Public transport to Johannesburg and Pretoria is provided bythe Gautrain high-speed rail service, which takes you to Sandton in14 minutes. A ticket to Sandton costs 228 zar.

However, most travellers use the reliable and secure Uber and Bolt mobile apps, which are often cheaper than the train.

The Gautrain

The station for this modern high-speed train is right next to Terminal A in the central part of the airport.

Trains are a very safe way to travel; the trains and stations are modern and clean, and if you’re only heading to Johannesburg or Pretoria, the train is an excellent choice.

The yellow line runs to the airport, stopping at the following stations:

• Rhodesfield – a station just a 1-minute journey from the airport, in an area with hotels, business centres and universities
• Marlboro – change here for trains heading to Pretoria
• Sandton – the modern centre of Johannesburg, with a connection to trains at the central “Park” station

Trains run every 10 minutes in the morning and afternoon, and every 20 minutes at midday, in the evening and early in the morning.

• Last train from the airport – 20:30
• First train from Sandton station – 05:21

Fares

You can buy a ticket from a ticket machine or at the ticket office at the station. You can pay by card or in cash.

Destinations	Price	Journey time	Change
Sandton	228 zar	14 minutes	-
Pretoria	258 zar	40 minutes	Marlboro
Johannesburg Park	240 zar	30 minutes	Sandton

For further details, please visit theGautrain.co.za website.

Hotels near train stations

Find a hotel right next to the train station so you don’t have to walk far through a city that isn’t particularly safe.

• 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 isn’t really a tourist city, and most travellers head straight from the airport to the national parks or the mountains.

That’s why the best option is to hire a car straight at the airport, where there are a large number of local and international car hire companies.

Prices for a week’s hire are around 205 usd.

In South Africa, the fees for returning a car to a different location are usually relatively low; for example, a one-week hire from Johannesburg Airport with return to Cape Town Airport on the other side of the country starts from 310 usd.

Book a car at a discount on booking.com

The car hire counters are located about a 5-minute walk from the arrivals terminal on the first floor of the car park.

Uber / Bolt

Taxis booked via the Uber or Bolt mobile apps are the cheapest and safest form of transport from the airport, second only to the Gautrain.

Always use Bolt or Uber if your destination is far from the train stations. Walking around the city isn’t particularly safe.

Ideally, check the prices on both apps, as they can vary significantly. Generally, however, Bolt tends to be considerably cheaper in Johannesburg.

• Sandton – approx. 220 zar
• Johannesburg city centre – approx. 190 zar
• Pretoria – approx. 350 zar

The price for both applications is calculated based on current demand, which is why we are quoting an average figure.

Book a hotel in Sandton

The mobile app car pick-up point is located in the multi-storey car park Parkade 2 on the 2nd floor, and the route is clearly signposted.

It takes about 5 minutes to walk from the arrivals terminal to the car collection point, and the usual waiting time for a car is between 5 and 15 minutes.

Taxis

Official taxis must use a taximeter. However, there are several companies operating, and travelling by regular taxis can be somewhat confusing; tourists are often overcharged, with fares higher than they should be according to the taximeter.

Payment is by cash only.