Johannesburg.
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Overview

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. Jo'burg is a city on the move where the most ambitious of South Africans (and Africans more broadly) come to seek opportunity in the big city.

Districts

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 (which encompasses Waterfall City and Kyalami) Roodepoort (the West, which encompasses the Cradle of Humankind, Muldersdrift and Lanseria Airport) South Johannesburg — Alberton, Rosettenville, Brackendowns, Turfontein, etc.

Understand

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. The city is home to two Chinatowns; the original one on Commissioner Street has shrunk dramatically since its heyday, but still has a few shops and business run by the small community of South African Chinese, while a newer and larger Chinatown in the suburb of Cyrildene is largely populated by immigrants and expatriates from China. Unlike other South African cities, no language group dominates, although English is the established lingua franca.

The city is the economic hub of South Africa, and to some extent, the rest of Africa. Yet the city's wealth is unequally distributed among its inhabitants, causing the city to have living conditions varying from first world to third world conditions. The more affluent tend to live in houses with high security by western standards, whilst the less affluent live in less desirable housing conditions. That said, crime rarely deters from daily life, especially for visitors who have little reason to visit the city's rough areas. Many South Africans choose to live here over other, safer parts of the country.

There are many things that are unique to Johannesburg. It features a distinct street entrepreneurship, and motorists can buy things from vendors selling goods at traffic lights, as in many other developing-world cities. Barber shops consisting of nothing but a chair and an enthusiastic barber can be found on the sides of roads, although they tend to specialize in African rather than Caucasian hair. Mine dumps can also be seen throughout the city and are a reminder of the city's legacy of gold mining. These dumps are fast disappearing as new gold extraction techniques have made it profitable for mining companies to reprocess them.

With around 6 million trees, Johannesburg is most likely the world's largest man-made urban forest. The city is certainly one of the greenest in the world, considering that the natural landscape is savannah.

The weather is generally regarded as excellent; temperatures reach the mid-30s Celsius (95°F) in the summer months (Dec-Feb) with little to no wind and with occasional, spectacular afternoon thunderstorms. Temperatures in winter can drop below freezing but snow is extremely rare. The city is at an altitude of 1750 metres above sea level so newcomers can easily get out of breath.

Tourist information Explore Johannesburg website

Orientation

By far the easiest way to find your bearings in Johannesburg is by finding the two telecommunication towers on the horizon. The Hillbrow tower is located near the city centre while the Brixton tower (also called the Sentech tower) is located out to the west of the city. Since they are both tall towers located on high ground and easily distinguishable from other structures and each other, they make excellent landmarks. If the Hillbrow tower is to the left of the Brixton tower, then you are in the north If the Hillbrow tower is closer than the Brixton tower, then you are in the east If the Brixton tower is to the left of the Hillbrow tower, then you are in the south If the Brixton tower is closer than the Hillbrow tower, then you are in the west Depending on your location, you may also see a cylindrical building (Ponte City Apartments) located close to the Hillbrow tower.

There is a ring road system of freeways, with the city centre located at the centre of the ring. The ring is formed by the N1 on the north and west, the N3 on the east and the N12 on the south. The ring is dissected north/south by the M1 freeway and partially dissected east/west by the M2 freeway.

Get in

By car A number of highways from everywhere in South Africa go to Johannesburg, the N1 from Cape Town and Bloemfontein or the N3 from Durban making it an easy to reach destination, including: N1 from Cape Town and Harare in Zimbabwe N3 from Durban N4 from Mbombela and the Kruger National Park, as well as Botswana N12 from Kimberley and Potchefstroom N14 from Upington and Namibia

Traffic can be particularly bad during peak hours (M-F 06:30-09:00 and 15:30–18:30) so plan your journey accordingly. Accidents are frequent and can cause delays at any time of the day and night. Take extra care if you are taking a car to OR Tambo airport as accidents are frequent on at the Gillooly's Interchange and on the R24 towards the airport.

Traffic has been getting worse, and traffic jams may delay your journey. As the city is large and spread out, getting around may require covering large distances e.g. from Midrand to Soweto is over 45 km (28 mi).

Terminal A is for international flights, and B domestic. When flying out some international flights may have their check-in in Terminal B, but will still leave from Terminal A. The two terminals are adjacent to each other and a 5-minute indoor walk apart.

The airport is 24 km (15 mi) east from the city centre. There is a highspeed train to Sandton and Pretoria (see below) from the airport. If you are taking a taxi, keep walking straight until you exit the building and then turn left until you see a long line of taxis (mainly Mercedes) with yellow taxi signs on their roof. These are licensed taxis with meters (tell the driver the address and insist on using the meter before you get in the car). Do not go with anyone who approaches you offering a taxi while you are inside the airport building, these are unlicensed touts, and you'll end up paying more. If you are staying in a hotel, try to get the hotel to send a shuttle to pick you up.

