Johannesburg/Sandton
Sandton is an affluent suburb and business centre in Johannesburg.
It is home to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (the largest in Africa and the twelfth largest in the world), a number of large financial institutions (including local head offices for some foreign banks) and the largest shopping centre in South Africa.
Get in
By car
From O.R. Tambo International Airport, after you exit the airport, follow R24 Johannesburg signs and the R24 to the Gillooly's Interchange, from here follow the N3 North towards Pretoria, take exit 124 (Sandton/M60 Marlboro Drive) turning left into Marlboro Drive, follow Marlboro Drive until the T-junction with Katherine Street, turn left into Katherine Street, and follow Katherine Street into Sandton.
From the M1, take exit 23 (Sandton/M40 Grayston Drive) or exit 26 (Sandton/M60 Marlboro Dr), and follow Marlboro Drive west until the T junction with Katherine Street (400 m), and turn left at Katherine Street into Sandton. From the N1, take exit 100 (Sandton/M9 Rivonia Road) and follow Rivonia Road south towards Sandton or exit 95 (Sandton/R511 William Nicol Drive) and follow south until it intersects with Sandton Drive, where you turn left. Rush hour traffic during the week can make getting into and out of Sandton a painfully slow business; you will be wise to avoid 7AM-9AM and 4PM-7PM.
Car hire is available from Pace Car Rental in Marlboro.
The Gautrain is now operational
Get around
By metered taxi
Taxis can be found at entrance 12 to Sandton City. Metered cabs can also be hired by calling Safecab on +27 861 66-55-66 or Sandton Taxi Cabs on +2711 039 4402. It is illegal for metered taxis to be hailed as is seen in many other cities (e.g. in New York City). Passengers may catch taxis only if booked in advance(in person or by telephone), the only exception being in demarcated metered taxi zones.
Bus
Several main Metrobus routes serve the Sandton area, running regularly during the day in 30 min to 60 min intervals, as well as in the early evening. The 5C also runs regularly on weekends, including the normal early evening service. The 5C runs along Oxford Road and connects many important tourist attractions, including Sandton City, The Zone@Rosebank, and The Mall of Rosebank. Contact Metrobus on +27 11 375-5555 (Ext. 6) for more information on routes and timetables Metrobus is by far one of the safest and cheapest methods of getting around Sandton, and the City of Johannesburg. It must be noted, however, that Metrobus is not an alternative to private (hired) transport.
By Train
- Park Station is Johannesburg's central station and is in the city center between Rissik (west), Wolmarans (north), Wanderers (east) and De Villiers (south) streets, it occupies several blocks. Whilst the station itself is quite safe, the areas around it may not be. Be careful and try to organise onward transport prior to arrival. All long-distance Spoornet trains are quite safe, as are most MetroRail trains. The best is, prior to using any public transport to ask local people.
- Spoornet is a freight train company but they do have a branch that offers a passenger service called: Shosholoza Meyl. There are 8 primary routes that link South Africa's cities with smaller towns along each route. There are regular inter-city trains to destinations all over the country, including Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Kimberley, Port Elizabeth, East London, Pietermaritzburg, Mbombela and Polokwane. Passengers can chose to travel in the tourist class where there is an option of either a coupe that can accommodate two people or a compartment that can seat four people. If traveling over night these compartments become bedrooms. Another option is the economy class which of course is cheaper, with chairs that can recline but not, alas, turn into beds. There is dinning car on the trains where you can buy food. If you are traveling in a coupe or compartment then there is a trolley service available saving you form ever having to leave your compartment
- MetroRail [98] operates frequent commuter trains to many suburbs and outlying towns. As Metrorail operates services in several separate cities, for operational purposes it is subdivided into five regions. The Gauteng region is the one entailing the greater Johannesburg area. Trains run from Johannesburg and Germiston outwards to Springs, Pretoria, Soweto and Krugersdorp.
- Gautrain [99] is a first-world-quality commuter train with two lines, namely Johannesburg-Hatfield and Sandton-OR Tambo airport. Interchange is at Sandton or Marlboro. All journeys are paid using a non-refundable R15 gold card. Gautrain has much fewer stops and shorter travel times than MetroRail but is also significantly more expensive. For example, using Gautrain Johannesburg-Pretoria takes 35 minutes and costs R46 (excluding card purchase), whereas with MetroRail it costs R9 but takes 1 hour 40 minutes. Gautrain is very secure - lots of cameras and guards on the trains and platforms.
