Where to stay in Johannesburg
Johannesburg, the right part of town.
The northern suburbs are where visitors sleep. Which one depends on the trip: business, a safari connection or a few days in the city.
Both open in a new tab. Rates, dates and reviews are there.
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Where visitors stay in Johannesburg
Johannesburg's visitor hotels sit in the northern suburbs, not the old downtown. Sandton is the financial district with the big hotels, the mall and the Gautrain; Rosebank is the smaller, walkable version with the Sunday market; Melrose Arch is a gated precinct of hotels and restaurants; Maboneng and Braamfontein are the regenerated inner-city districts for the arts crowd; and the airport cluster at Kempton Park serves the Kruger connections and the early flights.
01
Sandton
The international hotels around Nelson Mandela Square and the Gautrain station, with the malls and the restaurants. Secure, central, car-free within the precinct.
Suits: Business, first visits, Gautrain access
02
Rosebank
A compact suburb with boutique and chain hotels, the Sunday rooftop market, galleries and a Gautrain stop. Walkable by Johannesburg standards.
Suits: Couples, art, walkers
03
Melrose Arch
A gated mixed-use precinct of hotels, apartments and restaurants where you can walk between all of them at night.
Suits: Families, security, dining
04
Airport and Kempton Park
Hotels with shuttles to O.R. Tambo, for a late arrival, a Kruger flight in the morning or a long layover.
Suits: Connections, early flights
Hotel links open Expedia in a new tab. All Travel Fun earns a commission on bookings made through them; it does not change what you pay. Distances and times above are approximate.
Good to know
- Use the Gautrain from the airport
- It reaches Sandton in 15 minutes and Rosebank in 20. Hotels send shuttles to the stations; taxis and ride apps work for the rest.
- Stay inside the precinct at night
- Sandton, Rosebank and Melrose Arch are safe to walk within their blocks. Beyond them, ride rather than walk after dark.
Once the room is booked
- Things to do in Johannesburg: the day trips and tours worth booking before you land.
- Flights to Africa by Phone: more trips in the region.
Questions before you book
Where should I stay for a two-night stop?
Sandton or Rosebank. Both are on the Gautrain, both are secure, and the Soweto and Cradle tours collect from both.
Should I stay near the airport for Kruger?
If your Kruger flight is early morning, yes. Otherwise Sandton is 15 minutes away by train and a better evening.
How do I book a hotel from this page?
Each "See hotels" button opens Expedia's hotel search for that part of Johannesburg, with live rates, photos, reviews and the cancellation terms. You book and pay there. All Travel Fun earns a commission on bookings made through those links; it does not change what you pay.
Can your agents book the hotel over the phone?
Our agents book flights. Call to price the flight to Johannesburg; book the room on Expedia once your dates are fixed.
Where to stay elsewhere in Africa
Flying to Johannesburg?
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