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Best Things to do in Johannesburg (2026)

Some of the best things to do in Johannesburg happen at the weekend. On Sunday mornings, Melville Koppies opens for guided and self-guided walks across a ridge that shows the landscape as it was before gold was discovered, and the Rosebank Sunday Market fills the rooftop of Rosebank Mall with crafts, vintage finds and street food. 44 Stanley in Milpark is good on any day for independent design shops, cafés and an art-house cinema in converted 1930s buildings.

For an evening out, the Market Theatre in Newtown, which opened in 1976 and became famous for protest theatre, stages drama, comedy, poetry and jazz across several stages; book tickets online. Thrill-seekers can head to Soweto Towers, the painted cooling towers of the old Orlando Power Station, for a bungee jump, SCAD freefall or zipline, which open from Thursday to Sunday and depend on the wind. Plan your days around opening times, as Melville Koppies opens to the public only on Sunday mornings and the market runs only on Sundays. Use ride-hailing apps to move between areas, and pair outdoor activities with mornings, before summer afternoon storms arrive.

5 places · Updated October 23, 2026

Our top 3 things to do in Johannesburg

  1. 44 Stanley Design, shopping and dining precinct, Milpark44 Stanley is a precinct of independent design shops, cafés, restaurants and an art-house cinema set in converted 1930s industrial buildings on the edge of downtown Johannesburg.
  2. Rosebank Sunday Market Weekly craft, vintage and food market, RosebankRosebank Sunday Market fills the rooftop of Rosebank Mall every Sunday with stalls selling crafts, local design, vintage finds, books, vinyl and street food.
  3. Market Theatre Theatre and live performance, NewtownThe Market Theatre in Newtown opened in June 1976 and became famous for protest theatre during apartheid; today it stages drama, comedy, jazz, poetry and festivals.

Thing to do

1. 44 Stanley

Design, shopping and dining precinctMilpark

44 Stanley is a precinct of independent design shops, cafés, restaurants and an art-house cinema set in converted 1930s industrial buildings on the edge of downtown Johannesburg.

View details — 44 Stanley

Thing to do

3. Market Theatre

Theatre and live performanceNewtown

The Market Theatre in Newtown opened in June 1976 and became famous for protest theatre during apartheid; today it stages drama, comedy, jazz, poetry and festivals.

View details — Market Theatre

Thing to do

4. Melville Koppies

Nature reserve and heritage walkEmmarentia

Melville Koppies is a ridge-top nature reserve in Emmarentia with indigenous highveld plants, Iron Age remains and city views, open with guided and self-guided walks on Sundays.

View details — Melville Koppies

Thing to do

5. Soweto Towers

Adventure activities at former cooling towersOrlando East, Soweto

Soweto Towers are the painted former cooling towers of Orlando Power Station, now an adventure centre offering bungee jumps, a SCAD freefall, a zipline and paintball.

View details — Soweto Towers