Better to use the ATMs to withdraw cash. The ATMs are located one floor higher up in the airport, in the retail mall where there are many shops and restaurants.

The airport is mainly for smaller charter, cargo and classic airline flights; it is in fact busier than Johannesburg International and sees more air traffic.

For more information see Discount airlines in Africa.

Rand Airport is primarily a business and general aviation airport. Grand Central Airport - Located just off the N1 between Johannesburg and Pretoria this airport is primarily a business and general aviation airport.

Johannesburg is South Africa's hub for rail travel. While the national network is rather small, there are extensive rail services from nearby cities within the Gauteng region.

Shosholoza Meyl is the national passenger rail service. As of November 2025, Shosholoza Meyl only operates on route two routes: Johannesburg – Bloemfontein – Queenstown – East London & Johannesburg – Durban. However, trains are really rare and departures occur a few times a year. Check their website for more information. If you are lucky, maybe you will find a train.

Gautrain is the new high-speed train between Johannesburg, Pretoria and OR Tambo airport. A fantastic, first-world-quality train service takes just 15 minutes from airport to Sandton. From Marlboro or Sandton stations you can connect to Pretoria or Park station. It's very secure: there are lots of cameras and guards on the trains and platforms. Gautrain to and from OR Tambo airport is often more expensive than taking Bolt or Uber, especially if you are traveling with others. Don't try to walk to the nearby Rhodesfield Gautrain station to avoid this surcharge; it's dangerous and a gauntlet of freeways and flyovers. There is also an additional once off fee of R21 (2025) for a Gautrain Card, unless you use a contactless bank card or credit card.

MetroRail operates frequent commuter trains to many suburbs and outlying towns. As Metrorail operates services in several separate cities, for operational purposes it is subdivided into five regions. The Witwatersrand region is the region that covers the greater Johannesburg Metropolitan area. Trains run from Johannesburg and Germiston outwards to Springs, Pretoria, Soweto and Krugersdorp. Metrorail is much cheaper than Gautrain but not as safe; as a tourist you should choose the more expensive Gautrain option.

By bus Long-distance buses arrive at Park Station or at the new Johannesburg International Transport Interchange, located a few blocks west of Park station. All major bus companies provide a service to and from Johannesburg. A few of these include: Greyhound the bus service is offering services to destinations all over South Africa. Intercape, a major carrier in Southern Africa with routes from most major cities within SA and neighboring countries. Translux, their route network extends to many South African destinations and major cities in Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Magic Bus, Focuses on short distance transportation, i.e. scheduled airport shuttling. S.A Roadlink has coaches travelling to and from major major city centers in South Africa. The Baz Bus offers a hop-on, hop-off service aimed at backpackers. It runs from Johannesburg to Durban via the Drakensberg, and then continues along South Africa's coast to Cape Town. Eldo Coaches have buses from Johannesburg to East London for R300. and Johannesburg to Cape town from R450. Eagle Liner have buses from Johannesburg to Bulawayo Zimbabwe for R330.

Get around

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). Generally, it is a bad idea to make use of minibus taxis unless accompanied by locals. The other bus alternatives, are orange putco buses, coming more regularly than the metro buses and it's slightly more expensive. Lastly there are the Gautrain feeder buses connected to the Gautrain, these have quite extensive routes from each station - these can be found easily on the gautrain website or mobi site. The problem is that buses are quite problematic on weekends and public holidays, Gautrain buses do not run, Metro buses have two route runs, and putco buses are at a complete halt. This is when the train would be a good alternative, or rent a car.

Renting a car will give you the best flexibility and opportunity to tour the city, however driving is fast paced, but by no means difficult as long as you stay alert. Heavy traffic into Sandton in the morning (06:30 to 09:00) from all directions leading towards Sandton and in the afternoon all routes leading out of Sandton (15:30 to 18:30) in all directions could delay your journey by up to 2 hours, so plan accordingly.

Car rental Renting a car is your best option if you are a confident driver, as the city's public transport is very, very limited. It is worth buying a good road map of Johannesburg, using a GPS (available when you rent a car) and planning your trips carefully before setting out. The city is large and somewhat poorly signposted. Make sure to be exceptionally clear with your rental agency what types of things are covered by their insurance plans. The phrase "full coverage" doesn't necessarily mean full coverage. Traffic can be aggressive, and minibus taxis in particular often defy the rules of the road.

