City or town
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.
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 (18) · Nature (9) · Wildlife (8) · Temples (7) · History (4) · With kids (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 HumankindPaleoanthropological site near Johannesburg, South Africa43 km
- SterkfonteinArchaeological site in South Africa34 km
- Union ObservatoryDecommissioned astronomical observatory5.0 km
- Satyagraha HouseHistorical house in Johannesburg - previous residence of Mahatma Gandhi5.7 km
- Apartheid MuseumMuseum on the history of Apartheid in South Africa8.0 km
- Hillbrow TowerArchitectural structure3.0 km
- Wonder CaveNature34 km
- Nelson Mandela BridgeBridge in Johannesburg, South Africa3.2 km
- Cooper's CaveCave in South Africa33 km
- Johannesburg Art GalleryArt museum in Joubert Park, Johannesburg3.7 km
- Mandela HouseThe Nelson Mandela National Museum, commonly referred to as Mandela House, is a house in South Africa14 km
- Johannesburg ZooWith kids · Wildlife1.0 km
- Brixton TowerArchitectural structure3.4 km
- Hector Pieterson MuseumHistory museum14 km
- Johannesburg South Africa TempleTemple of the LDS church1.6 km
- MondeorPlace in Gauteng, South Africa12 km
- MuseuMAfricAHistory museum3.8 km
- Goodman GalleryArt gallery, Johannesburg2.2 km
- Johannesburg PlanetariumBuilding in Africa2.3 km
- Kloofendal Nature ReserveNature reserve near Roodepoort, South Africa15 km
- South African National Museum of Military HistoryMilitary museum in Johannesburg, South Africa1.5 km
- Regina Mundi Catholic ChurchBuilding in South Africa18 km
- Moederkerk, KrugersdorpChurch in Krugersdorp , South Africa26 km
- FriedenskircheBuilding in South Africa3.3 km
And the other 23, by what you come to do:
- Temples: Great Park Synagogue, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Braamfontein
- Museums and art: James Hall Museum of Transport, Fietas Museum, Wits Art Museum, AGOG Gallery, Delta Environmental Centre, Lindfield Victorian House Museum, Origins Centre, Sci-Bono Centre, Sterkfontein Caves
- Nature: Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve, Melville Koppies, Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve, Kromdraai, Olifantsvlei Nature Reserve, The Wilds, Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai, and Environs
- Food and drink: Kwa Mai Mai Traditional Market
- History: Paardekraal Monument, Kromdraai fossil site
- With kids: Air 360 skate park, Santarama Miniland
- Stargazing: Hydrogen Intensity and Real-time Analysis eXperiment (Precursor)
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.
- JanBest time13:28
- FebBest time12:53
- MarBest time12:11
- AprBest time11:23
- MayPossible10:43
- JunPossible10:22
- JulBest time10:31
- AugBest time11:05
- SepBest time11:51
- OctBest time12:38
- NovBest time13:19
- DecBest time13:38
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
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.
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, and what to sort out before you leave is in its checklist.
Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)
Other towns nearby
- Pretoria38 places55 km
- Volksrust5 places228 km
- Swinburne5 places276 km
- Bloemfontein8 places373 km
- Kimberley, South Africa14 places431 km
- Pietermaritzburg9 places448 km
And all of South Africa, in its country guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Johannesburg?
The best known: Cradle of Humankind, Sterkfontein, Union Observatory, Satyagraha House, 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 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.
Keep reading
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Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, from Wikidata, CC0, cities from Natural Earth and airports from OurAirports. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.