Search flights to Johannesburg

Johannesburg, known as one of the largest and most developed cities in South Africa with a population approaching 5 million, is an important transportation center for the region. The city, which is connected to many destinations of Africa and the world with direct and connecting flights, is also home to the busiest airport of the continent.

Among the transportation options to be used for travelling to the central parts of the city from the airport which is about 23 kilometers of Johannesburg city center, there are buses, taxis, trains, private passenger services and limousines.

Bus is one of the most economical alternatives to travel between the airport and the city center.

Taxis, private passenger services and minibuses are more comfortable than buses, but the fares are also higher when compared to buses.

You can also use the minibus taxis departing from the domestic and international terminals of the airport. If you prefer these vehicles for travelling in the city, we advise you to agree on the fare before your travel.

If you are visiting the city for the first time, the taxis carrying you to your destination are the most comfortable and reliable alternatives. The travel from the airport to the city center lasts about 45 minutes and the taxi fares are not very affordable for this distance. For this reason, local people prefer to use the buses in general. Nevertheless, it can be said that the bus option is a convenient and comfortable means of transportation for foreigners.

If you wish, you can travel to the city center from the airport by train. You can directly go to the train station from the A and B terminals of the airport and then take the road to the city center by train.

If the hotel you are staying at has shuttle service, the hotel shuttles may be another alternative for your transportation. These services are also one of the most comfortable and guaranteed transportation vehicles for those visiting the city for the first time. However, you must first contact your hotel about this issue and make a reservation beforehand if necessary. Fares for these services may be much higher than you expect. For this reason, be sure to get information about the fare before using the airport services.

You can rent a vehicle to travel around the city freely and comfortably. You can get in contact with the car rental offices located at the airport terminal as well as make an online reservation before taking the road. In this way, you can get your vehicle from here after your plane has landed.

There is also the limousine option in Johannesburg for those who want to make their travel between the airport and the city center more comfortable and luxurious. You can make a reservation over the internet and make your driver to wait for you with a luxurious limousine before your plane lands.

If you want to have some rest and spend some time after your plane has landed, remember that restaurants and cafes where you can taste delicious dishes from both South Africa and world cuisine, shops where you can do some shopping, and special passenger lounges where you can have comfortable time are waiting for you.

Bus

In Johannesburg, the first alternative that you can use to travel to the city center from the airport is bus. The buses that you can get on from the gate of both domestic and international flights terminals will take you to the central parts of the city in about 45 minutes and they are among the most preferred transportation vehicles especially by the local people. If you have come to the city many times, you can easily use the buses and reach the city center in a very economical way.

However, if this is your first visit to the city, it is not recommended to use the buses. Instead, you can evaluate other alternatives such as taxi or hotel shuttle to get to your destination comfortably. If you have visited the city before and have information about the roads, renting a car is also a more comfortable option than bus.

Minibus Taxi

Another public transportation alternative that you can use in the city is minibus taxi. Minibuses operating in a similar way with buses are generally preferred by the local people. Minibus taxis do not have a certain tariff. Before you get on a minibus taxi, you should specify your destination and negotiate about the fare. You can use the minibuses to reach the center of the city, but afterwards you have to walk to your hotel or take a taxi.

Taxi

In Johannesburg, the most convenient and comfortable means of transportation between the airport and city center is taxi. However, it is not preferred by the local people because the airport is located approximately 23 kilometers of the city center and requires a higher fare after a travel of 30-45 minutes.

If you are foreign to the city, taxis will be the fastest and safest alternative for you. Taxis are waiting for their passengers at the exit door of the airport terminals. You can get on one of the taxis whose light is on and can quickly get to the city center. In this way, you can safely arrive at your hotel or destination by taxi.

Train

Another option that can be preferred for the transportation between the airport and the city center is train. Thanks to the train station directly connected to the A and B terminals of the airport, you can easily reach the trains after you get off your plane, and star travelling to the city center.

It is possible to reach the train station from A or B terminal by following the directions. After arriving at the center of the city with trains, you can transfer to buses to reach different parts of the city.

Car Rental

It is also possible to rent a car to get to the city center from the airport. Johannesburg's ordered roads and signboards make it easy to find the way. However, if you do not trust yourself in this regard, a map or navigation device that you will take with you before leaving the airport will make everything a lot easier.

Among the car rental companies located in the city there are some well-known alternatives such as AVIS, Europcar and Budget. From one of these companies you can rent a classical or luxurious car according to your needs.

Renting a car is a great option especially for those who want to explore the different parts of the city and nearby places. So, you can travel as you wish in the city without losing any time and route restrictions.

Limousine

You also have the option of renting a limousine to reach the city center from the airport. To rent a limousine, you can make an online reservation before your flight, and you will be picked up at the terminal gate by your private driver after your plane has landed.

Limousines are expensive compared to other options, but you can prefer this option thanks to the privileged, comfortable and convenient service offered to you.

Hotel Shuttles

It is also possible to consider the hotel shuttle services option for traveling between the airport and the city center. You can get in contact with your hotel about these services and enable that the driver waits for you at the airport. These services are very comfortable and directly take you to your hotel without losing time. But you have to be careful about the amount you need to pay for this service.

Hotel shuttle services can be free of charge or they can also demand higher fares. In this regard, you can get detailed information by contacting your hotel before the travel.

O.R. Tambo International Airport, also known as O.R. Tambo, is located near Johannesburg city centre. You can travel to the city centre from the airport by buses or taxis which you can find in front of the airport terminals. There are also other transportation options such as limousine and train which respond to different needs for the passengers at the airport. There are both international and domestic flights at the airport, which hosts millions of passengers every year.

Bus

Among the vehicles that you can choose for traveling to the city centre from O.R. Tambo International Airport, bus is the most affordable one. Buses going to the city centre depart from the terminal exit and pick up passengers from both domestic and international terminals. Bus fares are usually low and once you arrive in the city centre, you can walk to your destination or take a taxi or another bus. If you are not familiar with the city and visiting for the first time, it is recommended to take a taxi instead of public transportation such as bus.

Taxi

You can easily find a taxi at any time of the day in front of the airport terminal and travel to different districts in or near Johannesburg city centre. Compared to the other vehicles, taking a taxi is a far better option for the foreigners visiting the city for the first time, because of safety reasons. Traveling to Johannesburg city centre by the taxis you can take from the exit gates of the airport terminals takes about 35 – 40 minutes. Moreover, taxi fares in the city are generally not too high, and if you are traveling in groups of 2 – 3 people, you can travel to the city centre by taxi at reasonable prices.

Train

You can also travel by the trains that you can take from the train station located between the A and B terminals at the airport. The train fares are just as reasonable as the bus fares. When you take the train, you can travel to different routes you want to go in the city centre.

Limousine

There are also more comfortable  transportation options such as limousines at the airport for the passengers. The limousines, which you can hire from the terminal, offer an extremely fast and pleasant journey with their chauffeurs. Limousines, together with taxis, are the safest vehicles to travel to the city centre.

Rent a Car

Passengers who want to rent a car at Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport can get a car delivered in a short time by going to the offices of international rent a car companies such as Hertz, AVIS, Europcar, Budget or National. Rental cars are a convenient and fast way to travel and passengers may also choose luxury cars . Remember to take your travel documents and identification papers, which you will need to rent a car, with you. Also, by making reservation in advance, you can get your car ready before you land on the airport and begin driving to the city centre without losing too much time.