Transportation in Johannesburg
Johannesburg is split into around 600 suburbs, neatly dissected by a sleek grid of modern highways that are easily navigated outside of rush hour.The core of Johannesburg is the CBD (Central Business District), a neat grid of skyscrapers surrounded by billboards and a tangle of flyovers. Travel west to sprawling, vibey Soweto and east to Chinatown in Cyrildene. North are the green and affluent suburbs: find nightlife in Melville; shops and hotels in Rosebank; street-side dining in Norwood and Parkhurst; and swanky living in Sandton, with its own clutch of skyscrapers.
Read more about transport from and to the airport
Car
Johannesburg was designed with motorists in mind. Driving is on the left and poses no problems except from 4pm to 6pm when jams on the N1 highway turn it into a car park. Fuel and car hire are relatively cheap. Any hotel can arrange a hire car within an hour.
Taxi
Metered taxis cannot be hailed on the street, but any hotel or restaurant can order one and they take just minutes to arrive. If you're going to an obscure destination, the driver may not know the way and will need directions.
Bus
Usually used only by commuters, useful buses run between the bus station in Gandhi (formerly Vanderbiji) Square in the CBD to the northern suburbs along Jan Smuts Avenue, Oxford, Louis Botha and Barry Hertzog roads, though there are over 100 bus routes in the city. Buses are not advised for tourists.
Foot
Due to long distances between attractions and safety issues around the CBD, walking is not recommended. Save the leg work for the giant shopping malls or a stroll in the park.
Rent your car
Johannesburg traffic travels on the left-hand side with a speed limit of 60 km (37 miles) per hour in built-up areas. You should buy an up-to-date city map in the country as the road network is changing fast. Traffic on the N1 motorway out of the city is particularly heavy during the evening peak-time.
Transportation Tips
City Tours are on offer to all the key sights for those who don't want to drive themselves. Half- and full-day tours in minibuses go to key locations including Soweto, Gold Reef City, the Lion Park, Lesedi Cultural Village and the CBD. Local guides give a fascinating low-down on history, culture and the social make-up of the city. Public transport like minibus taxis, buses and the Metro train are not recommended for visitors because of theft and safety issues.
