Johannesburg Hop-On Hop-Off Tour: 16 stops, your pace

Sixteen stops across Johannesburg, you choose which ones to leave the bus

A hop-on hop-off bus tour of Johannesburg covering 16 stops from Constitution Hill and the Apartheid Museum to Gold Reef City and Mandela Bridge, with onboard audio commentary in 8 languages and free hotel shuttle service from select Sandton hotels. You can add a live-guided small group Soweto tour led by a local expert, or ride the full loop at your own pace; children from age 4 are welcome, and the bus is wheelchair accessible throughout.

The Experience

The bus picks you up from major Sandton hotels at no extra cost and drops you at the City Sightseeing office at The Zone shopping center, where the red route begins. From there, you board whenever you're ready and get off at any of the 16 stops — Constitution Hill, the Apartheid Museum, Gold Reef City, Newtown Precinct, the Johannesburg Zoo, the Holocaust & Genocide Center — staying as long as you want at each one before catching the next bus. Onboard audio commentary plays in 8 languages through headsets (bring your own or use theirs), so you hear the story of each landmark without needing a guide standing beside you.

If you want more than the self-guided loop, the Soweto extension departs from Gold Reef City as a separate 2-hour small group tour led by a live guide in English. That guide walks you through the township's history and present-day life — a layer of context the audio commentary alone cannot give. The extension is optional and added at checkout; the main ticket works without it.

The whole red route takes around 3 hours if you ride it straight through without stopping, but most people get off at two or three stops and spend the afternoon that way. Free Wi-Fi on the bus means you can check opening hours or directions while you're riding. Infants sit on an adult's lap; children from age 4 can have their own seat. Service animals travel with you, and all bus areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible.

What’s included

• Free hotel shuttle from select Sandton hotels to the starting point.
• hop-on hop-off access to all 16 stops on the red route.
• onboard audio commentary in 8 languages.
• free Wi-Fi on the bus.
• use of headsets.
• optional live-guided 2-hour Soweto small group tour available as an add-on at checkout.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by City Sightseeing South Africa

Is this one for you?Choose the hop-on hop-off ticket alone if you want to move through the city at your own rhythm and spend as much time as you want at each stop. Add the Soweto extension if you want a local guide to walk you through the township's history and context — the two together give you both independence and cultural depth in a single day.

Traveler reviews

4.57★★★★★★★★★★

887 verified traveler reviews

5 ★627

4 ★184

3 ★47

2 ★16

1 ★13

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can I really get off and on as many times as I want during the day?

Yes — the hop-on hop-off ticket lets you board and exit at any of the 16 stops as many times as you want within the day. You decide how long to spend at Constitution Hill or the Apartheid Museum, then catch the next bus when you're ready to move on.

What is the Soweto tour, and do I have to book it when I buy my ticket?

The Soweto tour is a separate 2-hour small group experience led by a live English-speaking guide, departing from Gold Reef City. It's optional and added at checkout — you can book just the hop-on hop-off bus, or add the Soweto extension if you want guided cultural insight alongside the self-guided stops.

Do I need to arrange my own way to the starting point?

No — the tour includes a free hotel shuttle from major Sandton hotels to the City Sightseeing office at The Zone, so you don't need to organize transport to join the bus.

What languages does the audio commentary cover?

The onboard commentary is available in 8 languages through headsets, so you can follow along in your preferred language as the bus moves between stops.

Are entrance fees to the museums and attractions included?

No — the ticket covers the bus, the shuttle service and the audio commentary. Entrance fees to Constitution Hill, the Apartheid Museum, Gold Reef City and other stops are separate and paid at each site.

Can I bring young children or use a wheelchair on the bus?

Yes — children from age 4 are welcome, and infants can sit on an adult's lap. The entire bus and all stops are wheelchair accessible, and service animals travel with you.