The City of Johannesburg, Gauteng

Johannesburg is an African city of note. Johannesburg is characterised by contradiction and an apparent seamless combination of irreconcilable differences. The largest city in South Africa, Johannesburg is also the wealthiest and, without doubt, the economic powerhouse of Africa.

Did you know? Once you've booked your hotel or Johannesburg accommodation, explore the suburb and destination pages below for info on attractions, activities and things to do when you visit the City of Jozi.

Johannesburg is a booming, happening city and the emphasis is on making money - whether in business or on the streets - and has been since its beginnings when the world’s richest gold fields were discovered in Johannesburg during the 1880s.

To the first-time visitor Johannesburg, or Jozi as it’s more commonly known, can be a little daunting, more so because of the misrepresentation by the media of Johannesburg as something of a war zone. There is crime; you do need to keep your wits about you, but once bitten by the vibe of Jozi, you’re going to want to come back again.

Did you know? Visit the Apartheid Museum to learn about the rise and fall of a racially prejudiced system that managed to straddle half a century. Exhibits were created by a team of curators, filmmakers, historians and designers, so expect to see more than your average museum behind-a-glass-exhibit – it’s powerful stuff.

The Johannesburg inner city, abandoned by an exodus of big business that transferred to Sandton and, until recently, avoided by all except die-hard tourists, is undergoing a complete regeneration. The area close to City Hall and Newtown Cultural Precinct, which has completely transformed the Market Theatre and surrounds, now forms the heart of urban revival, and the Johannesburg inner city remains the largest employment centre in South Africa.

But it’s the sprawl of the leafy northern suburbs - there are over six million trees in Johannesburg - that draws the visitor: buzzing, trendy suburbs like Parktown and Norwood, with their restaurant-lined avenues that cater for the dining and décor set; the high street of Greenside that so easily dons the mantle of hip chic; fashionable Melville (forget venturing a little further to Yeoville - Jozi’s Greenwich Village it might have been but not any longer), and the sprawling malls of Sandton, all combine to make the city a great place to be.

Though not touted as an outdoor city, there are, nevertheless, a number of parks and nature reserves, like Emmarentia Dam and the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, that are worth a visit. The Magaliesberg is just on your doorstep, and you’re extremely well placed for adventures a little further afield, like the Kruger National Park and the game parks of the Lowveld.

Find accommodation in Johannesburg

South Africa Accommodation / Gauteng Accommodation / Johannesburg Accommodation

Destinations in the Johannesburg Region

Abbotsford

Overnight? Abbotsford accommodation
Set in the leafy more affluent northern suburbs of Johannesburg, Abbotsford lies to the east of Atholl-Oaklands Road, the M1 and James and Ethel Gray Park. Neighbouring suburbs include Oaklands, Birdhaven, Melrose Arch, Waverley and Orchards, and it has e...

Auckland Park

Overnight? Auckland Park accommodation
Just north-west of Johannesburg’s CBD, Auckland Park lies on a gentle slope, the homes here gentrified and the neighbourhood a vibrant hum. The suburb known as Auckland Park is one of few this close to the centre of Johannesburg to survive the exodus ...

Bedfordview

Overnight? Bedfordview accommodation
Booking your accommodation in Bedfordview means being right in the heart of the city and close to some of the best hotels in Johannesburg, where millions of visitors begin their South African adventure. Did you know? Once you've booked your hotels or ...

Bertrams

Overnight? Bertrams accommodation
Gauteng may be South Africa's smallest province, but it remains the commercial, cultural and entertainment hotspot of this country. As its main city, Johannesburg is wonderfully exciting to visit, and every bit as diverse and multifaceted as the people th...

Blackheath

Overnight? Blackheath accommodation
Set on the lower slopes of Northcliff hill, Blackheath is a relatively peaceful, leafy suburb close to Cresta Centre. It rubs shoulders with Linden, Darrenwood, Windsor and Emmarentia and has access to one of the busiest shopping areas in the northern...

