1. Art city
GALLERIES IN JOBURG
Many of Joburg's interesting art galleries are free to visit. If you attend an opening night or join a walkabout, you can often meet the artists (and enjoy some free wine, too). In Braamfontein, Wits Art Museum (WAM) always offers a dynamic programme. Or head to a major stop along Rosebank's art map, Keyes Art Mile: home to BKhz, Gallery 1, and Johannesburg's oldest commercial art gallery, Everard Read and sister gallery Circa. Enjoy an R18 soft-serve ice cream from the nearby Pantry before you head off to your next stop. Also in Rosebank, 223 Jan Smuts Creative Hub is a showstopper art destination that's home to Berman Contemporary and a beautiful selection of local designer wares.
These are just a smattering of the free-to-enjoy art spaces in Joburg; check out our weekly exhibitions guide for the latest on the city's ever-evolving art scene.
GRAFFITI AND PUBLIC ART
Arguably the street art capital of sub-Saharan Africa, Joburg has a thriving graffiti scene bringing colour to busy city streets. Go with a group of friends and explore some of the lesser-known parts of the city on foot... street art is abundant in Braamfontein. You can start at Grayscale Store and Gallery – started by local graffiti legend Rasty Knayles, it's the first Johannesburg gallery to represent street art. From there, wind your way along Jorissen and Juta, De Korte, and Smit streets and you'll spot countless painted façades; look out for Shepard Fairey’s monumental Mandela mural, The Purple Shall Govern, and Falko's distinctive elephants. If you'd prefer to traverse by car, jump in and do some street art spotting in the suburbs (trust us, there's street art everywhere in this city).
Alternatively, design your own art tour to see Joburg's many public installations and sculptures, often paying tribute to local icons. There are Albertina and Walter Sisulu, immortalised in a clay sculpture by Marina Walsh in a small square on the historic Diagonal Street. At nearly six metres tall, Marco Cianfanelli's Shadow Boxing sculpture of Nelson Mandela stands between Chancellor House and the Johannesburg Magistrates' Court. Perched on the corner of Main Reef and Albertina Sisulu roads, the three grey steel pigeons created by Gerhard and Maja Marx look amazingly like an origami creation.
Discover where to see public art in Joburg here.
2. Free tours
CONSTITUTION HILL ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Everyone should experience Constitution Hill in Braamfontein, the "living museum" that reflects South Africa's struggle for democracy. Take advantage of free admission on South African public holidays, including Freedom Day (Apr 27), Youth Day (Jun 16), Women's Day (Aug 9), and Heritage Day (Sep 24), when you can join guided tours through the Women's Jail and the Old Fort. Follow @constitution_hill on Instagram to find out when entrance is free. There's also a monthly, free Art and Justice tour at the Constitutional Court, which houses an astonishing art collection of about 600 pieces.
Find our guide to free walking tours in Joburg here. And, if you prefer exploring at your own pace, check out our bumper list of Joburg's most unusual landmarks.
3. Head outside
DELTA PARK AND SWEET TREATS
Take a walk through one of the city's largest green spaces, Delta Park, which has wide stretches of grassland, woodland and wetland dams, a sensory trail for the sight-impaired and even bird-viewing hides. End your meanderings at Paul's Homemade Ice Cream at Delta Central for a cheeky single scoop (or splurge on a double if you left your kids or partner at home). Next door, the vegan sourdough doughnuts at Fresh Earth are wonderful and budget-friendly; try the salted caramel with toasted coconut, or keep it classic with cinnamon and sugar.
THE WILDS AND SUPER SCONTO PANINIS
Take a walk in one of Joburg's most impressive (and safest) heritage parks, The Wilds. On its western side, climb the stone steps for expansive views of the Joburg skyline that'll make you fall in love with this city all over again, and spot artist James Delaney's quirky animal sculptures on the way up. For the perfect budget picnic experience, stop at one of Joburg's oldest Italian food stores, Super Sconto, on Louis Botha Avenue, before you go to the park. The paninis here are generous and well priced. Choose your fillings of cheese, vegetables, and cured meats from the counter.
