Book Olympic Air Flights to Johannesburg

Things to do in Johannesburg

Visit the fascinating Museum Africa for a unique journey through the history of the Black Continent, from the birth of the first indigenous civilisations to Apartheid. You must definitely watch the audio/visual display of the 1956 trial of 156 people including Nelson Mandela, which led to their indictment for treason and their imprisonment in the Old Fort.

A visit to the site of Constitution Hill and the Old Fort, a moving National Monument (1964), is a must. Among the buildings of the infamous Old Fort prison, the peeling walls and rusting cells narrate a century of South African history: from the Boer War to the Soweto uprising and the fate of the freedom fighters such as Nelson Mandela and Joe Slovo. The tour ends with a brief visit to the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the guardian of the country’s fundamental rights and freedoms.

Learn everything about the most tragic period in modern South African history at the amazing Apartheid Museum. The values of the museum, as can be seen on the pillars in its first courtyard, are those enshrined in the South African constitution: democracy, equality, reconciliation, diversity, responsibility, respect and freedom.

Visit the fantastic Johannesburg Art Gallery, the largest gallery of paintings and sculptures in South Africa. Admire the collections of Flemish painters of the 17th century, European and British art of the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as works by 19th-century South African artists.

Enjoy a day out at the amazing Gold Reef City, a huge theme park that combines recreation with history. Tour the old gold mine (1897) and have a drink in the deepest pub in the world, at 225 metres below sea level! The park also contains another old renovated mining village, a theatre, dance centre, restaurants, hotels and casino.

Enjoy a stroll through the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, a verdant oasis of beautiful footpaths. Enjoy a fun picnic near the Witpoortjie Waterfall.

Explore the historic black township of Soweto, the trendiest and most avant-garde artsy neighbourhood of Jo’Burg today. Some of the most important sights are on Vilakazi Street, where you can visit the Nelson Mandela National Museum in the house in which he lived and take a stop outside the house of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Visit the Hector Pieterson Museum, dedicated to the student uprising of 1976, and see the bullet holes in the walls of the Regina Mundi Catholic church, which was a centre of the resistance against apartheid.

Excursions from Johannesburg

Visit the Cradle of Humankind and Maropeng Visitor Center, approximately 60 km northwest of Johannesburg. In the impressive Sterkfontein complex of limestone caves (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) in 1947 “Mrs Ples” was found, a prehistoric Αustralopithecus africanus fossil, between 2.6 and 2.8 million years old. Maropeng Visitor Centre is an exciting exhibition space that focuses on the evolution of humankind.

Go on an unforgettable road trip to the famous Kruger National Park, the oldest and largest game reserve in South Africa. Enjoy an authentic safari experience in the African Savannah, in amongst the elephants, lions, rhinoceroses and 140 other mammals. Don’t miss the opportunity to spend the night in the park, whether in a luxurious lodge, farmhouse or simple tents.

Shopping in Johannesburg

From the designer boutiques and international stores of Sandton and Melville to the curios and bazaars of the local markets, Johannesburg can satisfy all tastes.

Start your shopping trip in the northern suburbs and Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton, after first having had lunch at one of the many restaurants here.

Explore the Bruma Lake Flea Market, which specialises in African souvenirs and handicrafts such as wooden sculptures, paintings, masks and jewellery.

A visit to the Rosebank Rooftop bazaar is a must! Open every Sunday in Rosebank Mall, you can find everything here.

Pop into the popular malls, such as Eastgate Mall, Northgate and Fourways Mall.

Food and Entertainment in Johannesburg

Discover the cosmopolitan character of Johannesburg in the city’s multicultural food scene. You will find Chinese, Italian, Indian, French and Greek restaurants, and establishments that range from the luxurious to the modern and traditional, serving every cuisine that you can think of.

You should definitely try the dishes made with the excellent local meat, usually cooked braai-style – on a wood grill – as well as the traditional spicy boerewors sausages.

The city’s nightlife is concentrated in the districts of Melville, Sandton, Rosebank and Randburg, where you will find lovely bars, restaurants and clubs as well as Johannesburg’s surprisingly good jazz scene.

In the affluent suburbs of Sandton, Hyde Park and Melrose Arch you will find trendy clubs and you can also try your luck in the city’s luxury casinos.

Getting from the airport to Johannesburg

From the airport train station, take the new line that connects the airport to the suburbs of Sandton and Pretoria.

If you go by bus then choose one of the public transport city buses or the unofficial minibuses that depart from outside the terminals. The Rea Vaya line has been designed to provide the city with quick, safe and accessible public transport. It has its own bus lanes and there are stops every 500 metres.

If you prefer to travel by taxi then be aware that it can be relatively expensive. However, since Johannesburg is not the easiest city to get around, especially if you are a visitor, then a taxi is recommended as the fastest and safest means to reach the airport. A taxi ride from the airport to the city takes between 30-45 minutes.

You can also use one of the airport taxi services, such as Airport Link, Roses Taxis and Cabs for Women. Cabs for Women is women-owned, and all the drivers are women.

Unpretentious, courageous and ambitious, Jozi, as the locals call their city, is evolving into an emerging hotspot of contemporary African art, fashion and design. Book your flights to Johannesburg with Olympic Air and land in the cultural heart of South Africa.