JNB · Layover Guide
Johannesburg
Stop in Johannesburg.
Best layover: 6–48h
LayoverScore™
Base city score. Your route score varies by savings and timing.
Exit realism
Workable window
You can still touch Johannesburg if you move with purpose. One anchor stop. No side quests.
Landside playbook
If time slips
- Drop the last stop. Go straight to the train, taxi rank, or ride pickup you already chose.
- Add 15 minutes to map ETAs for the return leg at rush hour.
- One ticket for the whole trip protects you when the inbound is late. Separate tickets do not.
Worth knowing
- Do not stack three stops. One solid block in the city beats a rushed loop.
- Do not treat one map time as gospel for immigration lines. Pad on your first pass through this hub.
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Places to stay
Search hotelsLayoverScore™ breakdown
Score 62 · Discover 39 · Ease 9
Why Johannesburg scores 62
Getting there
Gautrain $8 · Gautrain $10
- 01Gautrain (15 min to Sandton, 30 min to Rosebank)
- 02Uber/Bolt (30-45 min to city center)
- 03Airport shuttle services
- 01Apartheid Museum for powerful South African history
- 02Maboneng Precinct street art and craft markets
- 03Constitution Hill and the Old Fort Prison Complex
- 04Neighbourgoods Market at 44 Stanley for local food and design
- 05Lion & Safari Park for a quick wildlife encounter
Experiences in Johannesburg
Timed tours and tickets for Johannesburg are listed on our partner site.
Open listingsOpens in a new tab.
- Real Fish and Chips~60 min2 min walk
- McDonald's~60 min2 min walk
- Nyambose Entertainment~75 min1 min walk
- Juice World~75 min2 min walk
- 365 Olievenhout Ave~90 min1 min walk
- Chang Parking~90 min1 min walk
- Gold Reef City Theme Park4.5
- Carlton Centre4.0
- Maboneng Precinct4.5
- Constitution Hill Human Rights Precinct4.5
- The Wilds Nature Reserve4.6
Need a room for your layover? Browse hotels near the airport.
Where to stay →Drop your luggage. Don't drag it around the city.
OR Tambo Left Luggage
International Arrivals, Level 1
$8/bag
5 min walk
City Lodge OR Tambo
Connected to airport via skybridge
$55/day
8 min walk
InterContinental Johannesburg OR Tambo
Adjacent to airport terminal
$85/day
10 min walk
From the terminal to the good part.
Gautrain
to Sandton
Fast, safe, runs every 12 min; connects to Sandton and Rosebank
15 min
$8.00
Gautrain
to Rosebank
Change at Marlboro for Rosebank/Park Station
30 min
$10.00
Uber/Bolt
Convenient but traffic can double journey time
35 min
$18.00
Airport Shuttle
Door-to-door service, book in advance
45 min
$25.00
Johannesburg City Pass
Apartheid Museum, hop-on bus, Constitution Hill
Best value for history-focused layovers
$45
per day
Getting there
Get an Uber from the airportAt the airport
- 01Bidvest Premier Lounge with showers and day beds
- 02Masala Masala for excellent South African-Indian cuisine
- 03Duty-free with local wines and Amarula
- 04Life Day Spa for massages and treatments
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