INDWE PARK
A concrete parking lot transformed into an urban oasis with art installations, an earthing mound, medicinal plant gardens, natural pools, mosaics, and a reflexology walkway, Indwe Park is a fabulous spot for a walk and a picnic in the heart of the city. You'll find this four-hectare landscaped garden, named after South Africa's national bird, the blue crane, directly opposite Wits University in the precinct of Liberty's Braamfontein headquarters (2 Jan Smuts Avenue). To access this space, save the visitor's pass below to show to security on arrival. P.S. It's dog-friendly!
For variations on this theme, check out our guide to Joburg's most beautiful parks.
BENCHWARMERS RUNNERS CLUB
Sprint, stride, or stroll with the Benchwarmers Runners Club every Wednesday from 17:00, starting at Benchwarmers Sports Bar in Parkwood. Choose between a 5km run or a 3km walk, then toast your effort with a well-earned free beer afterwards. For more running clubs in the city, check out our running guide.
4. Entertainment and fashion
Sundays are for bargains and bragging rights at Xtreme Entertainment. Score with R30 bowling, R40 crazy pool, R50 putt-putt in Bramley. Wallet-friendly fun? Absolutely. Add a bar, slushies, and pool tables, and this bowling alley tucked away in a dingy parking lot makes for an affordable yet memorable date or fun outing with friends.
Date night (or solo movie night) doesn’t have to cost blockbuster money. Score half-price movie tickets at all Ster Kinekor cinemas, rewind time with Throwback Cinema classics for just R50 a ticket, or go all in with The Epic Deal at R149,90 for a movie ticket plus a drink and popcorn.
Beyond shelves of books, many of Joburg's public libraries offer free Wi-Fi, cosy reading nooks, and even events or workshops. Perfect for a quiet escape, a little learning, or just a new spot to people-watch; it’s a free way to soak up the city without touching your wallet.
Looking to refresh your wardrobe without spending a cent? Chic Mama’s Swap4Charity days in Linden are your monthly go-to. Intake days happen on the second Wednesday and the following Saturday of each month, with the Saturday swap often turning into a fun, bubbly-filled mini-party. Bring four to six good-quality, seasonal, cleaned garments in a reusable bag, with your name, number, and the word “Swap” attached. You’ll receive tokens as credit to spend in-store, and they’ll even SMS you when your tokens are ready.
If it just so happens to be your birthday, we’ve rounded up a bunch of fun freebies (or close to free) around the city to help celebrate your special day.
5. Affordable eats and weekly specials
HALF-PRICE AND TWO-FOR-ONE DEALS
Kick off the week at Akti at The Zone @ Rosebank with Margarita Monday Madness. Buy one Margarita pizza and get one free, every Monday from 17:00.
If your week needs a little flavour rescue, The Fat Zebra in Parkhurst, Linden, and Pretoria has you sorted. Dig into Burger Thursdays with any two burgers for R170, or roll into the weekend with Pizza Saturdays, where two pizzas go for just R200.
And for a midweek classic, Parkhurst’s iconic pub The Jolly Roger keeps things lively with its legendary half-price pizzas from 17:00 on Wednesdays and Sundays.
STEAK AND LUNCH SPECIALS
Finding the perfect steak is rare – even if you like yours well done. Turn n Tender's 300g sirloin, paired with chips is just R199. Enjoy a tasty meal without breaking the bank, available all day, Mon – Fri, at all their branches.
Weekday eats that taste like the weekend can also be found at The Troyeville with their half baby chicken & chips for just R70. Juicy, golden, and flame grilled, it’s the midweek pick-me-up you didn’t know you needed, alongside other weekday favourites like beef or chicken prego and chips and grilled hake and chips at R70, plus a beef burger or Portuguese steak and chips for R95. Available Mon –Thu from 12:00 – 19:00.
