One of my favourite ways to get an introduction to a city is doing a red sightseeing bus tour. I knew doing the red sightseeing bus in Johannesburg would be the best way to learn more about my city. In this article, I cover what the sightseeing bus in Johannesburg is, where to find it and what you can see along the way. Most importantly, I will answer the question: Is it worth taking the red sightseeing bus in Johannesburg to explore this vibrant city.
Table of Contents
What Is City Sightseeing Joburg?
The red sightseeing buses, a familiar sight in many of the world’s larger cities, are convenient for exploring Johannesburg, often called the New York of Africa? Operated by City Sightseeing, a company that pioneered these tours in Spain in 1999, the buses are double-decker open-top vehicles that offer a comprehensive city sightseeing tour. With a ticket valid for a day or two, you can hop on and off or follow the route(s) as often as you like. Most of these tours provide a brochure with a map and the bus frequency, making navigation a breeze.
As you embark on the red sightseeing bus tour, the pre-recorded audio commentary in 15 languages will enlighten you about Johannesburg’s rich history. The tour takes you through historic districts and intriguing sites, many connected to the battle against apartheid. You’ll learn about the history of the world’s largest man-made forest and gain insights into why Johannesburg was developed where it was. With the freedom to hop on and off as many times as you like, you can truly immerse yourself in this educational journey.
You can also find a red sightseeing bus in Cape Town.
Where Can You Find the Red Sightseeing Bus in Johannesburg?
If you want to start the red sightseeing bus in Johannesburg from the starting point, you can find it in Rosebank on Oxford Road, right by the Zone Shopping Center in Rosebank. There is secure parking in the shopping centre and Rosebank Mall nearby.
There is a small City Sightseeing office on the ground floor of the shopping centre.
Operating Times of The Red Sightseeing Bus in Johannesburg
The sightseeing bus day tours depart several times a day. T. The first bus leaves at 9:00, while t, and the last departs at 17:32.
Shuttles from Central Hotels in Johannesburg to The Red Sightseeing Bus
You can get a complimentary shuttle bus from the following hotels to the Rosebank stop of the red sightseeing bus. You have to pre-book the shuttle, which is only available for the 9:40 departure from Rosebank. These hotels and pick-up times are as follows:
| Holiday Inn in Rivonia Road | 9:00 |
| Maslow Hotel | 9:08 |
| Hilton Hotel in Sandton | 9:12 |
| Radisson Blue Hotel near the Sandton Gautrain station | 9:19 |
| Davinci Hotel | 9:25 |
| Rosebank arrival | 9:45 |
Guests can get a complimentary shuttle from Rosebank back to these hotels at 17:25.
Where to Buy Tickets for The Red Sightseeing Bus in Johannesburg
You can buy your tickets online. Alternatively, you can buy a ticket from the bus driver at any stop along the tour. There are tickets available on tour aggregation sites, such as:
Johannesburg: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus with Optional Soweto Tour
Soweto: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus, City Tour and Apartheid Museum
The Sightseeing Bus in Johannesburg: Stops Along the Red Route.
Some cities have multiple tour routes, but there is only one route in Johannesburg: the red city tour. The red tour has 12 stops:
Rosebank
The red tour departs from the Zone Shopping Center. If you bought a ticket online, you can have your boarding pass printed at the tour office here.
On Sundays, the Rosebank Rooftop Market is open. Stalls sell African arts, fabrics, and other South African souvenirs.
Melrose Arch
The tour bus’ first stop is near the Protea Hotel Fire and Ice. Melrose Arch is an exclusive shopping district with various restaurants and shops.
Mandela Foundation
The following bus stop is at the Mandela Foundation. Nelson Mandela is probably the most well-known of South Africa’s former presidents. When he stepped down as President in 1999, he established the Mandela Foundation for his charitable work. Near the Mandela Foundation, you can stay at the Sanctuary Mandela, a boutique hotel that celebrates Nelson Mandela’s life.
Munro Drive Photo Stop
The Munro Drive is a short urban mountain pass of less than 1 km. It is steep and has a full hairpin pin. Munro Drive connects Houghton with Upper Houghton. From here, you can see why Johannesburg is called the biggest man-made forest in the world.
Constitution Hill
Constitution Hill, a national heritage site, is one of the best places to learn more about South Africa’s dark history. Read about South Africa’s world national heritage sites here.
The new constitutional court of South Africa is located at Constitution Hill. The property is a former prison where unspeakable things happened until 1983. Here, you can see the small cells and open toilet blocks, which were left as they were during apartheid, to show what conditions in the prison were like.
You can take a one-hour guided tour, which provides helpful information about Constitution Hill’s history. Make sure you have enough time to see the gallery and other sites on the Constitution Hill property.
Mining district
Johannesburg’s mining headquarters have been on Main Street since 1930, when the city was founded.
The pedestrianised mining district is perfect for a self-guided walking tour; maps can be found along the area. Visitors can walk from Gandhi Square to the end of Ntemi Piliso Street. Along the way, you can see stamp presses, mining carts, and information boards that provide details of Johannesburg’s mining history. A highlight is the Mapungubwe Rhino at the corner of Main and Harrison Street, a replica of the 800-year-old golden sculpture discovered in the Mapungubwe region of Limpopo, currently housed at the University of Pretoria.
