Getting There

By plane: Johannesburg's main airport is OR Tambo Airport which is 19km east of the city centre. It has excellent connections with the rest of the world. The best way to the city is either by taxi or by transfer which you should organise with your hostel.

By train: If you travel to Johannesburg by train you will arrive at Park City Transit Centre which is located on Rissik Street in the neighbourhood of Braamfontein, 1km from the city centre.

By bus: Instead of using a South African bus network, most people who travel to Johannesburg by bus do so on special backpackers buses such as the Baz Bus.

Getting Around

On foot: While it is a sprawling city, some hostels are located within walking distance of neighbourhoods and attractions. But you will have to use some mode of public transport at some stage during your stay.

By train: Metrorail operate trains from Johannesburg to surrounding neighbourhoods, although they are deemed unsafe for visitors.

By bus: Metrobus operates a bus network around Greater Johannesburg, while minibuses operate also. Both are used almost exclusively by locals only.

By taxi: While not the cheapest way to get around, official taxis are reliable. You will definitely need to use them at night, and the easiest way to get them is by asking your hostel to order them.

Thanks to the fact that Johannesburg is 1,753 metres above sea-level, its climate is an enviable one as it enjoys dry and hot weather all year round. The hottest months are December, January and February when temperatures can soar above 30°C. In winter months it never gets particularly cold, but frost can appear at night. While rainfall isn't particularly evident throughout the year, the wettest months are from October to March when the city can experience quick showers.

Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates

USA: +27 (0)11 290 3000*
Canada: +27 (0)11 442 3130*
Australia: +27 (0)11 911 4500*
New Zealand: +27 (0)12 460 7650**
UK: +27 (0)12 421 7500****
Germany: +27 (0)12 427 8900***
Spain: +27 (0)12 344 3875***
France: +27 (0)11 778 5600*
Italy: +27 (0)12 423 0000***
Ireland: +27 (0)12 342 5062***

*Number is for Consulate
** Number is for High Commission in Pretoria
***Number is for Embassy in Pretoria
***Number is for Consulate in Pretoria

Andiccio24, Cnr Barry Hertzog & Gleneagles Rd, Greenside One of three locations in Johannesburg, this pizzeria keeps things simple - it's only pizzas on the menu. They don't even confuse things by offering pre-made pizzas either as you have to create your own. First choose a base, then your cheese, then your toppings. Open 24 hours daily.

Sandton City Food Court, Sandton City, Rivonia Rd, Sandton When in Sandton visiting Nelson Mandela Square or shopping in this extremely plush shopping mall, this is the perfect place for lunch on the go. Choose from sandwiches, fish and chips, pizza, chicken, burgers and more. There's also a giant TV screen to occupy you while you munch. Open Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm.

Nunos, Shop 5, Melville Gardens, 7th St, Melville While this bills itself as a Portuguese restaurant, you can get pretty much anything in this busy Melville eatery. The menu begins with breakfast, ends with desert, and in between you'll find pizzas and more. Open daily 8am-11pm.

Mamma knows best Mamma's Shebeen, 18 Gleneagles Rd, Greenside If you don't make it to a township but you'd like to experience what eating in one is like, try this alternative eatery. The menu is packed with lots of hearty, filling stews as well as other dishes such as 'Soweto lamb chops'. The adventurous may also want to try 'Ndlovu mopani worms'. Open daily 11am-1am.

Capello, Shop 5 No 1, Central Place, Cnr Jeppe & Henry Xumalo Sts, Newtown Overlooking Mary Fitzgerald Square, Capello is an uber-cool bar/restaurant that hasn't prices to startle. One of a number of venues around the city, its extremely varied menu has everything from sandwiches to pizzas to choose from. Open daily 11am-1am.

Six Cocktail Bar, 7th St (between 2nd & 3rd Aves), Melville Arguably the coolest bar on what is definitely Joburg's coolest street, Six is a cocktail bar with friendly staff who have a penchant for making cocktails. The pictures decorating the walls are particularly interesting as as each one is of an iconic figure. One minute you can be having a mojito with Che Guevara, the next a G&T with Amy Winehouse. Open daily 4pm-close.

Gin, 12 Gleneagles Rd, Greenside This small bar on Greenside's main strip packs a big punch. From Wednesday to Sunday DJs draw crowds from all over the city who come to get busy to house, funk, trance and other tunes. When it's too heaving in the main bar (and it probably will be) you can escape to the mezzanine level or outdoor smoking area. Open Tues-Sat 3pm-2am, closed Sun & Mon.

The Woods, 66 Carr St, Newtown Located in the popular Newtown area, The Woods is part trendy bar, part venue. DJs from all over the world play one-off gigs while every other night there's a party vibe ticking the place over. They can be selective about who they let in, and as the flyer states, 'no popped collars', 'no shiny pointy shoes'...you get the picture. Open Wed-Sun 4pm - late.

