To get you started, we've put together a useful guide to sightseeing, eating out and shopping in Joburg that won't break the bank.
Art city
GALLERIES IN JOBURG
Joburg's many great 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 Parktown North and Parkhurst to visit Stevenson Gallery and Kalashnikovv Gallery, respectively. A major stop along Rosebank's art map, Keyes Art Mile is home to BKhz 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, Maboneng, and Newtown. While you're at it, swing by Grayscale Store and Gallery in Braamfontein – started by local graffiti legend Rasty Knayles, it's the first Johannesburg gallery to represent street art. 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).
If in doubt, check out our guide on where to experience the city's graffiti and street art.
Alternatively, design your own art tour to see Joburg's many public installations and sculptures, often paying tribute to local icons. There's 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.
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 has an astonishing art collection of about 600 pieces (upcoming tours are scheduled for Sat, Jan 25, 2025 and Sat, Feb 22, 2025; booking is essential).
Find our guide to free tours in Joburg here. And, if you prefer exploring at your own pace, check out our bumper list of Joburg's most unusual landmarks.
Head outside
DELTA PARK AND SWEET TREATS
Take a walk through one of the city's biggest green spaces, Delta Park, which has large 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 the Delta Central centre 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 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 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.
ZOO LAKE BOWLING CLUB
A Joburg institution, the Zoo Lake Bowling Club in Parkwood has remained a popular late afternoon and evening hangout spot thanks to its affordable pub food (and booze), relaxed vibe, and open-air seating. During the day, the bowls greens are a bonus for some lackadaisical physical activity, or stop here for lunch after a walk or around the lovely Zoo Lake park.
INDWE PARK
A concrete parking lot transformed into an urban oasis with art installations, an earthing mound, medicinal plant gardens, natural pools, 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).
While public access is still being trialled, we've obtained a special visitor's pass to Indwe Park for Johannesburg In Your Pocket subscribers to show to security on arrival. Email us at johannesburg@inyourpocket.com and we'll send it to you. House rules: respect the environment by leaving it as you found it; there are no dustbins on site, so anything you carry in must be taken back out with you. P.S. it's dog-friendly!
For variations on this theme, check out our guide to Joburg's most beautiful parks.
Arcade nights and bowling
For a different kind of bowling, head to Bramley. At just R25 per person for a game of ten-pin bowling on Sundays after 18:00 at Xtreme Bowling, it doesn't get much cheaper than that. Add a bar, slushies, and pool tables, and this bowling alley tucked away in a dingy parking lot makes for a cheap yet memorable date or fun outing with friends.
Watch French cinema, free
Expect the best contemporary French cinema at My French Film Festival, with numerous short and feature films which can all be streamed for free from Fri, Jan 17 – Mon, Feb 17, 2025 via myfrenchfilmfestival.com. Set up a viewing party with friends, make it a budget-friendly date-night choice, or enjoy some well-deserved me time.
Affordable eats and weekly specials
BABALAAS BREKKIE
If you had a rough night at the local, head to The Fat Zebra in Parkhurst, Linden or Pretoria for The Babalaas toasted sandwich. Loaded with egg, bacon or macon (+R10), ham, cheese, spicy tomato and grated parmesan, it's served with chips and a shot of cream soda, all for R95. (We could do without the cream soda, but whatever floats your babalaas boat.)
LUNCH UNDER R100
Njam is a Linden favourite with a fresh and friendly menu. We love their Rooster Burger; a beef pattie served on a char-grilled roosterkoek with pickled onions and tomato jam for just R60. There's a veggie version too, with a vegan sorghum and lentil pattie.
TWO-FOR-ONE DEALS
Linden's steampunk-themed hangout Choo Choo Junction is where you can buy one pizza and get another free every Tuesday.
STEAK AND LUNCH SPECIALS
Head to Akti at The Zone @ Rosebank, where for just R109, you can enjoy mouthwatering dishes like 1/2 a baby chicken with chips, chicken or beef gyro, a juicy 200g rump, medium prawns, crispy hake, or classic spaghetti Bolognese. Available Mon – Fri from 11:30 – 17:00.
Finding the perfect steak is rare – even if you like yours well done. Turn n Tender's 300g sirloin, paired with chips or a fresh French salad is just R149. Enjoy a tasty meal without breaking the bank, available all day, Mon – Fri, at Dainfern, Waterfall, and Bryanston locations.
Looking for a hearty meal in Blairgowrie? Pop into Mazi Eatery. For just R99, enjoy deals like a juicy 200g sirloin steak, lemon and herb or peri-peri chicken, hearty beef or veg moussaka, crispy hake with chips, and more, including delicious pizzas. Open Tue – Sat from 11:00 – 21:00 and Sun from 11:00 – 18:00.
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. Their regular cocktail specials gets you two cocktails for the price of one every day from 11:00 – 19:00.
SUSHI CRAVING, SORTED
Yamakado restaurant at Cedar Square in Fourways has a daily buffet; pay R235 p.p. (and R165 for kids under 10) for all-you-can-eat sushi, plus other menu items including soups, bao, and spring rolls. Yasong in Emmarentia draws loyal fans of its budget prices, drop by every Mon when the sushi is buy one, get one free. Every Tue, Mamasamba at The Zone @ Rosebank has half price sushi on all sushi.
Market shopping
FORDSBURG SQUARE DAY AND NIGHT MARKET
A neighbourhood that brims with the cultures and flavours of the Indian 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, 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 go for 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, fresh produce from 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 many cheap food stalls, secondhand books, records and CD vendors, fresh juice stands, organic fruit and vegetable stalls, and more. On the first Sunday of the month there's also a Dress for Less sale filled with high-quality, preloved clothing and accessories. On the last two Sundays of the month is 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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