The Best Johannesburg Itinerary

Joburg can be very overwhelming, or underwhelming if you don’t have the right Johannesburg itinerary planned for your (or a family member’s visit). Besides great restaurants, cafes, and rooftops, Joburg is home to incredible history and unique city tours, unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before. Want to skateboard to Nelson Mandela’s law office, eat inside an underground bank vault, or tour the coolest street art on a bike? It’s all possible in Joburg.

Plus, Joburg is such a foodie city as there are always new restaurants popping up, eating out is pretty affordable (especially for overseas travelers), and the range of food is huge. You can get something as simple as a vegan burger from a gas station to high-end luxury dining from world-renowned chefs in Africa’s richest square mile, Sandton.

Who am I to tell you what to do in Joburg? I moved to Joburg in December 2020 and have loved every minute of it. The city is huge and there is something new around every corner. And, the people who live here are also incredible. I enjoy exploring the city, from food to adventures with my love (Wilhelm), and local tours. More people who visit South Africa need to spend time in Joburg. I hope this guide not only helps tourists but also locals who are trying to get to know their city more! As with all my posts, I will update this when I have new additions from my explorations or suggestions from you.

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How long should I stay in Joburg?

Likely, you’ll be in Joburg as part of a larger trip that involves Cape Town, the Garden Route, and Kruger National Park. These are the biggest highlights of South Africa for tourists. Many will just use Joburg as a base to fly in or out of, but I’ll tell you now that these people are seriously missing out! I highly suggest 3 days to see all the major sites and then spending a 4th day pretending you’re a local. Use the day-by-day guide below to mix and match your perfect Johannesburg itinerary!

Should I rent a car?

There is no need to rent a car in Joburg as Ubers are cheap and easy to get. Most of the things to do in Joburg are in Joburg. On the other hand, you may want to rent a car in Cape Town just because there are so many places to visit outside the city that your ubers are going to add up. If you rent, check up on my South Africa driving tips.

Where should I stay in Joburg?

Check out my top suggestions, including Airbnbs, hotels, and unique accommodations around town.

Where to stay in Johannesburg

Phone snatching

This is the most common crime in Joburg. If you go out to lunch or dinner and sit outside, don’t put your phone on the table. Don’t hold your phone if you’re waiting for an uber outside, wait inside until your uber says it’s there.

Downtown/the Central Business District (CBD)

Downtown Joburg is difficult to describe. First, I mean CBD as the central area of the city on Google Maps. There are art deco buildings mixed with rundown areas, infused with culture and history. Johannesburg was founded in 1886, following the discovery of gold, and has continued to attract people from all over the continent to work in Joburg beginning with the mines and now jobs like delivery service drivers and uber drivers, among others. The CBD was once at the heart of Johannesburg’s industries. Under apartheid, the CBD was classified as a whites-only area, such that black people were allowed to work and shop there but could not live there.

However, when apartheid ended many local and national companies abandoned their offices, and parts of the CBD became crime hotspots. A lot of the area has turned around and apartments are home to young professionals, though many large office buildings remain empty (or even hijacked) as businesses moved to the new business center of South Africa, Sandton. You’ll get all this history and more on a tour of the CBD.

Walking at night and alone

I do not recommend walking alone downtown and in fact, I strongly advise against it. Even if you think you won’t get robbed and you’re street smart, why risk it? Support local and go on a tour with people who know what they are doing. We were robbed walking in the CBD, and I say that only to tell you to get a guide, not to discourage you! There are plenty of other areas around the city that you’re totally fine to explore on your own.

Joburg’s neighborhoods do not usually have streetlights. Even if your hotel or Airbnb seems close, it is not safe to walk at night between locations. It may seem silly, but you should take an uber even to go around the corner at night just to avoid a crime of opportunity.

Tour Guides in Johannesburg

Most of Joburg’s most interesting sites can be seen with a local tour guide. These aren’t your normal city guides. Joburg has a unique and thriving local guide scene for both tourists and those who live here. You can go on a tour on a scooter, on a skateboard, on a bike, in a safari jeep, or use your own two feet. I highly recommend going on a tour to see the most in a day and to explore areas you can’t without a guide. Going on a tour with these operators is like going with a friend and I’ve become friends with all the guides I’ve met because they are amazing.

The most popular tour operators are:

1 day in Joburg

Morning

In the morning, get breakfast at Home of the Bean and go on a Maboneng Street Art Tour. You can plan to walk up and down the main street yourself as well, but you’ll see a lot more and get the background of each of the street artists with a tour. Starting at Home of the Bean, first, cross the street toward Jewel City. You can plan the Maboneng street art tour with One Day Africa, Honest Travel, Microadventures, or City Skate Tours.

Jewel City Maboneng street art — *Street art in Jewel City*

Jewel City Maboneng — *Street art in Jewel City*

Then, loop back and walk up to Curiocity Hotel, stopping in the shops and checking out the art on the way.

Maboneng street art — *Scene from Maboneng*

Maboneng uncle mervs coffee — *Scene from Maboneng*

Stop in the quirky bookshop Collectors Treasury, which has an endless collection of used and antique books.

Collectors Treasury Joburg Maboneng Books

Afternoon

In the afternoon, go on a Dlala Nje Hillbrow Tour and check out the Ponte City building. This is one of the most interesting buildings in Joburg. It’s shaped like a doughnut and has anything but a sweet history. Find out how the building was turned into a gangster’s paradise on a tour. You can read more about the history in my Ponte Challenge post. In this challenge, you race up to the top of the 54- story building with other contestants! All the tours with Dlala Nje are excellent so pick one that suits you to explore.

Evening

Head to the Rooftop at Hallmark House Hotel for sundowners (colloquial South African for “a drink while watching the sunset”) and then get dinner (reservation recommended) at the Marabi Club. I love combo-ing these two experiences together because it’s so easy and the experience is always excellent.

The dinner at Marabi Club is amazing. Note that it’s only open Thursday- Saturday so try to fit it in accordingly. There is live jazz music paired with the best flavor combinations I’ve had. The vibe is cool you may want to dress up a little if you feel like it. Though, if you come right after a full day of adventures, that’s fine too. If you stay later, the dance floor opens as well! Read my review here.

If you don’t get to the Marabi Club on your first day, try to fit it in somewhere in your Johannesburg itinerary.

Don’t miss out on this cool “Hello Jozi” sign. If you’re facing the hotel reception desk, walk to the left and all the way back. The sign is past the little cafe and lobby. If you want a cool Joburg skyline sweatshirt, as I have, you can buy one at the hotel’s shop.