Attraction
Apartheid Museum
The Apartheid Museum beside Gold Reef City tells the story of the rise and fall of apartheid through film, photographs, documents and a striking race-classified entrance.
Constitution Hill
Constitution Hill is a former prison complex in Braamfontein, now a museum and home of South Africa's Constitutional Court, where Mandela, Gandhi and many activists were held.
At a glance
- Type
- Former prison, museum and Constitutional Court
- Area
- Braamfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Opening
- Open daily · 09:00–17:00
- Official site
- constitutionhill.org.za
Good to know
- Guided tours
- Secure underground parking
- Online booking
- On-site restaurant
- City Sightseeing stop
Why we recommend it
Constitution Hill stands on a ridge in Braamfontein, just north of the city centre and on the edge of Hillbrow. For more than a century it was a prison: the Old Fort was built in the late 1890s under Paul Kruger's government, and the complex later grew to include the notorious Number Four section for black men, the Women's Jail and an awaiting-trial block. Mahatma Gandhi was held here in 1906, and in the apartheid years its prisoners included Nelson Mandela, Albert Luthuli, Robert Sobukwe, Joe Slovo, Winnie Mandela and Albertina Sisulu.
Today it is both a museum and the seat of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, which held its first session in the new court building in February 2004. The court was built partly with bricks from the demolished awaiting-trial block, and its foyer and chamber hold a large collection of contemporary South African art. In 2024 Constitution Hill was included in the UNESCO World Heritage listing of Nelson Mandela legacy sites.
The cells, yards and exhibitions of Number Four and the Women's Jail are the emotional heart of a visit, using personal stories to show how the prison system worked. The ramparts of the Old Fort give views over the city, and the Flame of Democracy, lit in 2011, burns near the court. When the court is not sitting, a court tour led by a specialist explains how the building and the Constitution were designed.
Guided tours are the best way to understand the site. The one-hour Highlights Tour runs regularly and covers a changing mix of sections, while the two-hour Full Tour leaves the Visitor Centre at 10:00 and 13:00. Groups of ten or more can book night tours on the last Thursday of each month and lunchtime Time Travel tours on the last Friday. Book online or through the site, and allow at least two hours. The precinct is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00.
Secure underground parking is reached from Joubert Street, between Sam Hancock and Kotze streets. The red and green City Sightseeing bus routes both stop at the precinct, which makes it easy to combine with the Apartheid Museum, the inner city and Braamfontein's cafés and galleries a few streets away.
Constitution Hill FAQs
What are the opening hours?
Constitution Hill is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00.
How long are the tours?
The Highlights Tour lasts an hour and the Full Tour two hours.
When does the Full Tour leave?
Twice a day, at 10:00 and 13:00, from the Visitor Centre.
Can I visit the Constitutional Court?
Yes. A court tour is led by a court expert, and the building holds a large art collection.
Who was imprisoned here?
Prisoners included Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Albert Luthuli, Robert Sobukwe, Winnie Mandela and Albertina Sisulu.
Is there parking?
Yes. Secure underground parking is on levels C and D of the lot off Joubert Street.
Can I get there by tour bus?
Yes. The City Sightseeing red and green routes both stop at the precinct.
Are there evening tours?
Night tours for groups of ten or more run on the last Thursday of each month and must be booked in advance.