The Magistrate’s Court is on the western side of Main Street. Opposite it is the Chancellor House, which was Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo’s first law office and the first black law firm in the city. Here, you can explore the open-air museum with window displays about Nelson Mandela’s life. There is also a statue of Nelson Mandela boxing.
When planning your visit to the mining district, it’s best to choose a weekday when there are more people around, ensuring your safety.
The Carlton Centre is also in the mining district. It used to be the tallest building in Africa. Visit the top of the Centre for panoramic views of Johannesburg.
Another attraction in the mining district is the James Hall Transport Museum, which features various vehicles, including motorbikes, animal-drawn vehicles, and trams. The James Hall Museum of Transport is open daily except for Mondays.
Apartheid Museum and/or Gold Reef City theme park
At the seventh stop of the hop-on hop-off bus in Johannesburg, you can visit the Apartheid Museum and/or the Gold Reef City theme park.
The Apartheid Museum
The Apartheid Museum is the best place in Johannesburg to learn about Apartheid South Africa. The seven pillars at the museum’s entrance represent different aspects of South Africa’s current constitution.
During a visit, you will learn about the implementation of segregation in South Africa, the living conditions and the road to democracy. Other displays include footage about Nelson Mandela’s release from prison, photos and stories to illustrate the inequalities caused by apartheid.
The displays are comprehensive, and you can easily spend half a day here. Budget for at least 2 to 4 hours here.
Gold Reef City Theme Park
Children and adults will love a visit to the theme park. Not only is there a variety of rides to choose from, including the Anaconda, Miner’s Revenge or the terrifying Tower of Terror. There are plenty of milder activities for children and many places to eat. Read more about visiting the Gold Reef City Theme Park here.
Gold Reef City Casino Hotel
The Casino is the 8th stop on the Johannesburg sightseeing tour. If you are not into gambling, you can choose from various restaurants and games for children at the Casino.
If you bought the red bus Soweto combo, you depart for Soweto from here. As you leave the bus, tell the driver you are going on the Soweto tour, and they will guide you in the right direction. The Soweto portion of the tour is available at an additional cost and is a two-hour journey.
The Soweto tour includes the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Nelson Mandela’s house in Soweto, south of Johannesburg.
Newtown
The Newtown Precinct offers a variety of tourist attractions for young and old.
The SAB World of Beer
The SAB World of Beer is perfect for beer lovers. Here, you can do a tour to discover more about the history of beer and how they make beer. You get to sample some of the SAB’s world-class beers at the end of the tour. The SAB makes a range of beers, including Castle Lager with bitter-sweet tones and Castle Lite for a lighter taste. My favourite SAB beer is the Hansa Pilsener. After the tour, you can enjoy pub-style food and get a souvenir glass to take with you.
Sci Bono Discovery Centre
The SAB World of Beer is opposite the Sci Bono Discovery Centre. Kids will love the Centre, which has more than 400 exhibits, mostly interactive. The Centre promotes an interest in science, technology, and mathematics subjects. Read about our visit to the Sci Bono Centre here.
Museum Africa
Not far from Sci Bono, you can find Museum Africa. It is a history museum housed in a fruit and vegetable market built in 1913. The building was converted into a museum, which opened its doors in 1994 after South Africa’s first democratic elections. The museum features exhibits on Mahatma Gandhi’s Johannesburg, World War I, and the history of Johannesburg.
The Playground Braamfontein
On the way to the Playground in Braamfontein, you cross the Nelson Mandela Bridge.
It is best to visit the Playground Braamfontein on a Saturday for live music, a market and gourmet food.
The Joburg Theatre, built in 1962 and regularly hosting award-winning shows, is near the Playground in Braamfontein.
To the west of the Playground is the Wits Arts Museum. This university art museum focuses on African art.
A little more to the west is the Origins Centre. Here, you can journey from the beginning of humanity to the development of art, culture, and innovation. The museum provides insight into southern Africa’s earliest art forms and cultures. You can see rock art here from the Rock Art Research Institute (RARI) at the University of the Witwatersrand.
Johannesburg Zoo
The Joburg Zoo is a beautiful place for families to visit. It has the Big Five animals, a farmyard where sheep and other farm animals can be petted, and a special section focusing on animals from the Amazon.
We enjoy visiting the Johannesburg Zoo; read more about what you can see there!
Zoo Lake is near the Johannesburg Zoo, just across Jan Smuts Avenue. It is a lovely spot for a picnic. You can walk around the lake or take a boat out for a short row.
The Military Museum
The Military Museum is one of the best museums in South Africa. It contains weapons, planes, tanks and other items from various wars. This museum is a must-visit.
You can also find the beautiful Anglo-Boer War Memorial on the same property.
Please read about our visit to the Military Museum.
How Safe Is the Red Sightseeing Bus in Johannesburg?
The red sightseeing bus in Johannesburg is one of the safest ways to see and explore the city. The bus was clean, and we had no difficulty using the audio equipment. The driver drove safely.
Is This Johannesburg City Tour Worth Doing?
Doing this red city tour loop at least once is worth it. I saw parts of Johannesburg I had only been to in a few years. The insightful audio guide also taught me a few things about Johannesburg. It is an excellent way to explore downtown Johannesburg without worrying about parking or driving around in the city centre.
Read about travelling by bus from Johannesburg to Cape Town or from Johannesburg to Durban.