The only relevant mode of transport to Johannesburg and Pretoria is the Gautrain, which takes 14 minutes to Sandton. The ticket price to Sandton is 219 zar.
Gautrain
The station for the modern high-speed train is just outside the terminal in the central part of the airport.
Trains are a very safe mode of transport, the trains and stations are modern and clean and if you are only heading to Johannesburg or Pretoria, the train is a great option.
There is a yellow line to the airport which runs to the following stations:
- Rhodesfield - a station just 1 minute away at the airport in a district of hotels, business centres and universities.
- Marlboro - change trains to Pretoria
- Sandton - modern Johannesburg city centre, change trains at central station "Park"
Trains run every 10 minutes in the morning and afternoon, every 20 minutes through midday, evening and early morning.
- Last train from the airport - 20:30
- First train from Sandton station - 5:21
Fares
Tickets can be purchased from the ticket machine or at the station ticket counter. You can pay by card or cash.
| Destinations | Price | Travel time | Transfer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandton | 219 zar | 14 minutes | - |
| Pretoria | 248 zar | 40 minutes | Marlboro |
| Johannesburg Park | 230 zar | 30 minutes | Sandton |
Detailed information can be found on the Gautrain.co.za website.
Hotels near train stations
Find a hotel right next to a train station so you don't have to walk far in a not-so-safe city.
- Sandton - DAVINCI Hotel on Nelson Mandela Square *****
- Johannesburg Park - ANEW Hotel Parktonian Johannesburg ****
- Pretoria Hatfield - City Lodge Hotel Hatfield ***
- Pretoria - Manhattan Hotel ***
Car Hire
Johannesburg is not a very touristy city and most travellers head straight from the airport to the national parks or mountains.
Therefore, the best option is to rent a car directly at the airport, where a large number of local and international car rental companies are based.
Prices for a weekly rental are around 205 usd.
In South Africa, there tend to be relatively low fees for returning a car to another location and, for example, a week's rental at Johannesburg Airport with return at Cape Town Airport on the other side of the country starts from 310 usd.
Book a car at a discount on booking.com
Uber / Bolt
A taxi via the Uber or Bolt mobile apps is the cheapest and safest form of transport from the airport after the Gautrain.
Always use Bolt or Uber if your destination is far from the train stations. Walking around the city is not very safe.
Ideally, check the prices on both apps as they can differ significantly. Generally, however, Bolt is significantly cheaper in Johannesburg.
- Sandton - approx. 220 zar
- Johannesburg city centre - approx. 190 zar
- Pretoria - approx. 350 zar
The price for both apps is calculated based on current demand and therefore we give an average value.
Taxi
Official taxis must use a taximeter. However, there are more companies and travelling by regular taxis is somewhat opaque and often scams are perpetrated on tourists with higher prices than the meter says should be the case.
Payment can only be made in cash.
