Weekends are for fun and enjoyment, and Johannesburg won’t disappoint. (However, you can also enjoy a variation of this trip in the middle of the week – between fixtures, of course.)

  • Friday early evening is a good time to get a feel for old Johannesburg, with a ghost tour. The city has a spirited, swashbuckling character – a personality perfect for legends. Among the apparitions you might meet is Lady Annie Cullinan, who is said to regally sweep down the stairway of the gabled mansion, The View, atop Parktown Ridge, where the very wealthy live. This outing includes dinner and pub stops, among these the fabulous Kitchener’s Carvery Bar at the Milner Hotel, in De Beer Street in Braamfontein.


  • Saturday is when Johannesburg’s mall culture is at its most frenzied, so join the locals in the morning at one of the world-class shopping centres that dot the city. Start with breakfast at a busy coffee shop, get international and local fashions at South African prices, or go hunting for African curios and artefacts for friends back home.


  • Johannesburg is sports-mad. Here you will find the South African homes of football, rugby and cricket, as well as superb championship golf courses. Why not indulge your Saturday afternoon with a round on the greens and fairways that honed the games of Gary Player and Bobby Locke?


  • After your shower, head for the theatre. The Pieter Toerien Theatre at Montecasino in Fourways stages more popular fare; the Windybrow Theatre for the Arts in Hillbrow focuses on contemporary African plays; the Wits Theatre in Braamfontein is the venue for student productions; the massive Civic Theatre also in Braamfontein, offers everything from ballet to extravaganzas, and the renowned Market Theatre in Newtown is home to cutting-edge performances.


  • Sunday should begin with a brisk walk. The most popular spots for this are around Zoo Lake off Jan Smuts Avenue in Parkview, or along one of the many trails that form part of the 25km Braamfontein Spruit, that meanders through the northern parts of Johannesburg.


  • This will have you in shape for some serious haggling at The Rosebank Rooftop Market that takes place every Sunday on the upper level of The Mall of Rosebank. Here you will find everything from arts and crafts to jewellery and delicious homemade delicacies.


  • Then finish off your weekend with a long lunch at one of the trendy sidewalk restaurants in Melville, Greenside, Parkhurst or Norwood.


  • Other options include heading out of town along the Dinokeng route, doing the Crocodile River Meander (towards Magaliesburg) or paying a visit to the Cradle of Humankind (out Muldersdrift way). See further information in the longer itineraries.

Hanging around in the area for a bit longer? Have a look at our Pretoria and Rustenburg Weekenders, for more inspiration.



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