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r/johannesburg•
Test_Trick

Suggestions of things to do in Johannesburg?

European here who will be down in Johannesburg this weekend. Can anyone make suggestions of things to do and places to visit to get the best feel for the country and the city?

Not just looking for the romantic tourist stuff but want to really get a feel for the country, people, history and culture.

Can be suggestions for activities, places to go, local food to try, places to get local food, people to meet.

I have 2 days to fill so hit me with ideas.

Posted Jun 4, 2023, 6:31 PM UTC

536
mechsuit-jalapeno:sloth:•

Dlala Nje does Ponte City sundowners. If you're feeling even more adventurous, you can do one of their Yeoville or Hillbrow walking/food tours. This is one of the rougher sides of Joburg but it'll give you a good contrasting view to the cookie cutter experiences that tourists are often shuffled through.

10
GaweGawie•

Great idea, if you want to leave in a coffin

1
mechsuit-jalapeno:sloth:•

It's okay to be scared going outside your comfort zone.

1
FroggyCon•

Yea let's just encourage the tourists to go on poverty tours that's not weird or gross

1
mechsuit-jalapeno:sloth:•

What a reductionist and knee jerk reaction. Wow, architecture, community outreach, and experiencing different cultures and lifestyles must all be poverty tourism.

1
MotherOfDachshunds42•

Constitution Hill is the best SA museum for me, better than the Apartheid Museum which is very text heavy. It is beautifully curated with stunning SA art works. For food, what sort of things are you interested in? Price range? Experience? PS it’s winter so very cold and dry

7
Test_TrickOP•

For food - Think "what can't I order back home". No point flying down for something I can always order in a restaurant back home. I want to eat some of the unique foods that the people eat.

Price range - reasonable.

2
FroggyCon•

Dude you HAVE to go to a Steers. Some people here may disagree with me but they make THE BEST burgers in the world. It's a fast food join and on Wednesdays they have a 2 for 1 deal. You gotta do it. Also I'd recommend any place that does bunny chow, it's really good two and apparently local

1
Unlucky_Conflict_908•

The Apartheid museum is great, there is a Vynil and vintage market at Victoria Yards on sat 10 th. Pop in to the rosebank flea market on Sunday . The Ponte tour is great and you can also go and check out Soweto.

6
JohnSourcer•

Whereabouts are you intending to stay?

2
Test_TrickOP•

Rosebank

2
JohnSourcer•

Use Uber to get around easily. You don't have a lot of time. If possible, try get out to the Cradle of Mankind during one of the days. Go to Sterkfontein Cave and also the Lion and Rhino Park. They're very close to each other.

3
MrMacrobot•

The caves are great - the place of some of the oldest human remains. There also might be guided hikes (don't go alone) though the Melville koppies to the human settlements that date back a few thousand years.

2
Acrobatic_Dingo_5228•

The koppies aren’t safe. There have been several attacks of hikers there lately.

1
JohnSourcer•

Plenty of spots for a drink and food around Rosebank. Also, maybe nip just down the road to 4th Avenue Parkhurst and try the Jolly Roger.

Mostly pubs and restaurants in one street.

2
icZAstuff•

You can always do the sightseeing bus tour, stops at all the above mentioned places.

https://www.citysightseeing.co.za/en/joburg

2
EntertainmentBig8636•

Go to magaliesburg, head back through harties, go over the bridge, then maybe the cable carts. Head for drinks to Parkhurst or Rosebank afterwards, what ages are you talking also makes a difference

1
4kpulainthesafe•

Soweto Walking tours are what you are looking for.

1
mamamemeteehee•

Hop on the Red Bus. You get to do quite a few of the options mentioned. Rosebank has one that goes regularly and you can get multiple day pass. www.citysightseeing.co.za

1
LordDukeOfEastRand•

Somewhere to get some food (more especially South African cuisine): Vilakazi Street, in Soweto. They also have Mandela’s house there, so if you’re keen to visit a museum, with a focus on SA history, that’s an option.

If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush:

  1. Orlando Towers, also in Soweto. They do bungee jumping there.
  2. Gold Reef City. An amusement park, with a casino/mall, in Johannesburg South.
1
FroggyCon•

If you're into historical stuff definitely go to the constitutional court-it's built into an old prison where a lot of political activists were locked away and has been turned into a museum. It's probably not an option but if you find yourself in Pretoria try to go to the gallery on Tuks (local university). They've got works by a lot of influential South African artists like William Kentridge and Gladys Mgulandlu. They also have THE golden rhino from Mapungubwe - a relic from medieval times - and a whole bunch of other gold artifacts from across Africa on display. I cannot recommend going there enough if you have an interest in history or art, or just want to get an overview of local culture. Otherwise I'm pretty sure there's a lion park in joburg you can go to, I remember going to one as a kid and getting to play with the cubs, very cool experience and definitely what people coming to africa look for.

1
rishes•

Johannesburg Migrant Cuisine Story telling evening - excellent

1
oddestvark•

The best thing you can do in JHB is get a flight to another city

-9
JohnSourcer•

Johannesburg is the friendliest city in South Africa. I've lived in all of them.

4
oddestvark•

South Africans are friendly in general. JHB is just shit.

-2
JohnSourcer•

The Witwatersrand has the best climate in South Africa.

You're welcome to elaborate why Johannesburg is so 'shit'?

2
oddestvark•

Traffic is awful, people can’t drive and it takes forever to get anywhere. Safety, never felt so unsafe. People are fine I guess. Not better than anywhere else. Climate is okay I’ll agree to that. Everything is money oriented and everyone is just rushing around. I really feel like people don’t enjoy life here. There’s nothing to do IN jhb. The JHB police are insane. Nothing works Everything is broken. There’s not a lot of freedom in general here, not a lot to enjoy.

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time4anarchism•

If you don't have money

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oddestvark•

Nah even with money

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time4anarchism•

Joburg people are so friendly, we ain't even mad

1
oddestvark•

Rofl

1