Like any big city, there are some areas of Johannesburg that you don't want to stray into if you look like a tourist or don't have enough fuel to get out of. Ask advice. Local numberplates start with "GP" (Gauteng Province). If your car has any other numberplate, then you will advertise yourself as being from "out-of-area". If in doubt, stop at a police station and ask them for directions.

From the airport: stay on the freeway between the airport and Sandton, and don't divert through the townships and Alexandra on Vincent Tshabalala Road. A GPS following the fastest route will usually divert around the townships, but it pays to know where you are going. (If you are coming from the airport and you are afraid of getting this wrong, carry on past Marlboro Drive with the N3 (which becomes the N1) until you reach Rivonia road. Then turn left/south and this will take you straight into Sandton, bypassing any townships.)

Europcar Car Hire. Car rentals in Johannesburg and Johannesburg Airport.

Pace Car Rental. Long-term car rental in Johannesburg and Sandton; cars, bakkies and minibuses.

Rent a Wreck. Very cheap car rental. The cars are old but are reliable.

Exeque Car Rental. Long-term rentals only.

Xtreme Car Rental. Cash car rental near Johannesburg Airport.

Parking (on the roadside) is often free in the sense that there is no meters, however there is often a local car guard that well keep an eye on your car for a few rand. Try to park in a well-lit space and always plan ahead, it's not a good idea to park far away from your destination. When available, use a secure parking area. All Gautrain stations have safe and secure parking, although a tad expensive.

Public transport in Johannesburg is provided by city buses and informal minibus services. Bus (other than Gautrain buses and the City Sightseeing ones) is not a viable option if you are a foreign tourist/business visitor unfamiliar with South Africa and Johannesburg in particular. Large blue city buses run up and down the main roads and mini buses can be flagged down on the side of the street although they are not the best mode of transport as they are unreliable and often associated with crime. These should not be used unless you are very familiar with the way of life in South Africa and the basic geography of Johannesburg.

Rea Vaya. This bus rapid transit (BRT) is designed to offer a safe, secure and affordable public transport system on main routes to and from the city. Smaller buses (feeders) and taxis will add value to transport people to and from the main routes.

Metrobus. Providing bus traffic in the Johannesburg region. Buses are available but routes and times are somewhat limited by western standards.

Minibus taxis. should be avoided unless you are with a local: the routes are very confusing, and drivers will often say 'yes' when you ask 'are you going to X?' so that they get your money, and then drop you at some crossroads and say 'change here'. Thus if you travel with minibuses it's safer to ask directions from the other passengers, not the driver. People are generally very friendly and will help you out. Minibuses are frequently not roadworthy (although they are in much better condition than in most of the rest of Africa) and involved in fatal accidents. Extreme and violent competition between minibus taxi drivers has resulted in affordable transportation for the masses.

City Sightseeing. While not really public transportation, the City Sightseeing bus tours some of the city's most prominent tourist attractions (Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill, Braamfontein, etc.) and can therefore be used as an alternative to car and taxi. Tour starts at "The Zone" in Rosebank.

Gautrain. In addition to the train, Gautrain runs an extensive bus network that feeds passengers to the different Gautrain stations. The buses are safe and can be used by tourists, but as always, plan ahead and know where you are going. There is no weekend service. To use Gautrain services you need a reusable Gautrain Card (R21, 2025) but you can also use a contactless credit/debit card.

The minibus taxis, however, are very cheap and are the quickest way between two points. It provides an authentic experience but if you are using these, you must understand the risks. Using these relies mostly on a variety of local hand signals, and should only ever be used if travelling with a local. Metered taxis are not as abundant as many big cities but are available and in most cases, need to be called before hand. This could incur long delays as you wait for the taxi. Unless you are visiting for a very short time, it would be worth your while to rent a car. Bolt and Uber, ride hailing apps, are also a viable alternative for getting around, although these companies is highly unpopular with local taxi companies, with reports of violence against both drivers and passengers.

In general all the taxi operators collude with one another and fix prices, so taxis are not cheap or metered. Do not rely on taxi ranks in shopping malls as often there are none. If you have a local SIM, Uber offers better pricing and service than taxis.

Sandton Taxi Cabs (Pty) Ltd. Transport company offering chauffeur services, airport transfers, day tours & 24hrs taxi services.

Elias. Friendly taxi driver based in the CBD.

Magicbus. Offers shuttle services between OR Tambo Airport and Sandton. They also offer door-to-door transfers. A bit expensive for the single traveller but reasonable when travelling in groups.

Maxi Taxi. Reputable taxi firm based in Yeoville.

Roses Taxi. Operates throughout the city.

Zebra Cabs. Operates throughout Johannesburg. Every car is equipped with a GPS. R11/km.