Trance Sky, 7 7th St, Melville Of all the bars along Melville's colourful and vibrant 7th St, Trance Sky is the most popular. While it isn't necessarily cooler than 'Six' across the road, it is slightly more energetic and, as a result, busier. As the name suggests, its hard trance here and if you make it past the burly doormen get ready for a hot and sweaty experience inside. Open daily 4pm-1am.

The Jolly Roger, 10 4th Avenue, Parkhurst When you're looking to do nothing else in Joburg only catch up with old friends, new friends, or nobody at all, The Jolly Roger is the perfect place. There's one reason for this - this is a 'pub', not a 'bar'. Oozing 'rustic charm', this is a place with an awful lot of character. Open daily from 11am-2am.

Apartheid Museum, Cnr Northern Parkway & Gold Reef Rds, Ormonde There are few museums in the world that are as enthralling as Joburg's Apartheid Museum. Documenting Apartheid in South Africa from the beginning to its downfall, the museum is divided into sections concentrating on segregation, race classification and more. Open Tues-Sun 10am-5pm, closed Mon; admission R40.

Will you see the Big Five? Kruger National Park Covering almost 2 million hectares, Kruger National Park is unquestionably South Africa's most famous national park. Best visited on a four-day safari, here you can encounter 114 species of reptile, 507 types of bird, 147 different mammals and more. You'll also be able to see the famous 'Big Five' - rhino, elephant, buffalo, lion and leopard. For tour info visit www.hostelworld.com/tours.

Gold Reef City Theme Park, Northern Parkway Rd, Ormonde If it's thrills from rollercoasters and not wildlife you're after, Joburg's theme park is the place for you. Highlights include an abundance of thrill rides and a 4D theatre. Open Wed-Sun 9.30am-5pm, closed Mon & Tues; admission R140.

Soweto Bike Tour, Soweto Of all of South Africa's townships, Soweto is the most famous. Standing for SOuth WEstern TOwnships, it was brought to the world's attention during the uprising of 1976. Today you can tour the famous township to see where Nelson Mandela lived, visit a local shebeen and more. Lebo Backpackers in Soweto which can be booked on Hostelworld.com operate bike tours daily.

Johannesburg Zoo, Upper Park Dr, Parkwood If you don't have the time to visit Kruger National Park, but you still want to see some wildlife when in Joburg, the city centre zoo is a good option. Here you'll find over 2,000 animals and 360 species. Open daily 8.30am-5.30pm; admission R45.

February - International Fashion Sale Calling all bargain hunters! This annual fashion sale held in Joburg's Coca-Cola Dome presents locals and visitors alike with the chance to stock up on designer labels for less.

March - Hobby-X If you find yourself in South Africa's largest city in March, and you're prone to a hobby or two, the Coca-Cola Dome is again where to be. This amazing show has interactive stands, demonstrations, workshops, and much more.

August - Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival Johannesburg's biggest jazz festival attracts musicians not only from South Africa but from all over the world. The city's Newtown area is where the action is, either in clubs such as 'Bassline' or on the area's focal point, Mary Fitzgerald Square.

August - The Women's Show Celebrating all things (you've guessed it) feminine, this event has over 100 exhibits, live events and more making it one of the biggest festivals of its kind in Africa.

September - Lucky Fish Music Festival Staged in Westonaria 50km from Central Joburg, at this festival bands play while comedians entertain also. Camping is available.

September - New Dance Festival Staged in Joburg's Wilt Theatre, this festival is a platform for contemporary dance. Choreographer's involved include those from Africa along with others from further afield.

September - Soweto Festival Held in the infamous township, this event helps promote new businesses, local artists and more. It also celebrates old traditions as well as new ones too.

September to October - Pride First held back in 1990, this is South Africa's largest gay and lesbian festival. The event begins in the end of September with a wide range of events before climaxing with an outlandish parade on the final day.

October - Rocking the `Gardens Held in Joburg's Botanic Gardens, this is the city's premier music festival. Apart from the acts who entertain the masses, other attractions include lifestyle exhibitions, gourmet food stands and more.

December - Gerard Sekoto Youth Festival Honouring the late artist Gerard Sekoto, this free festival held in Johannesburg Art Gallery encourages people to turn to their creative sides.

Greenside Home to a plethora of bars and restaurants, most of which are found along the tree-lined Gleneagles Rd, Greenside is a leafy suburb best visited after dark. Once you do, you can choose from relaxed cafes, busy pizzerias, cool cocktail bars and pumping pubs.

Sandton Slightly affluent and home to some of the wealthier side of Johannesburg's population, Sandton is a harmonious mix of retail outlets and office space. Thousands travel to this neighbourhood daily to fulfill their professional roles during the day, then during lunch or after work they spend time in Sandton City Shopping Mall or the pleasant Nelson Mandela Square.

The cultural quarter Newtown Ask many people what neighbourhood in Johannesburg is most worth exploring and Newtown will simply roll off their tongue. With Mary Fitzgerald Square at its focal point, and Museum Africa as one of its flagship attractions, it's also regarded as one of the city's safest neighbourhoods. You'll know when you're there thanks to the pillars bordering the area decked with exquisite, wooden carvings.

