Johannesburg in 2 Days: Museums, Soweto and Maboneng

5 min read · Published: October 26, 2023 · Updated: October 29, 2026 · Prices and details checked: October 2026

Two days are enough to see the core of Johannesburg: Constitution Hill, Soweto, the Apartheid Museum and the Maboneng Precinct, with the Carlton Centre as an optional city view. The sites are spread out, so the order and the way you get around matter more than a long list.

Table of contents

1. What is the best order for two days in Johannesburg?
2. Why start at Constitution Hill?
3. What is Maboneng, and is it worth an afternoon?
4. Is the Carlton Centre still worth visiting?
5. How do you visit Soweto?
6. How long does the Apartheid Museum take?
7. How do you get around Johannesburg safely?
8. FAQ

What is the best order for two days in Johannesburg?

Group the sites by area. Day 1 stays in the inner city, where Constitution Hill, Maboneng and the Carlton Centre are close enough to combine. Day 2 goes out to Soweto and then to the Apartheid Museum in Ormonde, south of the centre.

Two fixed points set the calendar: the museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, and Market on Main takes place on Sundays. Saturday and Sunday with the museum on Saturday works, as does Sunday and Tuesday with the museum on Tuesday.

Why start at Constitution Hill?

Constitution Hill explains the legal and human background to everything else you will see. It is a former prison complex that is now home to South Africa’s Constitutional Court, and it is open daily from 9am to 5pm.

The site includes the Old Fort, built in 1893 as Johannesburg’s first prison, the Women’s Jail, and Number Four, which held Black male prisoners from 1902 to 1983. Guided tours make it much easier to follow. The Highlights Tour takes about an hour. The Full Tour takes two hours, covers all of these sites and leaves at 10am and 1pm. If you have time for one, take the Full Tour at 10am.

From Park Station, the Gautrain’s J1 feeder bus runs to Parktown for Constitution Hill. A ride-hailing app is simpler with luggage.

What is Maboneng, and is it worth an afternoon?

Maboneng is a redeveloped inner-city precinct east of the centre, worth a few hours for its galleries, studios and Sunday market. Arts on Main is the anchor, and nearby are the Museum of African Design and The Bioscope, an independent cinema.

Market on Main runs on Sundays from 10am to 3pm with baked goods, preserves, local design and food from many kitchens. Many galleries in the area are free. Pickpockets operate here, so carry a bag that is hard to open. In summer, afternoon thunderstorms are common.

Is the Carlton Centre still worth visiting?

Go only if you want a city view from the Top of Africa deck on the 50th floor of the 223-metre building, which opened in 1973. South African Tourism notes that the building has lost some of its former glamour and that its five-star hotel is closed.

Treat it as a short stop, confirm that the deck is open before you go, and take a ride to the entrance instead of walking the streets around it.

How do you visit Soweto?

The easiest way is a guided tour that collects you from your accommodation. Soweto lies south-west of Johannesburg and the sites are far apart. South African Tourism lists bicycle, quad bike, tuk-tuk and car tours, and the City Sightseeing bus has a Soweto add-on.

Four stops cover the essentials:

• Vilakazi Street in Orlando: home to the Nelson Mandela Family Museum and the former home of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.
• Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum: it commemorates the 16 June 1976 uprising, which began with students from Orlando High School.
• Regina Mundi Church in Moroka: a Catholic church that sheltered thousands of Sowetans during the resistance to apartheid.
• Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication in Kliptown: where the Freedom Charter of 1955 can be seen.

Opening hours and fees vary, so ask your tour provider before you go.

How long does the Apartheid Museum take?

Plan about two hours, and more if you read closely. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm, so arrive by early afternoon. The address is Northern Parkway and Gold Reef Roads, Ormonde.

Admission for international visitors is currently R240 for adults, with lower rates for students, pensioners and children. The museum states that it is not suitable for children under 11 because of graphic content. Leave time afterwards to sit quietly, because the exhibitions are heavy.

How do you get around Johannesburg safely?

Combine the Gautrain with ride-hailing apps and avoid walking between sites. The Gautrain runs from Park Station through Rosebank and Sandton, and a separate line connects Sandton with O.R. Tambo International Airport in about 15 minutes. Trains run roughly 5:30am to 8:30pm. You need a Gautrain Card (R21, with at least R38 loaded) or a contactless bank card. Cash is not accepted.

The Gautrain does not serve Soweto, Maboneng or the Apartheid Museum, so use a tour or a ride there. The UK government’s travel advice gives rules that apply here: avoid walking after dark, including to and from Gautrain stations, keep valuables out of sight, book only through a recognised app, and check the registration and driver before you get in. Ask your hotel or tour operator to meet you at the airport if possible.

FAQ

Pretoria is a short Gautrain ride away, and our Pretoria guide covers it. For the wider picture, see our South Africa overview. Travelissimo arranges flights, hotels and transfers for South Africa through /booking.

Image credits: Vije Vijendranath, Unsplash; Pixabay / Beesmurf; Nqobile Vundla, Unsplash; Pixabay / proe2; Michael Schofield, Unsplash