Braamfontein

Overnight? Braamfontein accommodation
Lying just outside the Johannesburg CBD, north of the city, Braamfontein suffered a literal exodus of businesses and institutions as the centre of Johannesburg moved out to Sandton and the northern suburbs, but it never decayed as some of the inner city h...

Bramley

Overnight? Bramley accommodation
There is a wide variety of choice when it comes to accommodation in Johannesburg; where there's a non-stop vibe of food, culture, fun, and natural beauty. This is an epicentre in South Africa and the base from which many visitors explore the country. Bram...

Craighall Park

Overnight? Craighall Park accommodation
Craighall Park is one of Johannesburg’s upmarket northern suburbs that lie slightly to the west of Sandton, a collection of leafy neighbourhoods that form a belt on the western side of the city between Parkhurst and the sprawling malls of Sandton’s Centra...

Cyrildene

Overnight? Cyrildene accommodation
Cyrildene is known as Johannesburg's Chinatown. Its streets, particularly Derrick Avenue, are lined with a myriad Chinese supermarkets with names like Jing Hua supermarket and Jong Hua Tea Shop that bring with them a quaintness and authenticity that has g...

Dunkeld West

Overnight? Dunkeld West accommodation
The upmarket suburb of Dunkeld West lies just north of Rosebank, sandwiched between Melrose and Hyde Park in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg, a lovely part of the city. This is really the heart of older Jo’burg - streets are wide and treelined, h...

Eikenhof

Overnight? Eikenhof accommodation
Lying in the southern reaches of Johannesburg, roughly 15 kilometres or so from the city centre and Gold Reef City, Eikenhof is regarded as country living and indeed, situated as it is on the outer edge of the place of gold, views from here are of the cou...

Emmarentia

Overnight? Emmarentia accommodation
The pretty, established suburb of Emmarentia lies between Linden and Greenside, right in the heart of the northern suburbs of Johannesburg. Emmarentia’s residents regard Emmarentia as the “green heart” of the city. And they are not wrong. Emmarentia, ...

Fairland

Overnight? Fairland accommodation
The pretty northern suburb of Johannesburg, Fairland is neighbour to Northcliff and Darrenwood; close to Cresta, one of the city’s major landmarks and home to a plethora of shops and entertainment, and Brightwater Commons - another biggish shopping centre...

Fairmount

Overnight? Fairmount accommodation
Lying east of the M1 and Rosebank, the suburb of Fairmount nestles in amongst the neighbourhoods of Highlands North, Sandringham, Raedene Estate and Fairmount Ridge. The area is snugly bound by Athol Street, George Avenue and Louis Botha Avenue, making tr...

Ferreirasdorp

Ferreirasdorp is the oldest part of the ever-buzzing metropolis of Johannesburg, with the first tent having been set up here in 1886. It started as a residential area on a mining farm, which was due to become a gold mining hotspot. Over the years, though,...

Fordsburg

Overnight? Fordsburg accommodation
Fordsburg is known as Johannesburg's 'Little India', its streets awash in bold colours, the heady smells of incense and spices, and the attraction of bargains wherever you look. Today it has a pulse of its own. Halaal restaurants line the roads, the Or...

Forest Town

Overnight? Forest Town accommodation
Lying snug in amongst some of the leafiest suburbs - Westcliff, Parktown and Saxonwold - of Johannesburg's northern parts, Forest Town was originally, as its name implies, set in what was a forest. It began as an area of smaller dwellings for workers and ...

Glenvista

Overnight? Glenvista accommodation
Johannesburg, also known as the City of Gold, is South Africa’s commercial, entertainment and financial epicentre. It is always abuzz with all things musical, artistic, gastronomic and cultural. The south of Johannesburg is also home of the leafy suburb o...

Greenside

Overnight? Greenside accommodation
Greenside, which lies just off the busy Barry Hertzog Avenue on the other side from Emmarentia Dam, is a trendy, albeit residential suburb of the city. It is rife with restaurants and described as having a café culture of note. That said, you also need to...