Central Business District (CBD) If you believe everything you read, then this is one part of Joburg you won't be visiting. But Downtown Joburg isn't as bad as you might think. Streets such as Rissik St are just like streets in any other city centre. It also has some notable landmarks such as City Hall and Library Square. Safer than it has been in recent years, it's still advised that you don't travel there alone.

Melville Located north west of Joburg's CBD, people flock to Melville to party on 7th St. Lined with bars and restaurants, it's the best place in town to visit when you need to please your hedonistic side.

The Mall of Rosebank, 54 Bath Ave, Rosebank Rosebank's 'The Mall' is a three-story shopaholic's dream come true, boasting over 120 stores. These include branches belonging to Diesel and Benneton among others. If, after some time there it dawns upon you that you can't afford a personal present, there's an arthouse cinema there called 'Cinema Nouveau' which showcases independent and art cinema from South Africa. Open Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat & Sun 9am-5pm (4pm Sun).

Flea market, Mary Fitzgerald Square, Newtown This market isn't particularly big but there are still enough stalls to find something you might fancy. These include some selling music and others selling clothes. Open daily from 8am-3pm.

Meltz, 13 Spartan Crescent, Malboro, Sandton Do you have a desire to fill your backpack with creations from the world's best known designers? Want to bulk it up with attire by Calvin Klein or Guess? Then visit Meltz in Sandton as they specialise in designer goods at discounted prices. Open Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 8.30am-6pm, Sun 9am-4pm.

Statues, squares...and shopping Sandton City Shopping Mall, Rivonia Rd, Sandton Travellers flock in their droves to Sandton to see the giant statue on Nelson Mandela Square named after the famous South African. But others visit for some retail therapy in one of the city's best-known shopping malls. Here you'll find innumerable stores specialising in everything from jewellery to shoes. Open Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm.

Rosebank Rooftop, 54 Bath Ave, Rosebank Sunday's 'Rosebank Rooftop' mall dates back to 1993 and is worth the visit whether in the market for a purchase or not. It features over 600 stalls that sell clothing, ceramics, arts and crafts, and much more. Open Sundays 9am-5pm.

Visit the Botanic Gardens Located along the shores of Emmarentia Dam, the Botanic Gardens are perfect for either exploring or relaxing. Here you will encounter over 30,000 trees, an enormous rose garden, over 4,500 varieties of flower and much more. There are also many paths to stroll down and heaps of benches to relax along the water.

Lazing on a sunny afternoon While away an afternoon at Zoo Lake If you happen to find yourself in South Africa's largest city with the sun shining strong leaving you in search of somewhere to chill out for a while, Zoo Lake is a dream come true. You can take out rowing boats, engage in a game of frisbee, go on laps of the lake or fall asleep in the shade. It is easily one of the city's most beautiful spaces.

Admire art in Johannesburg Art Gallery Found beside the Joubert Park Gardens in Downtown Joburg, this free art gallery has over 9,000 works of art to admire. These range from contemporary works of art by some of the country's top artists, breathtaking shots by local photographers and traditional art and artefacts also. Open Tues-Sun 10am-5pm, closed Mon.

Explore Constitution Hill Home to the Constitutional Court and the Old Fort Prison Complex, Constitutional Hill celebrates South Africa's journey from its struggle against apartheid to the adoption of one of the world's most progressive constitutions. You need to pay into some parts, but most of this attraction is free. Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-3pm, closed Sun.

Visit Museum Africa Housed in one of Johannesburg's most beautiful buildings, Museum Africa's collection and research focuses on indigenous African cultures, history and archaeology, linguistics and more. Open Tues-Sun 9am-5pm, closed Mon.

Start the day in Joburg's top museum, Apartheid Museum. Give yourself at least three hours to fully appreciate this fascinating attraction.

Make your way over to Newtown for lunch in Capello on Mary Fitzgerald Square. Grab a seat outside and watch life go by on this busy square.

Take some time out to explore Newtown. Attractions include Mary Fitzgerald Square, the world-renowned Market Theatre and the Worker's Library and Museum.

Another attraction in Newtown is Museum Africa. This free museum documents the country's history, languages and more.

Head on over to Johannesburg Art Gallery to admire the city's flagship collection of art. Check out both contemporary art and traditional artefacts.

Take refuge from the hustle and bustle in one of Joburg's green areas. The Botanic Gardens are extremely peaceful, as is Zoo Lake north of the city centre.

Once the sun sets there are many neighbourhoods to go eating and drinking in. The most popular is Melville. Grab a bite to eat in one of its many restaurants.

Stay in Melville, checking out the bars that line the electric 7th St. One of the most popular is Six Cocktail Lounge which draws a funky crowd and plays funky tunes.

If you like to keep the night going until the very small hours, you'll need a club. The Woods in Newtown is one of the best known. Finish the night off dancing away here.