By train Metrorail Gauteng runs an extensive commuter train network with stations in most districts, however trains are often crowded and have a reputation of being unsafe. The high-speed Gautrain can be used for travel between the Inner city and Sandton.

See

Inner City 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. By day there's nothing here.

On the east side of the city, Main Street Life, Maboneng Precinct and Arts on Main (especially the Sunday market and The Bioscope independent cinema). The Maboneng area has 24-hr security so you can freely walk around the streets, just be sure not to stray away too far. Troyeville has a fantastic restaurant at the Troyeville Hotel, an art centre and all the main sport stadiums (football, tennis, athletics, rugby).

On the west side, Fordsburg is the formerly-Indian now known as “little Somalia” and “ Ethiopia Town” part of central Joburg and has some Indian and Pakistani restaurants as well as African street food, shops and markets. Good food is to be found in this neighbourhood, which, by Johannesburg's standards, shows signs of street life in the evenings, and more so on Friday and Saturday. Most places are halal, and so no alcohol is served. The Oriental Plaza shopping mall is here and has good bargains.

In the centre of town, between Jeppe St and Bree Street at Delvers Street, look up and see the Amharic script which denotes that you are in the Ethiopian/Somali part of town. There are Ethiopian restaurants and coffee shops in the Africa Mall and Johannesburg Mall. Best to arrive before 14:00.

To the north east, Yeoville is known as Le Petit Kinshasa and is home to many of the Francophone African diaspora in Johannesburg. Lots of Cameroonian restaurants and Congolese bars.

Hillbrow has a bad reputation for drug dealing, sex bars, crime, etc., but is slowly improving. If you visit Constitution Hill, or Johannesburg Art Gallery, Hillbrow is right across the street, not that scary. Empty your pockets and go for a walk to the base of the Hillbrow Tower on a Sunday morning. Stay on the main streets and keep your wits about you, and don't carry anything that is worth stealing. It is certainly an interesting experience. Worth watching Louis Theroux's Law and Disorder in Johannesburg before your visit.

The Top of Africa on the 50th floor of the Carlton Centre, gives you a panoramic view of the city from the top of Africa's tallest building. The Johannesburg Art Gallery is the biggest gallery on the African continent. It has a good collection of local and international work on display. Standard Bank Gallery is a corporate-owned gallery that hosts South African and international exhibitions. The Sci-Bono Discovery Centre offers dynamic learning experiences in maths, science and technology. Origins Centre has an excellent multimedia display of the rock art and the origins of humankind. WITS Anglo American Digital Dome, formerly Johannesburg Planetarium, uses high-resolution projectors and surround-sound technology create an immersive environment for educational experiences about the wonders of the universe and the richness of human creativity.

Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens in Roodepoort is one of the last green areas remaining within Johannesburg. Constitution Hill is the site of the notorious Old Fort prison complex. It is a fascinating place well worth a visit: part courtroom, part museum and part art gallery. The Workers Museum tells the story of Migrant Labourers who came to Johannesburg to find work. Having left their homes and families, black migrant workers faced slave-like conditions shown by the original dormitories, concrete bunks and punishment room at the old compound building.

In the plush north, the suburbs of Greenside, Houghton, Parktown North, Parkhurst, Killarney, Rosebank, Illovo, Melrose North, Atholl, Sandown, Sandton, Morningside, Fourways and Randburg are green, leafy and pleasant, and safe and comforting to first-world visitors, most have large shopping malls of some description, and some have a walkeable main street with cafes, boutiques and grocery shops.

The South African Lipizzaners in Sandton is the only place you will ever get to see performing Lipizzaners recognized by the Spanish Riding School, outside of Vienna.

The Montecasino Bird Gardens in Sandton is home to many birds and other small wildlife. Also look out for the 2500-year-old tree near the parrots.

The South African National Museum of Military History in Saxonwold has a good collection of military hardware, including one of the very few ME 262 jet fighters from World War II still in existence. There is also a huge South African-built G6 self-propelled, 155mm howitzer on show.

The Sophiatown Heritage & Cultural Centre tells the story of a thriving multi-racial neighbourhood that was razed in 1955 to create a new whites-only town.

South Jo'burg is home to the Apartheid Museum, a very moving and informative trip through South Africa's turbulent past and present.

The James Hall Museum of Transport is the largest museum dedicated to transport in South Africa.

Do

City Sightseeing. Its red buses operate in Johannesburg. A very safe and convenient way to see the inner city.