By car rental
- Cabs Car Hire (Car Hire), ☏ +27 21 386 5500, info@cabs.co.za.
- First Car Rental (Car Hire), ☏ +27 11 230-9999, reservations@cmh.co.za. Car rentals in Johannesburg and Johannesburg Airport.
- Pace Car Rental (Car Hire), 34 14th Street, Marlboro, ☏ +27 11 262 5500, 087 808 2542 (extra charge), info@pacecarrental.co.za. Long-term car rental.
- Europcar Car Hire (Car Hire), ☏ +27 11 883-4352, info@europcar.co.za. Car rentals in Johannesburg and Johannesburg Airport.
See
- Nelson Mandela Statue, Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton City. The 6-m bronze statue of Nelson Mandela is a favourite photo spot for tourists.
- Gallery on the Square, Nelson Mandela Square, ☏ +27 11 784-2847, fax: +27 11 784-2849, gots@mweb.co.za. M-Sa 9AM to 6PM. Exhibitions of South African and international art.
Museums
- 1 Liliesleaf Farm, 7 George Ave. Heritage site and museum, the farm is noted for its use as a safe house for African National Congress activists in the 1960s.
Do
- Theatre on the Square, Nelson Mandela Square, ☏ +27 11 883-8606, +27 83 377-4969, fax: +27 11 883-9673, tots@artslink.co.za. Shows Sa 6PM and 9PM, Tu-F 8:15PM. Usually R100 per person.
- 1 Montecasino, 1 Montecasino Blvd. A massive entertainment and casino complex.
- Cricket: 2 Wanderers Stadium, Corlett Drive, Illovo, ☏ +27 11 340 1500. The largest cricket ground in the country, holding 34,000. Nicknamed "The Bullring" for its design and the imposing atmosphere of its partisan crowd, it hosts Test matches and World Lions in domestic tournaments.
Buy
- Sandton City, 5th St, ☏ +27 11 217-6000, fax: +27 11 883-0978, info@sandtoncity.co.za. M-Sa 9AM-6PM, Su 10AM-4PM. An extremely vibrant and popular shopping mall that dominated the Sandton area. It is affordable, but be prepared to pay a bit for the good quality that you buy. There are many unique shops here as well as typical South African franchises and even some British stores. You could easily spend an entire day here,
Eat
Sandton City Mall
Nelson Mandela Square at Sandton City [dead link] offers a number of restaurants to choose from, as well as a food court with fast food outlets.
- Baglios, Nelson Mandela Square. Eat delicious hand-made ice cream at the "Bagelos" store.
- The Bull Run, 20 Maude Street, Sandton (Just between Sandton City Mall and Village Walk Shopping Centre), ☏ +27 11 884-1400.
- The Butcher Shop & Grill, Nelson Mandela Square, ☏ +27 11 784-8676.
- Lekgotla, Nelson Mandela Square, ☏ +27 11 884-9555.
- Montego Bay Seafood & Sushi Bar, Nelson Mandela Square, ☏ +27 11 883-6407, fax: +27 11 883-3965.
- Pappas on the Square, Nelson Mandela Square, ☏ +27 11 884-9991.
- Saxon Hotel has one of the best restaurants in Johannesburg. It is the hotel where Nelson Mandela stayed shortly after being released from prison and where he wrote his book ´Long Walk to Freedom´. This is where you will have one of the best gourmet meals in the city, but you need to have deep pockets.
- Trumps International Grillhouse, Nelson Mandela Square, ☏ +27 11 784-2366.
- Wangthai, Nelson Mandela Square, ☏ +27 11 784-8484, fax: +27 11 783-2368.
Sandton Area
The Greater Sandton areas has many modern excellent restaurants.
- Col’Cacchio, Benmore Gardens Shopping Centre, Cnr Benmore Road & Grayston Drive, ☏ +27 11 783-7650. Excellent stylish pizzeria chain found across South Africa. Offers a large variety of pizza and pasta
- Riverside Café & Bistro, Village Walk Shopping Centre, Maude Street Entrance, ☏ +27 11 784-3390. Offers excellent pasta.
