km
- [Moederkerk, Krugersdorp](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/afm-tower-of-life-church/): Church in Krugersdorp , South Africa · 26 km
- [Friedenskirche](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/friedenskirche/): Building in South Africa · 3.3 km

And the other 23, by what you come to do:

- **Temples**: [Great Park Synagogue](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/great-park-synagogue/), [Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Braamfontein](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/holy-trinity-church/)
- **Museums and art**: [James Hall Museum of Transport](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/james-hall-museum-of-transport/), [Fietas Museum](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/fietas-museum/), [Wits Art Museum](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/wits-art-museum/), [AGOG Gallery](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/agog-gallery/), [Delta Environmental Centre](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/delta-environmental-centre/), [Lindfield Victorian House Museum](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/lindfield-victorian-house-museum/), [Origins Centre](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/origins-centre/), [Sci-Bono Centre](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/sci-bono-centre/), [Sterkfontein Caves](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/sterkfontein-caves/)
- **Nature**: [Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/klipriviersberg-nature-reserve/), [Melville Koppies](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/melville-koppies/), [Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve, Kromdraai](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/rhino-and-lion-nature-reserve/), [Olifantsvlei Nature Reserve](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/olifantsvlei-nature-reserve/), [The Wilds](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/the-wilds-nature-reserve/), [Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai, and Environs](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/sterkfontein-swartkrans-kromdraai-and-environs/)
- **Food and drink**: [Kwa Mai Mai Traditional Market](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/kwa-mai-mai-traditional-market/)
- **History**: [Paardekraal Monument](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/paardekraal-monument/), [Kromdraai fossil site](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/kromdraai/)
- **With kids**: [Air 360 skate park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/air-360-skate-park/), [Santarama Miniland](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/santarama-miniland/)
- **Stargazing**: [Hydrogen Intensity and Real-time Analysis eXperiment (Precursor)](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/hydrogen-intensity-and-real-time-analysis-experiment-precurs/)

## When to go to Johannesburg

The best time to visit Johannesburg is **July to April**; also possible: May to June. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Best time | 13 h 28 |
| February | Best time | 12 h 53 |
| March | Best time | 12 h 11 |
| April | Best time | 11 h 23 |
| May | Possible | 10 h 43 |
| June | Possible | 10 h 22 |
| July | Best time | 10 h 31 |
| August | Best time | 11 h 05 |
| September | Best time | 11 h 51 |
| October | Best time | 12 h 38 |
| November | Best time | 13 h 19 |
| December | Best time | 13 h 38 |

In December there are 13 h 38 of daylight, and in June, 10 h 22. In January, 45 of the 47 places are at their best.

When to go to South Africa in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/#cuando-ir).

## Getting to Johannesburg

The nearest main airport is O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB, Johannesburg), 22 km as the crow flies. How to get around South Africa (train, car, bus) is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/#moverse), and what to sort out before you leave is in [its checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/#antes-de-salir).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=-26.1681%2C28.0281)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=-26.1681%2C28.0281)

## Other towns nearby

- [Pretoria](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/pretoria/): 38 places · 55 km
- [Volksrust](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/volksrust/): 5 places · 228 km
- [Swinburne](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/swinburne/): 5 places · 276 km
- [Bloemfontein](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/bloemfontein/): 8 places · 373 km
- [Kimberley, South Africa](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/kimberley/): 14 places · 431 km
- [Pietermaritzburg](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/pietermaritzburg/): 9 places · 448 km

And all of South Africa, in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is there to see in Johannesburg?

The best known: [Cradle of Humankind](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/maropeng-cradle-of-humankind-museum-the-tumulus-building/), [Sterkfontein](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/sterkfontein/), [Union Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/union-observatory/), [Satyagraha House](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/satyagraha-house/), [Apartheid Museum](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/apartheid-museum/). In all, 47 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.

### When is the best time to visit Johannesburg?

July to April; also possible: May to June. In December there are 13 h 38 of daylight, and in June, 10 h 22.

### How do you get to Johannesburg?

The nearest main airport is O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), 22 km away. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=-26.1681%2C28.0281) opens the route on the map.

### How do I add it to my trip?

Create a trip with Johannesburg as the destination and these 47 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright), licensed under the ODbL, from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/), CC0, cities from [Natural Earth](https://www.naturalearthdata.com/) and airports from [OurAirports](https://ourairports.com/data/). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).