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. A township tour that will take you around the densely populated but vibrant town. Use only official operators, and do not go on your own. Gold Reef City in South Johannesburg is an amusement park with a casino. The visitor can also learn about gold mining and go into a mine here. Cricket: Wanderers Stadium in Illovo near Sandton hosts international and domestic matches. Golf: the premier course is Glendower in Edenvale to the east. It often hosts the South African Open.

Learn

University of the Witwatersrand (WITS).

Work

Due to South Africa's negotiated settlement which heralded the dawn of South Africa's democracy in 1994, South Africans have gained a reputation for holding meetings or lekgotlas (the Tswana word meaning "meeting place") to resolve their concerns, and plan for the future.

This desire to meet, discuss and strategise is also found among South Africa's business leaders, and Johannesburg as Africa and South Africa's economic hub is filled with conferencing venues and meeting places which can host a wide range of events for small or large groups.

Popular conference areas include the Rosebank and Sandton areas where conferences tend to be held in and around some of the city's top hotels. The Muldersdrift area and western region of Johannesburg has developed a reputation for outstanding function venues, particularly weddings and private events. While the midrand area located halfway between Johannesburg and Pretoria is also a popular conferencing and events area.

Buy

There are many craft markets in Johannesburg and the surrounding areas. You will also find plenty of beautifully crafted beadwork and wirework being sold on the roadside and at intersections. Though you will be able to bargain with the locals, give a thought to the crafters who are often unemployed and rely on sales to support themselves and their family.

Craftsmen and women from all over Africa sell their goods at the Rosebank flea market on Sundays and in a bazaar type shop in the Rosebank mall on week days. Johannesburg has no specific artwork, which you can't get in other parts of the country. But you will find very good quality shops for this. Don't forget to buy the 2 ft giraffe which you get all over and at the airport.

Shopping malls are very popular in Johannesburg, due to their convenience, safety and the fact that there are few alternatives. Although, thankfully, Jozi is one of the few cities in the country that still has some street life. A typical shopping mall has all the usual chain stores (for clothes, books, music, chemists, etc.), a food hall (KFC, Mugg & Bean), and a big western-style supermarket in the basement. Many also have a multiplex cinema. They can be comfortable but soulless refuges that can trap the tourist with their familiar, air conditioned surrounds, so beware. There are many shopping malls throughout Johannesburg. Most have free secure parking, although you have to pay for parking in the more popular malls (Rosebank & Sandton).

You will also find many smaller shopping malls close to residential areas. Usually with one or two of the larger retail stores, a number of smaller chain stores, fast food and possibly a restaurant or coffee shop.

Eat

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.

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. Melville offers a small pocket of culture, with street vendors often selling their own artworks, and charity shops abound. Gleneagles Road, Greenside makes a good destination (north of Melville - head to where the M71 crosses the M20, Green Way) and there is a good collection of cafes and restaurants which won't be full of tourists. Grant Avenue, Norwood is becoming more popular since Melville started catering more to students. A collection of uncomplicated restaurants, including numerous sushi places and simple pizza and pasta Italian restaurants. Pick of the crop is probably Sharwarma, with serves South African flavored Lebanese food, and also serves good steak and fish. Tyrone Avenue, Parkview has a collection of coffee shops and restaurants 4th Avenue, Parkhurst boosts a handful of restaurants and shops along the street. The area is very safe so you can walk the street without any problems. Queen's Street, Kensington to the east of the CBD has a handful of restaurants near the crossing with Northumberland. Derrick Avenue, Cyrildene near Eastgate is a local Chinatown, and has numerous excellent Asian restaurants.

Don't ignore the CBD either, there are a handful of nice restaurants near the Market Theatre, and they are cheaper than their northern suburb cousins. Of course the northern suburb shopping malls are brimming with South African chain restaurants, of which the more expensive ones are also quite good, if a little soulless. South African cuisine features many varieties of sauces, and your food may be drowned in said sauce if you don't ask for it on the side

Melville is a neighbourhood where you can find many bars and mediocre restaurants. It is close to the national broadcaster (SABC) headquarters, all the universities and many artists, academics and students live in this community. Fordsburg has many Indian restaurants with authentic Indian cuisine as well as conventional franchise stores (Wimpy, Nandos, Fishmonger, Nescafe, etc.). Fordsburg is close to the Oriental Plaza and can be combined with your shopping expedition. Fordsburg is one of the few (if any) areas of Johannesburg that has a thriving outdoor street market and pedestrian traffic at night, in a relative sense. It's a small area and pedestrian traffic is light, but at least present. The area is more busy on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

Drink

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.

Sleep

Sandton and the northern suburbs offer a wide range of accommodation.

For accommodations near O.R. Tambo International Airport, see the sleep sections for Kempton Park and Benoni.