Hillbrow

Hillbrow gets mixed reviews. On the one hand people won't go near it. They speak about extreme levels of crime, high-rise apartment blocks jammed with migrants and refugees, hijackings, murder and prostitution. Hillbrow, they say, is a place of alarmi...

Johannesburg Central

Overnight? Johannesburg Central accommodation
Jo’burg’s inner city has had its share of stigma. The 1990s, after the Group Areas Act was scrapped, brought thousands of people who had been forbidden to live here, into the city centre, many of them immigrants from war torn African nations and others fr...

Kensington

Overnight? Kensington accommodation
The historic suburb of Kensington lies almost due east of Braamfontein and the city centre of Johannesburg, its most recent past as a trendy locale for the more creative residents of Johannesburg - a collection of artists, teachers and academics - a trend...

Kibler Park

Overnight? Kibler Park accommodation
Literally nestled along the western parameter of the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve, Kibler Park lies in the south of Johannesburg close to the suburbs of Alveda, Mayfield Park and Olifantsvlei. Perhaps because of its association with the nature reser...

Killarney

Overnight? Killarney accommodation
Lying in the heart of Johannesburg's affluent, leafy northern suburbs, Killarney is set in amongst the similarly quiet suburbs of Saxonwold, Houghton, Norwood and Oaklands. This part of the city is without doubt the more sedate side of Johannesburg an...

Kliptown

Kliptown is the oldest district in Soweto, famous as the site known as the Congress of the People, where 3 000 gathered together in 1955 to write the Freedom Charter. It later served as the basis for South Africa's liberal constitution. There is more h...

Linden

Overnight? Linden accommodation
Nestled in the foothills of Northcliff Hill, Linden is one of the prettiest and oldest suburbs of Johannesburg, lying to the north west of the city centre between Emmarentia and Darrenwood. The leafy suburb lies predominantly on a slope, its pretty houses...

Lonehill

Overnight? Lonehill accommodation
It does not take a genius to work out that Lonehill, which lies just north of Witkoppen Road with excellent access to William Nicol Drive and the N1, must have been named after a solitary hill in the vicinity. Apart from the fact that this is one of the n...

Maboneng

Overnight? Maboneng accommodation
Downtown Johannesburg has undergone something of a renaissance. What used to be a no-go area, to the east of the inner-city, is now a vibrant creative district that attracts a mixed lively and art-going crowd; a mix of students, artists and entrepreneurs....

Marshalltown

Overnight? Marshalltown accommodation
Lying right in the heart of Jozi’s inner city as it does, Marshalltown is recapturing its position as the financial and business centre of the major city. Neighbour to Braamfontein, Jeppestown, Joubert Park and the cultural centre of Newtown, Marshall...

Melville

Overnight? Melville accommodation
Book your Melville accommodation to make sure that you’re right in the heart of the action, thanks to its being situated just west of Johannesburg, where so many travellers begin their travels in South Africa. The trendy suburb of Melville is situated ju...

Midrand

Overnight? Midrand accommodation
Midrand is a located in the Johannesburg metropolis in Gauteng, South Africa. The name Halfway House is suitable as it is half way between The Rand (Witwatersrand) and Pretoria. Midrand is in Region 2 of Johannesburg's administrative region plan and compl...

Milpark

Overnight? Milpark accommodation
In the heart of former Industria is an emerging district known as Milpark, wedged in between Melville to the west, and Parktown to the east of it. It lies east of Auckland Park, with Empire Road cutting through its heart, just north of the University ...

Mulbarton

Overnight? Mulbarton accommodation
Lying south of the Southern Bypass in the south of Johannesburg, just east of Alberton, Mulbarton nestles in amongst the other southern suburbs of Glenvista, Bassonia and Meyersdal, bordering the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve. Mulbarton is a reasonabl...