COCKTAIL SPECIALS
Appletini, anyone? Along Greenside's eclectic main drag, Gleneagles Road, Italian café-bar Topo Gigio has half-price cocktail jugs Sun – Fri from 15:00 – 17:00, and Sat from 13:00 – 15:00. It's a great option if you're looking for cheap pre-drinks; add in half-price pizza on Mon and half-price pasta on Tue and you can make that budget stretch a little further. Sip with reckless abandon at Melville's Six Cocktail Bar where regular cocktail specials get you two cocktails for the price of one daily from 11:00 – 19:00.
SUSHI CRAVING, SORTED
Yamakado restaurant at Cedar Square in Fourways has a daily buffet; pay R249 p.p. for all-you-can-eat sushi, plus other menu items including soups, baos, and spring rolls.
Simply Asia Emmarentia rolls out half-price sushi on Mondays, sit-in or takeaway, just make sure you order by 18:00. Simply Asia at Boskruin Village keeps the good times rolling with an all-day sushi special from Mon – Wed.
Over in Melville, Asian Twist doubles down with two-for-one sushi on Mondays and Wednesdays, plus 20% off sushi platters every single day. Proof that the week is always better with some soy sauce.
6. Market shopping
FORDSBURG SQUARE DAY AND NIGHT MARKET
A neighbourhood that brims with the cultures and flavours of the Asian subcontinent, it's also home to one of Joburg's most underrated attractions for those on a budget. Head straight to Fordsburg Square for a Middle Eastern and South Asian taste adventure. You won't be disappointed. Open day and night, this part of the city is a feast for the senses – and you can experience it for very little. Think Pakistani kulfi ice cream or a mango lassi (the best you'll have), sugarcane juice, samoosas, fresh naan and grilled chicken. Fill up on deliciousness. We do recommend that if you visit, you should stay within the market as it's a secure area.
ORIENTAL PLAZA
The Oriental Plaza is one of Joburg's best-loved shopping spaces – the city simply wouldn't be the same without it. At least 350 stores are housed within the vibrant, largely open-air complex in Fordsburg, covering 17 hectares and consisting of three sections: the north, south and central Grand Bazaar. Here, a successful balance is struck between Western-style shopping and craft markets in the city centre. There are tables of pots, pans and crockery; small kiosks with hair accessories gleaming in the sun; fabric stores galore (with discounted prices); and authentic Indian and Middle Eastern restaurants, with more than one contender for Joburg's best samoosas.
CHINATOWN IN CYRILDENE
Strolling down Derrick Avenue in Cyrildene, you'd be forgiven for thinking you've somehow stepped through a portal to China. If you're interested in authentic Asian cuisine, are searching far and wide for an uncommon ingredient, want to sing some karaoke, sit down for a cup of tea or enjoy a beauty day at the spa, Chinatown in Cyrildene has plenty to offer. You're spoilt for choice when it comes to places to eat tasty and well-priced Asian food – anything from Szechuan cuisine to Thai, Taiwanese, Korean, and Shanghai delicacies. And for affordable produce from tofu or bok choy to shimeji mushrooms, look no further.
ROSEBANK SUNDAY MARKET
An upmarket area known for business and leisure, Rosebank is also a great place to while away the time without necessarily having to spend a whole lot of money. The Rosebank Sunday Market on the rooftop of Rosebank Mall is free to visit and open every Sun from 09:00 – 16:00. Explore the stalls offering secondhand books, records, CDs, fresh juice, organic fruit, vegetables, and more. On the first Sunday of the month there's also a Dress for Less sale offering high-quality, pre-loved clothing and accessories. The last two Sundays of the month host the market's Car Boot Sale, where you'll find bargain secondhand and antique items with an especially popular range of traders specialising in vintage clothing.
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