- The Raj, Shop 17, Lower Retail Level Michelangelo Towers Maude St Sandton, Cnr Rivonia Road and Mutual Ave, ☏ +27 11 807-0471. Delicious rich Indian food.
- Ocean Basket, Melrose Square Melrose Arch Corlett Dr Melrose & Sandton City Mall. Really good fish restaurant chain found across South Africa, good prices and quality food. The reality is that this is a franchised model - so if you really are on a holiday and want to taste the flavors of South Africa, avoid such franchised places (including the likes of KFC and McDonald's).
- M&A, Edward Nathan Building, Cnr West & Maude Street, ☏ +27 11 783-4134. Good selection of Italian food.
Drink
- Taboo, 24 Central, Cnr Fredman Dr and Gwen Lane, ☏ +27 11 783-2200, fax: +27 11 783-2217, ammar@taboo.co.za.
- Vida e Cafe, Found scattered all across Sandton area. Great coffee and vibrant service.
Sleep
| This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room: | |
| Budget | Under R500 |
| Mid-range | R500 to R1500 |
| Splurge | Over R1500 |
Budget
For cheap accommodation, you need to go to look in the other areas.
Mid-range
- City Lodge, Cnr Katherine Street and Grayston Drive, ☏ +27 11 444-5300, fax: +27 11 444-5315, clkathstr.resv@citylodge.co.za. From around R800 for a double.
- Glenalmond Hotel, 130 Daisy Street (Located near the city's financial institutions and commercial establishments, Glenalmond Hotel in Sandton, South Africa stands along Daisy Street. Accessible from the Tambo Airport, you can get to the hotel by following the R24 motorway towards Johannesburg. Take the N1 Split towards Pretoria. Proceed straight on to Marlboro Road and take a left on Katherine Street until Grayston Drive.), ☏ +27 11 783-7127, bookings@glenalmondhotel.co.za. From R900.
- Balalaika Hotel, Maude Street, ☏ +27 11 322-5000, fax: +27 11 322-5021, balalaika@mweb.co.za. From R500.
- Southern Sun Grayston, Cnr Rivonia Rd and Grayston Dr., ☏ +27 11 783-5262, fax: +27 11 783-5289, grayston@southernsun.com. From around R600 for a double.
- Town Lodge, Cnr Grayston Dr and Webber Rd, ☏ +27 11 784-8850, fax: +27 11 784-8888, tlgray.resv@citylodge.co.za. From R776 per room.
Splurge
- Blue Chip Accommodation. Provides various self-catering apartments around the Sandton/Johannesburg area which enables the traveler to feel more at home. The apartments have fully equipped kitchens as well as a lounge with a television/prepaid telephone, bathroom/s, bedroom/s and either private balconies or gardens. All located in secure complexes with 24 hr guard and swimming pool.
- The Colony, 130 Daisy Str, ☏ +27 11 784-1930, fax: +27 11 784-1939, info@colonyhotel.co.za. From R1095 per room per night.
- The Courtyard, 130 Rivonia Rd, ☏ +27 11 884-5500, fax: +27 11 884-5501, cysand.resv@citylodge.co.za. From around R900 for a double.
- Garden Court Sandton, Cnr Katherine Str and Rivonia Rd, ☏ +27 11 884-5660, fax: +27 11 783-2004, gcsandton@southernsun.com.
- Garden Court Sandton City, Cnr West and Maude Str, ☏ +27 11 269-7000, fax: +27 11 269-7100, gcsandtoncity@southernsun.com.
- 1 The Michelangelo Towers, 8 Maude St.
- Park Plaza, 84 Katherine Str, ☏ +27 11 555-4000, fax: +27 11 555-4007, cmorom@parkplazahotels.co.za.
- Sandton Hilton, 138 Rivonia Rd, ☏ +27 11 322-1888, fax: +27 11 322-1818. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM.
- Sandton Sun, Cnr Fifth and Alice Str, ☏ +27 11 780-5000, fax: +27 11 780-5002, sales@sandtonsun.com.
Connect
Cheap Wi-Fi is available in many locations throughout Sandton:
- Sandton City
- Nelson Mandela Square
- Sandton Convention Centre
Many hotels are also have their own Wi-Fi hotspots.