Travel advisory · South AfricaJohannesburg is in or near an area where governments advise against all but essential travel: Alexandra (Johannesburg), Berea, Hillbrow, Yeoville.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice

Areas with warnings

Alexandra (Johannesburg) · avoid non-essential travel · France, Italy
Berea · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France, Italy
Cape Flats · avoid non-essential travel · France, Italy
Hillbrow · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France, Italy
Pretoria Central · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
Sunnyside (Pretoria) · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
Yeoville · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France, Italy

Also named by one government: Arcadia (Pretoria) (Spain), Area near Phabeni Gate and Numbi Gate (Hazyview) (France), Atteridgville (Pretoria) (Italy), City centres (general) (Spain), Durban CBD (Germany), Durban marginal neighbourhoods (Spain), Johannesburg CBD (Germany), Mamelodi (Pretoria) (Italy), Marabstad (Pretoria) (Spain), Old city centre (France), Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) CBD (Germany), Pretoria CBD (Germany), Rotunda bus terminal (Johannesburg) (Spain)

Government	Advice	Updated	Read the advice
United Kingdom (FCDO)	No specific advice against travel; general precautions only	–	Read the advice
United States (State Dept)	Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution	May 27, 2025	Read the advice
Canada (Global Affairs)	Exercise a high degree of caution	–	Read the advice
Germany (Auswärtiges Amt)	Keine generelle Warnung für das gesamte Land (regional advisories)	Oct 28, 2026	Read the advice
New Zealand (SafeTravel)	Exercise increased caution due to violent crime	–	Read the advice
France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)	Vigilance renforcée (zone de vigilance renforcée pour l'ensemble du pays) (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice

Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.

aerial photography of urban city skyline during daytime

Johannesburg

Johannesburg is South Africa's largest city, known for its gold-mining past and for the apartheid history told at Soweto and the Apartheid Museum.

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Johannesburg is the capital of Gauteng province and South Africa's largest city. People call it Jozi or Joburg, and it is known as the City of Gold. The city was founded in 1886 after gold was found on the Witwatersrand ridge, and it sits on the Highveld plateau at about 1,753 metres above sea level. Today it is the country's economic hub, producing about 16% of South Africa's GDP, and it is the seat of the Constitutional Court.

The city's apartheid history is a central part of a visit. Soweto, the South-Western Townships, is a historic township linked to anti-apartheid leaders including Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. The 1976 Soweto uprising began over schooling in Afrikaans and spread across the city. The Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill, the Hector Pieterson Museum and Mandela House cover the same period. Downtown has Art Deco and Edwardian Baroque buildings, and the Maboneng district has galleries and restaurants. The dry winter from May to September brings the mildest sunny weather, though nights are cold.

Johannesburg in five

Take the Gautrain from the airportThe Gautrain runs from O.R. Tambo to Sandton and on to Pretoria, avoiding the highway traffic.
Give the Apartheid Museum half a dayThe exhibits are long and heavy. Go early and pair it with Gold Reef City next door or Soweto.
See Soweto with a local guideVilakazi Street, the Mandela House and the Hector Pieterson Memorial are best with a Soweto-based guide.
Use ride-hailing, not the streetWalking at night is not advised in most areas. Ride-hailing apps are cheap and widely used.

Things to do in Johannesburg

See all attractions in Johannesburg

Gallery · JohannesburgSpaza Art GalleryContact the gallery before setting out; visits are by appointment, and a phone number is posted on the gate.

Museum · JohannesburgL. Ron Hubbard House on Linksfield RidgeArrange a guided visit in advance with the director or tour staff.

