The City Code · South Africa
Johannesburg
The continent's most energetic city, and its most misunderstood.
Arriving
Car from OR Tambo, or the Gautrain to Sandton. Arrange transport in advance; do not hail on the street.
Book this first
The jazz rooms and Constitution Hill's guided tour, which transforms the visit.
What is worn
City smart; the nightlife dresses seriously.
Money & manners
Ten to fifteen per cent. Cards everywhere, cash for parking attendants.
The golden hour
Five in the afternoon in Maboneng and Braamfontein, as the rooftops open.
The usual mistake
Treating Johannesburg as a stopover. Give it two nights and a good guide.
From the collection
The stay, the table, the morning
While you are there
What moves the city
Season · 1 Nov to 28 Feb
Afternoon storm season
Dramatic thunderstorms most late afternoons. Plan outdoor time before 15:00; storms slow the highways to OR Tambo.
Go deeper
The rest of Johannesburg on Velori
Elsewhere
Other city codes
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