Newtown

Overnight? Newtown accommodation
Situated in Johannesburg inner-city, Newtown forms the heart of the city’s regeneration and reinvention of itself. Newtown is a fairly large area that lies sandwiched between the railway lines to the north, the M2 highway in the south and bounded in the e...

Northcliff

Overnight? Northcliff accommodation
Northcliff is incredibly well situated - there is ease of access to a number of major shopping malls, the N1 is easily reachable and getting to either the city or Sandton is relatively simple, given Johannesburg’s notorious traffic. Northcliff is a co...

Norwood

Overnight? Norwood accommodation
A garden suburb of Johannesburg, Norwood is both diverse and appealing. Its pretty streets are lined with trees and Norwood is easily one of the more popular dining spots in the city, renowned for its celebrated restaurants and ethnic mix of cuisine. ...

Oakdene

Overnight? Oakdene accommodation
Lying to the south of the centre of Johannesburg, Oakdene nestles in amongst its neighbouring suburbs of Linmeyer, Rosettenville, Glenanda and Bassonia. Despite sounding as though it is away from the hub of the city, Oakdene is anything but. The area lies...

Oaklands

Nestled in amongst similar leafy, northern suburbs in Johannesburg, Oaklands lies next to Highlands North, Abbotsford and Norwood just across the M1 from Rosebank and south of Sandton. It is an upmarket area where large homes lie amidst sprawling gardens ...

Observatory

Overnight? Observatory accommodation
The pretty suburb of Observatory situated on a hill for obvious reasons, is home to the observatory site that stands on a 35-hectare site, declared the city’s first meteorological observatory site in 1903. The stone building is small and attractive an...

Orange Grove

Overnight? Orange Grove accommodation
Once an abundant orange farm, brimming with brightly-coloured orange trees, Orange Grove is now a pretty suburb that is conveniently situated close to Sandton, which is an important commercial and retail hotspot for visitors to Johannesburg. It is surroun...

Orchards

Overnight? Orchards accommodation
The rather small, well established suburb of Orchards lies virtually around the corner from trendy Norwood, its tree-lined streets and large, timeless homes, many of which have either been renovated or subdivided into apartments, places one in the heart o...

Ormonde

Overnight? Ormonde accommodation
Leave Marshalltown in Johannesburg’s CBD and head off along the M1 in a south westerly direction and Ormonde lies just five minutes from the centre, a little beyond Gold Reef City in the southern reaches of the bustling city, its nearest neighbours Mondeo...

Parkhurst

Overnight? Parkhurst accommodation
The lovely village of Parkhurst, once a rather dull lower-middle class neighbourhood with little more than its inviting trees and beautiful homes to attract visitors, has now reinvented itself and Fourth Avenue in particular has transformed itself into a ...

Parktown

Overnight? Parktown accommodation
Parktown lies between Westcliff and Saxonwold, one of the oldest neighbourhoods of Johannesburg filled with rather imposing homes that vie with those in London in terms of grandiosity. Developed by some of the most successful entrepreneurs of their ti...

Parkview

Overnight? Parkview accommodation
Parkview is part of the greater Rosebank area and just down the road from the commercial centre of Rosebank and its shopping mall. Zoo Lake borders on Parkview and is a favourite ambling site of Jo-burgers. It takes about an hour to stroll around the ...

Parkwood

Overnight? Parkwood accommodation
Nestled between Rosebank and Saxonwold in the leafy northern suburbs of Johannesburg, Parkwood is one of the older more established suburbs of the bustling metropolitan, reminiscent of Houghton with its sizeable double-storey homes and large properties. ...

Randburg

Overnight? Randburg accommodation
Randburg is a large town in Gauteng, South Africa. Once a separate municipality, its municipal government has since become a part of the City of Johannesburg. Randburg has over 32 suburbs, most of them residential. It is an upmarket area filled with many ...

