Things to do in Johannesburg

Culture · Braamfontein

The old fort and prison that held Gandhi and Mandela, now the site of the Constitutional Court — the single best half-day in the city.

Local tip: Do the guided tour rather than wandering; the Women's Jail section is what people remember, and the Court's own art collection is free to view.

Culture · Ormonde

A rigorous, unsentimental account of how the system was built and dismantled. You are issued a race classification card at the door.

Local tip: Allow three hours minimum and go in the morning. Pair it with the Soweto route rather than cramming both into an afternoon.

Neighborhood · Soweto

A city of well over a million people, and the only street on earth where two Nobel laureates lived — Mandela and Tutu.

Local tip: Go with a local guide or a cycling tour the first time. Eat at a shisa nyama on the weekend; that is when Soweto is actually itself.

Landmark · Sandton

The de facto business district — the JSE, the banks, the hotels. Dense, glass, and often called the richest square mile in Africa.

Local tip: The Gautrain station puts you in the middle of it; if you are here for meetings, staying in Sandton and never renting a car is a viable strategy.

Food · Lorentzville

A restored industrial block east of the CBD housing artists' studios, urban farms, a distillery and small food traders.

Local tip: First Sunday of the month is the open day and the only time to see the studios; park inside the gates and it is a relaxed, safe visit.

Nature · Mogale City (~45 min)

A UNESCO World Heritage site of dolomite caves that has produced more early-hominin fossils than anywhere else on the planet.

Local tip: Book Sterkfontein Caves ahead and do Maropeng the same day; combine with lunch in the Magaliesberg to make the drive worth it.