How do you get to Johannesburg?
Getting There1.4/10Among the 5% hardest cities to reach
- Main airport
- O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)
Updated September 2026 · Sources cited: lonelyplanet.com, airportshuttles.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- O.R. Tambo Airport is 30 km from the city centre; Gautrain offers the fastest and most reliable airport connection to central Johannesburg.
- Gautrain operates on a regular schedule 5:30am–8:30pm; confirm departure times in advance if relying on off-peak service.
- Minibus taxis are the cheapest local transport but require familiarity with Johannesburg's hand-signal system and destinations; Uber/Bolt offer safer, more predictable alternatives for visitors unfamiliar with the city.
- Park Station is the main transport hub for trains and long-distance buses; plan connections here for travel to Pretoria, Soweto, and other regions.
- Johannesburg is designed around car travel; walking distances are often long, making ride-hailing or public transit preferable to walking.
Airport
- Name
- O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)
- Status
- South Africa's largest airport and main international gateway
- Distance From City Center
- 30 km
Ground Transport Options
Gautrain Rapid Transit
- Price Sample
- ZAR 180
- Service Hours
- 05:30 to 20:30
- Frequency Peak
- every 12 minutes (5:30am–8:30am, 3pm–6pm weekdays)
- Frequency Off Peak
- every 20–30 minutes outside peak times
- Description
- Fast train connecting airport to Sandton, Rosebank, Park Station, Pretoria and Hatfield
Minibus Shuttle
- Description
- Shared and private shuttle services available from airport
Ride-hailing (Uber, Bolt, InDriver, Didi)
- Description
- E-hailing services with reasonable pricing and regular promotions
Taxi
- Description
- Fixed-price and metered taxi options available at airport
Bus Lines
- Description
- Five bus lines run through airport, twice daily
Car Rental
- Description
- On-site car rental stands available
Minibus Taxi
- Notes
- Complex hand/finger signal system for indicating direction; no posted destinations or prices inside vehicles
- Description
- Most widely used public transport; privately operated minibuses throughout city
Fares
Inner suburbs and city centre
- Inner Suburbs And City Centre
- ZAR 8.00
Longer journeys
- Longer Journeys
- ZAR 12
Ride Hailing
- Notes
- E-hailing services operate early morning to late evening with regular promotions; avoid requesting Uber near metered taxi ranks due to driver conflicts
Services
- Uber
- Bolt
- InDriver
- Didi
Day Trip Access
- Note
- Johannesburg serves as a regional hub for accessing nearby attractions including Soweto (township tours), Apartheid Museum, Gold Reef City, Johannesburg Zoo, and surrounding Gauteng province destinations. Multiple transport options via Gautrain, buses, minibus taxis, and ride-hailing services enable day trips.
Gautrain
- Sample Fare
- ZAR 76
- Service Hours
- 05:30 to 20:30
- Frequency Peak
- every 12 minutes during peak times
- Frequency Off Peak
- every 20–30 minutes outside peak times
- Description
- Rapid transit train connecting central Johannesburg (Park Station) with Sandton, Rosebank, Pretoria, O.R. Tambo Airport
Metrobus
- Description
- Largest bus network covering most of the Metropolitan Municipality
Rea Vaya
- Coverage
- Connects Johannesburg CBD and Braamfontein with Soweto; expanding toward Sandton and Alexandra
- Description
- Bus rapid transit system with dedicated lanes, 21 routes and 58 stations
Metrorail
- Description
- Commuter trains from Park Station to Soweto, West Rand, East Rand and Pretoria
Rail Connections
- Hub
- Park Station - main hub for local and long-distance trains and buses
Domestic Routes
- Pretoria (via Gautrain or Metrorail)
- Soweto (via Metrorail)
- West Rand (via Metrorail)
- East Rand (via Metrorail)
AI-generated estimateData refreshed September 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this getting there & away research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Johannesburg
Data last updated September 2026 · Verify anything important.