Rembrandt Park

Overnight? Rembrandt Park accommodation
Lying in the curve of the N3 between the Buccleuch interchange and Bedfordview, Rembrandt Park's closest landmark is Modderfontein Road, which links the suburb with the Modderfontein golf course. Rembrandt Park lies in the heart of the south eastern s...

Sandton

Overnight? Sandton accommodation
Millions of South African safaris, shopping sprees, and beach holidays start in the epicentre of Johannesburg, where many of the most glamorous hotels in Sandton and other areas can be found. Sandton is a prosperous business, commercial and residenti...

Saxonwold

Overnight? Saxonwold accommodation
This part of Johannesburg that lies around the zoo and includes Parkview, Westcliff and Houghton is of the most beautiful in the city. It’s also one of the oldest parts of Johannesburg, and Saxonwold in particular invites one to drive along its broad, win...

Southdale

Overnight? Southdale accommodation
Southdale, as its name indicates, is in the south of Johannesburg. Although there is little of the 'dale' about it (no green hills) the streets, like many in the city of gold, are leafy. And of course, the major advantage to a stay here is the suburb's ac...

Soweto

Overnight? Soweto accommodation
South of Johannesburg is Soweto, a city developed as a township for black people under the apartheid system. Most of the struggle against apartheid was fought in and from Soweto. The name Soweto is an acronym, made up - in apartheid days - from the first ...

Sunningdale

Overnight? Sunningdale accommodation
Lying in amidst the well established suburbs of Bramley, Lyndhurst, Highlands North and Corlett Gardens, Sunningdale, whilst not well known to those who live in the city, is positioned in a highly advantageous part of Johannesburg, just north of the Links...

The Hill

Overnight? The Hill accommodation
The Hill is a small suburb in the south of Johannesburg, in an area officially known as Region F. It is characterised by its multifaceted nature; with homes ranging from small and simple to large and impressive. Some are free-standing, while others are in...

Victory Park

Overnight? Victory Park accommodation
Lying on the Parkhurst side of Delta Park, virtually between Delta Park and the Johannesburg Botanical Garden, Victory Park is regarded as one of the few suburbs in the city where residents can still safely walk the dog. Described as one of the oldest...

Waverley

Overnight? Waverley accommodation
Waverley is a small residential suburb in the Highlands North area of Johannesburg, Gauteng. As home to the OR Tambo International Airport and Lanseria International Airport, Johannesburg (dubbed the City of Gold) is the urban epicentre from which million...

Weltevreden Park

Overnight? Weltevreden Park accommodation
Weltevreden (well satisfied) Park lies in the heart of Roodepoort. In fact as you come over a slight incline, just as you head into the Weltevreden valley off Beyers Naudé Drive, you pass a sign signifying your entry into Roodepoort and what used to be th...

Westcliff

Westcliff lies almost cheek-by-jowl with Parkview and Houghton and benefits from lying close to major arterial roads. You might be in one of the country’s most notoriously busy cities, but in Westcliff things slow to a more sedate pace. The Killarney ...

Westdene

Overnight? Westdene accommodation
Westdene is one of those pretty little character-filled suburbs, that tend to lie fairly close to Johannesburg's city centre. Its streets are lined with cottage-styled homes with tin roofs, some of which back onto Westdene's park and dam, and the streets ...

Want to stay overnight?

Dates

When would you like to stay?
Choose dates

Number of Guests

Why book with SA-Venues.com
  • Your card is safe with us; strictest card verification in the industry and we don't store card numbers.
  • No airy fairy service fees; you save!
  • We care. Service with integrity.
  • Multiple payment methods:
    credit card, SID instant EFT, bank transfer.
  • All Johannesburg property owners / managers are verified (our experience protects you from online fraud).
  • Secure your booking
Our Payment Protection Guarantee only applies if your deposit payment is made via SA-Venues.com
South Africa. Explore. Experience. Stay

SA-Venues.com® has been assisting travellers with their South Africa travel plans since 1999, and is the largest, independent online travel guide for South Africa available in both English and German.