Johannesburg, known as Egoli or the City of Gold, combines apartheid history, street art, Soweto heritage and easy day trips to the Cradle of Humankind and Pretoria.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Beadwork and Ndebele art
Colourful beadwork and geometric painted patterns
Price: R50-R600 (~$3-$37)
Where: Rosebank Sunday Market, African Craft Market of Rosebank
Biltong and rooibos tea
Dried spiced meat and caffeine-free herbal tea
Price: R60-R250 (~$3.70-$15)
Where: Neighbourgoods Market, supermarkets and butcheries
Contemporary township art
Paintings, prints and photography by local artists
Price: R300-R3,000 (~$18-$183)
Where: Maboneng galleries, Keyes Art Mile in Rosebank
Shweshwe and African fabrics
Printed cotton used for traditional clothing and homeware
Price: R80-R250 per metre (~$5-$15)
Where: Oriental Plaza, Fordsburg
Wire and recycled-material crafts
Bowls and figures made from wire, beads and recycled materials
Price: R100-R500 (~$6-$30)
Where: Kliptown Walter Sisulu Square, Bruma Lake Flea Market
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Rosebank Sunday Market
Rooftop market with more than 140 traders selling crafts, vintage finds, art and food; entry is free.
Where: Rosebank
Hours: Sun 09:00-16:00
Neighbourgoods Market
Saturday rooftop market with food stalls, designers and live music.
Where: Braamfontein
Hours: Sat 09:00-15:00
Market on Main (Arts on Main)
Sunday market in the Arts on Main courtyard, next to galleries that are open Tuesday to Sunday.
Where: Maboneng
Hours: Sun 10:00-16:30
African Craft Market of Rosebank
Permanent indoor market beside Rosebank Mall with traders from across Africa; bargaining is expected.
Where: Rosebank
Hours: Mon-Thu 09:00-18:30; Fri 09:00-19:00; Sat-Sun and public holidays 09:00-17:00
Bruma Lake Flea Market (Bruma Market World)
Large flea market beside Bruma Lake where haggling is standard.
Where: Bruma
Hours: Tue-Sun 09:30-17:00; closed Monday
Oriental Plaza
Indoor bazaar of hundreds of small shops selling textiles, spices and clothing at negotiable prices.
Where: Fordsburg
Hours: Mon-Sat 09:00-17:00 (some Friday midday closures); closed Sun except in December and Ramadan
Kliptown Walter Sisulu Square Market
Flea market and traders on the square where the Freedom Charter was adopted in 1955; go with a local guide or tour.
Where: Kliptown, Soweto
Hours: Daily, about 08:00-16:00 (stalls vary)
Kwa Mai Mai Market
Historic traditional healers' market under the highway; visit with a guide as it is not a routine tourist area.
Where: City centre
Hours: Mon-Sat daytime; visit with a local guide
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Sandton City
Africa's flagship luxury mall linked to Nelson Mandela Square and the Gautrain.
Hours: Mon-Thu 09:00-19:00; Fri-Sat 09:00-20:00; Sun and public holidays 09:00-18:00
Rosebank Mall
Central Rosebank mall beside the Gautrain station, with the Sunday market on its roof.
Hours: Mon-Fri 09:00-19:00; Sat 09:00-18:00; Sun and public holidays 09:00-17:00
Mall of Africa
One of South Africa's largest malls, about 25 km north of central Johannesburg.
Hours: Mon-Sat 09:00-20:00; Sun 10:00-20:00
Hyde Park Corner
Smaller high-end shopping centre with independent boutiques and restaurants.
Hours: Mon-Sat 09:00-18:00; Sun 10:00-15:00
Melrose Arch
Pedestrian-friendly precinct of fashion and lifestyle shops, restaurants and a Sunday-friendly atmosphere.
Hours: Shops generally Mon-Sat 09:00-18:00, Sun 10:00-17:00; restaurants later
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Bargain at flea markets, the African Craft Market and Oriental Plaza, but not in malls or at Neighbourgoods food stalls
Start about 30% below the asking price and settle near two-thirds
Carry small notes so you can pay the agreed price without needing change
Smile and walk away politely if the price does not move; traders often call you back
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
VAT is 15%; foreign visitors can claim a refund on goods over R250 (~$15) bought from VAT-registered vendors, Keep the original tax invoice and take goods with you to OR Tambo International Airport, where a VAT Refund Administrator office sits in the international departures hall, Show goods and passport to the VAT refund desk before check-in of the bag containing them; refunds are paid by card or cash, Do not export protected wildlife items such as ivory or rhino horn; permits are required for some animal products