Museum · JohannesburgApartheid MuseumGo early and set aside at least two hours; the museum can take much longer to explore fully.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to JohannesburgPut the places you like in Johannesburg on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: O.R. Tambo International (JNB), about 15 min to Sandton by Gautrain
Getting there: Flights from around the world; hub for southern Africa
Getting around: Gautrain, ride-hailing apps, guided tours
Best base: Sandton or Rosebank, near Gautrain stations
Time needed: 1–2 days

Weather by month

Rainy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed

JanuaryRain15 rainy daysHigh27°Low16°Warm, storms
FebruaryRain14 rainy daysHigh27°Low16°Warm, storms
MarchClear9 rainy daysHigh26°Low15°Mild
AprilClear8 rainy daysHigh23°Low13°Dry, clear
MayClear3 rainy daysHigh21°Low10°Dry, clear
JuneClear1 rainy dayHigh19°Low7°Cold nights
JulyClear1 rainy dayHigh19°Low6°Cold nights
AugustClear1 rainy dayHigh22°Low9°Dry, windy
SeptemberClear3 rainy daysHigh26°Low12°Warm, dry
OctoberClear8 rainy daysHigh27°Low14°Warm
NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh27°Low15°Storms start
DecemberRain17 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh27°Low16°Warm, storms

Average daily high and low in Johannesburg, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Johannesburg

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 17°
Humidity: 92%
Wind: 9 km/h
Chance of rain: 92%

Johannesburg

10:39 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+2

Today25°15°92%Monday: Thunderstorms. High 25°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 92%.
Tue25°15°96%Tuesday: Rain. High 25°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 96%.
Wed26°15°65%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 26°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 65%.
Thu26°17°45%Thursday: Rain. High 26°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 45%.
Fri29°17°75%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 29°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 75%.
Sat27°17°71%Saturday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 71%.
Sun29°11°25%Sunday: Partly cloudy. High 29°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 25%.

Updated 06:17 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 16.69 ZAR

Amount

Converted to

ZAR · South African Rand

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Cradle of Humankindabout 1 hour by carFossil caves at Sterkfontein and the Maropeng visitor center.
Pretoriaabout 40 min by Gautrain from SandtonThe Union Buildings and Voortrekker Monument.
Kruger National Parkabout 5 hours by carSelf-drive safari; plan at least three nights.Read the guide

Before you go to Johannesburg

Apartheid Museum and Soweto dayGuided city and township toursCompare day trips

Car hire for KrugerFive hours on the N4Compare car hire

eSIM for JohannesburgRide-hailing from the airportRead the guide

Insurance for JohannesburgTheft cover and onward flightsRead the guide

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Rules for Johannesburg, checked

Check visa and entry rules for your passport on the Department of Home Affairs site, dha.gov.za, before you fly.
Police: 10111. Ambulance: 10177. From a mobile phone, 112 reaches emergency services.
Plugs are type M (three round pins) at 230 V, 50 Hz. Bring an adapter if your devices use other plugs.
Metered taxis cannot be hailed on the street, so call a company in advance. Minibus taxis are the main daily transport for most residents.
Keep away from protests and large crowds. Migrants were targeted in xenophobic riots in 2008, 2015 and 2019.

Plan around Johannesburg

All of South Africa

Safari, cities and the road routes

Read the guide Kruger National Park guide

Self-drive safari, about five hours east

Read the guide Cape Town travel guide

The mountain and Cape Peninsula, a flight away

Read the guide Transport planning

Gautrain, car hire and domestic flights

Read the guide Travel insurance

Theft cover and onward-flight protection

Read the guide

Johannesburg FAQ

Is Johannesburg worth visiting?

For a day or two, yes. The Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill and Soweto are among the best places to learn South Africa's recent history.

Where should I stay in Johannesburg?

Sandton or Rosebank, both on the Gautrain line, with hotels, restaurants and easy airport transfers.

How do I get from Johannesburg to Kruger?

Drive about five hours on the N4, or fly to Skukuza or Nelspruit in about an hour.

Is Johannesburg safe for tourists?

Visits to the main sights pass without trouble if you use ride-hailing, keep valuables out of sight and avoid walking at night. Go with a guide in Soweto and the city center.

How many days do I need in Johannesburg?

One or two. A day covers the Apartheid Museum and Soweto; a second adds Constitution Hill or the Cradle of Humankind before you fly to Cape Town or drive to Kruger.