Cheap Flights to Johannesburg

Cheap Flights to Johannesburg, South Africa

Why visit Johannesburg?

The gritty, urban Jo’burg is the financial heart of South Africa, and has always had a bit of a controversial reputation. It struggled through a rising crime rate for many years, but the City of Gold is now emerging as a vibrant, exciting metropolis with a thriving arts and culture scene, and a whole host of successful renewal projects. Beyond its borders, this city is also a gateway to some of South Africa’s most beautiful countryside, and often a departure point for popular safari trips.

Things to do in Johannesburg

It is worth starting your tour of Johannesburg at the Apartheid Museum, a moving portrayal of the apartheid struggles throughout this country’s history. A startling reminder of how far South Africa has come in its journey towards equality. If you have time, you should also visit Soweto, where the uprising for democracy was born, and then couple this with a tour of the Mandela House, to gain a really great understanding of South Africa and its people.

If you’re travelling with family, stop by the Gold Reef City, a theme park of rides and a historically accurate reconstructed series of shops, hotels and a theatre, so you can lose yourself in a by-gone era of gold rushing miners.

For art lovers, there is the Johannesburg Art Gallery that houses thousands of works from European and African artists. And foodies should drop by Parkhurst or Maboneng, neighbourhoods known for their excellent restaurants and cafes.

However, much of the reason people fly to Johannesburg is to discover the wilderness just outside its borders. Book a trip to the Cradle of Humankind, where archeologists discovered Australopithecus, dating early humans to this region as far back as 3.5 million years!

Further out are the Kruger National Park, famed for its safari trips where you can spot the Big Five African animals, the majestic lion, the imposing rhinoceros, the mysterious leopard, stoic buffalo and gentle elephant.

Best time to visit Johannesburg

· Because this city is subtropical, the summers are hot and the winters are mild. Though this should mean good news for those seasons, the peak time of year are the shoulder seasons, especially as summer can get quite rainy.

· Autumn (March-May) is the most popular time to get to this city with standard temperatures around 18-23°C. May is the driest month, but also the chilliest.

· Spring is also a great time to visit, expect averages of 22-24°C though it will be a tad rainier than in the autumn months.

Best time to book

· For long-haul flights out to South Africa, the sooner you book the better. Usually seven months beforehand will get you the best prices.

Expect to pay

· South African Rand (ZAR).

· A cappuccino in Johannesburg should cost you about 21.50 ($2).

Arriving in Johannesburg by plane

· The O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) is the primary aviation facility in the city, though there is a smaller airport called Lanseria Airport (HLA), which operates some domestic flights around the country. If you fly from Australia, you will fly into O.R. Tambo (JNB) and will fly with airlines like Air Mauritius, South African Airways, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, Air China, Etihad Airways, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Virgin Australia, FlyNiki, and Emirates.

· O.R. Tambo International Airport is situated about 20km from the downtown area. Amenities within the terminals free WiFi, currency exchange desks, ATMs, a post office, a couple of observation desks, information kiosks, a post office, mobile phone rental services, a good selection of eateries, and duty-free shopping.

· If you fly from Perth (PER) or Sydney (SYD) there are direct flights available, otherwise you will likely be routed through Singapore (SIN).

Visa requirements

· If you carry an Australian passport with at least 6 months remaining on it, you will be granted a stay of about 90 days when you fly into South Africa. However, there have been changes to the rules regarding children travelling. Please check the South African Department of Home Affairs to ensure you have the correct paperwork and that you, and your child are eligible to enter the country.

Transportation to city centre

· Flagging a taxi, and taking it into the downtown area should come to about 250ZAR ($24).

· There private bus companies, or hotel shuttles that operate services to and from the airport, or you can arrange an airport transfer online.

· If you intend to drive around Johannesburg, you can use our search tool to book a car for your stay, or wait until you arrive and go through the rental agencies situated in the airport itself.

Where to stay in Johannesburg

· Rosebank is a safe and fun neighbourhood to book a hotel in, with easy access to the South African National Museum and Constitution Hill. Great for families, as there’s lots to do within a close radius of this part of town.

· Melrose is right next door to Rosebank and is also a great neighbourhood to stay in, particularly if you’re a foodie since a lot of fine dining restaurants are located here. It’s a little more upmarket than Rosebank, so expect the prices of hotels to reflect that.

· Sandton is great for business travellers as it is really close to the big Convention Centre, and the CBD.

Useful tips before you go

· For general safety, it is important that you lock away valuable items in your hotel safe, and do not carry too much cash on you when travelling outside.

· Tipping is pretty common in South Africa, with standard gratuity being about 10-15% at restaurants.

Please note that the information provided above is accurate as of June 2016