Johannesburg Sightseeing Guide

The Museum Africa on Jeppe St is a great place to delve into the history of the city and has some fantastic exhibits, including rock art and write-ups and interesting recreations on the early mining history and culture of the town. The cultural heart of Johannesburg has to be Market Theatre, which contains everything from street theater and fruit vendors to high culture events. Do take the time to visit a few of Johannesburg’s famous local flea and handicraft markets. 

For a price, the Carlton Tower on Commisioner St offers a bird’s eye view of Johannesburg that is unbeatable for an overview of this chaotic, pulsating city. The suburbs of Yeoville and Soweto are highly recommended, the former for its lively street and nightlife and relaxed urbane atmosphere, and the latter for being so important to the history of the country, having produced Nobel Peace prize winners but also probably more prisoners and criminals than the rest of the city’s districts put together. A word of warning – don’t attempt to go into Soweto without a reliable local guide; take a minibus tour.

Diagonal St is home to the city’s busiest business offices and to Africa’s wealthiest stock exchange. The streets around the stock exchange are very interesting to walk around in but also quite dangerous, so watch your step.