Johannesburg's polished northern suburbs and the place most visitors stay. Sandton has the towers, the malls and the Mandela statue; Rosebank has the art and a Sunday craft market. Together they're the city's safest, best-connected base.
Sandton and Rosebank are the polished northern suburbs where most visitors to Johannesburg sleep, eat and start the day. After a city that asks for street-sense almost everywhere else, this is the part that doesn’t: safe to walk, easy to navigate, and tied together by the Gautrain that runs to the airport, the centre and Pretoria.
Sandton is the business heart and the glossier of the two. Nelson Mandela Square has the giant bronze statue of Madiba and a ring of restaurants, the Sandton City mall beside it is one of the largest in Africa, and the Gautrain hub puts OR Tambo about 15 minutes away. It’s the default base for a reason: hotels for every budget, safe streets, and everything within a short walk or ride.
Rosebank, a few minutes south, is the calmer, greener choice. Its Sunday market on the Rosebank Mall rooftop is the best craft and food market in the north, and the Keyes Art Mile nearby gathers galleries, design and good restaurants into a few walkable blocks. Either suburb makes an easy launch pad: sleep here, and the Apartheid Museum, Soweto, the Cradle of Humankind and a Pilanesberg safari are all simple days out.
The safe, polished north: malls and the Mandela statue in Sandton, art and a Sunday market in Rosebank.
Sandton is Joburg's business district and its glossiest corner. Nelson Mandela Square has the giant statue of Madiba and a ring of restaurants, the Sandton City mall next door is one of Africa's largest, and the Gautrain hub puts the airport 15 minutes away. It's all walkable and safe.
Rosebank is the calmer, greener alternative a few Gautrain minutes south. The Sunday market on the Rosebank Mall rooftop is the place for African craft and food, and the Keyes Art Mile nearby gathers some of the city's best galleries and design. Easy to walk and a good Sunday.
Sandton and Rosebank are the safest, best-connected part of Joburg. Sleep here and day-trip out to the history, the Cradle and the safaris.
The Gautrain reaches Sandton in about 15 minutes from OR Tambo, fast and cheap, and skips the traffic. Both suburbs have a station.
The rooftop Sunday market at Rosebank Mall is the best craft and food market in the north. It's the one fixed thing worth planning around.
The six-metre Mandela statue is the easy photo, with cafés and restaurants around the square for a meal afterwards.
The Keyes Art Mile in Rosebank packs galleries, design and good restaurants into a few walkable blocks. Check what's showing.
Soweto, the Apartheid Museum, the Cradle of Humankind and a Pilanesberg safari are all easy days out from a Sandton or Rosebank base.
Stay in the north or day-trip from it through our trusted partners, at the same price as booking direct.
The safest, best-connected hotels in Johannesburg, from the Sandton towers to Rosebank's quieter boutique stays, all on the Gautrain.
Find a stay →The City Sightseeing red bus links the north with the inner city and the main sights, an easy way to get oriented.
Book on GetYourGuide →A full guided day through the city's history, an easy trip out from the northern suburbs.
See city tours →A long day trip to a malaria-free Big Five reserve about 2.5 hours away, with game drives and lunch.
See safaris →We may earn a commission when you book through our partner links — at no extra cost to you.
Sandton and Rosebank are the easy base for the city. See the rest of what Johannesburg holds.
