Johannesburg (also Jo'burg, Egoli or Jozi) is a large metropolis and South Africa's largest city. Once regarded as South Africa's crime capital in the turbulent nineties, the city has shaken off that reputation led by its youthful exuberant population and a growing black middle class, not to mention the omnipresent soundtrack of Amapiano and house music. With a wealth of historic sights and neighbourhoods to explore, there's enough to fill a visit of days, weeks, or even months before getting a true feel for the city.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Johannesburg is split into eight administrative regions. These exclude the city of Ekurhuleni which traditionally was considered part of Johannesburg but has been split for administrative purposes. Although this list is not exhaustive, the main areas in Joburg are: Inner City (which encompasses the tourist areas of Braamfontein, Maboneng, Newtown and Fordsburg) Old Joburg (which encompasses Melville, Greenside, Killarney, Emmarentia, Parktown, Houghton and others) Sandton (the new city centre including Rivonia, Fourways and Sunninghill) Randburg (which encompasses Northcliff, Linden, Weltevreden Park, Bordeaux, Greymont) Soweto — home of the Nelson Mandela National Museum Alexandra Midrand …
Johannesburg has a population of about 5.6 million people in the urban area (2023), half of whom live in Soweto and adjacent suburbs. Three quarters of the population is formed by South Africa's black residents who mostly live in Soweto, while white residents amount to about 12% (2019). The remaining 11% are of other descent, including Africa's largest ethnic Chinese community.
Johannesburg was a city built for the car and so public transport is in the development process. The Gautrain (a speed train not part of the metro system) is a good, clean and safe way to jump fast between the airport, Malboro, Midrand, Rosebank, Pretoria and Centurion. There are buses and minicabs on the streets, but there tends to be no designated stops, so buses may be flagged down on main roads such as Oxford street and Jan Smuts. They can be unsafe, but larger double decker metro bus are easy to use all along Oxford, starting in Gandhi Square, going through Killarney, Rosebank, Illovo, Sandton, Rivonia and Sunninghill (bus no. 5C and 5D).
The poor reputation of the Central Business District (CBD) is no longer deserved. There are numerous galleries and art spaces popping up across the CBD. The city centre is the most-visited part of Johannesburg for African tourists, particularly the traders who come to shop at Johannesburg's wholesale outlets. Newtown and the Market Theatre area (the city's cultural precinct) is now easily accessible from the highway and Mandela Bridge and very fun; here you will find live music venues and bars too. Braamfontein, the university area, has a great Saturday market, lively night life, is very artsy.
City Sightseeing, in the pedestrian mall at the "Zone Shopping center" in Oxford road, Rosebank (next to Hamley's Toys with the main bus stop nearby). Its red buses operate in Johannesburg. A very safe and convenient way to see the inner city. Hop-on hop-off city tour R299, plus Soweto tour R679. (updated Dec 2024) Soweto is a popular destination for travellers from around the world. Take a tour or drive in yourself using GPS set to Vilakazi Street: the road infrastructure and signs are excellent. You can stop off at Maponya Mall and join the Sowetan middle classes as they entertain themselves with retail and movies.
Johannesburg has a wide variety of places to eat and you'll be sure to find something to suit your taste buds, be it local delicacies or international cuisines. In addition to standard South African shopping mall restaurants Johannesburg is one of the few cities with various 'restaurant streets' scattered around the suburbs offering a more European dining experience. Restaurant streets 7th Street, Melville - Traditionally Melville has been where most people head to for an evening meal - however, it now caters to students more than the moneyed middle classes.
Good pubs and clubs are available in the Melville student district, Braamfontein, Rosebank and the Newtown cultural precinct. Posh and upmarket clubbing happens in the Rivonia and Sandton area.
Johannesburg has stubbornly high crime levels. Armed security guards (not necessarily the police) are a common sight in the city. Ask local people, such as your hotel staff, on what to do and when to do it. Johannesburg earned its lawless reputation during the 1980s when the apartheid regime was collapsing. However things have improved enormously since those days with in large part all communities residing peacefully and in unity, although the advice you may receive from some Johannesburg residents may not match today’s reality.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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