24 Hours in Johannesburg: Soweto and the Apartheid Museum
This post contains affiliate links. If you book or buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Our 10 days in Southern Africa started with a Johannesburg layover: one night at the airport before an early flight to Victoria Falls. Instead of resting, three of us spent the afternoon on a Soweto and Apartheid Museum tour, and it became one of the most special and impactful parts of our entire trip.
We landed in late July, stayed at the InterContinental at O.R. Tambo airport, and flew out the next morning. Here’s how we spent our 24 hours, and how you can do the same on a Johannesburg layover.
Johannesburg Layover at a Glance
- Where: O.R. Tambo International Airport, Soweto, and the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, South Africa
- Getting there: We flew into O.R. Tambo, and our tour picked us up at the airport hotel
- How long to stay: One night was enough for a half-day tour, dinner, and a good night’s sleep before our next flight
- Best time to go: We went in late July, during South Africa’s dry winter season
- Where we stayed: InterContinental Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport, a few minutes’ walk from the terminal
- Don’t miss: The Apartheid Museum
- Pack: Comfortable walking shoes and a small day bag for the tour. Our capsule wardrobe guide can help
Jump to: Our Layover | Tips | FAQs | Next Trip
Our 24-Hour Johannesburg Layover
Check in at a Johannesburg airport hotel
We all flew into Johannesburg and spent our first night at the InterContinental at O.R. Tambo, which is just a few minutes’ walk from the terminal. If you land early, put your name down for early check-in and drop your bags. The hotel also has an indoor pool with big windows looking out over the airport.
Afternoon tour of Soweto
Three of us booked a half-day Soweto and Apartheid Museum tour that picked us up at the hotel. In Soweto we stood outside Mandela House, Nelson Mandela’s old home, and saw the painted Orlando Towers. Not everyone had landed yet, so it was just three of us. One woman was still on her way to South Africa, and another decided to explore the city on her own so she could go shopping. That flexibility is a big part of why we love group travel.
The Hector Pieterson Memorial
Our tour also stopped at the Hector Pieterson Memorial, which honors Hector Pieterson, a student killed during the 1976 Soweto uprising, and the young people who protested with him. The story itself was already extremely emotional. While we were there, we saw his sister, Antoinette Sithole, who is in the famous photo of Hector shown at the memorial, giving a tour herself. Seeing her in person made it even more powerful, and it was a very moving experience.
The Apartheid Museum
We spent the rest of the afternoon at the Apartheid Museum. Our tickets were randomly stamped “Whites” or “Non-Whites,” which decided which entrance we walked through. This tour was one of the most special and impactful parts of our entire trip, and we really appreciated the opportunity to learn about the sad history of South Africa and what’s going on in local communities today.
Dinner at Quills
After the tour, we kept the night easy with dinner at Quills, the hotel restaurant. I appreciated the vegan options, and they even let me give them a packet of my protein powder to add to my smoothie. After dinner, more of our group had arrived, and we got together for a photo before heading to bed.
Back to the airport
To end our Johannesburg layover, we walked back to the terminal the next morning for our short Safair flight to Victoria Falls. From there, our trip took us to Victoria Falls, Chobe, Kings Camp next to Kruger and Cape Town.
Tips for a Johannesburg Layover
- Stay at the airport. Being a short walk from the terminal made the arrival and the next morning’s flight easy.
- Book a tour with hotel pickup. Ours picked us up at the InterContinental, so we didn’t have to figure out transportation.
- Leave a buffer. If you’re connecting the same day instead of staying overnight, give yourself plenty of time to get back through the airport.
- Bring a card and some rand. South Africa uses the rand, and cards work in most places.
Johannesburg Layover FAQs
What can you do on a Johannesburg layover?
We took a half-day tour of Soweto and the Apartheid Museum with pickup at our airport hotel, then had dinner at the hotel and flew out the next morning.
How far is the InterContinental from O.R. Tambo Airport?
It’s just a few minutes’ walk from the terminal.
Is the Apartheid Museum worth visiting?
For us, yes. It was one of the most special and impactful parts of our entire trip.
Can you see Soweto on a half-day tour?
Yes. Our half-day tour stopped at Mandela House, the Orlando Towers, and the Hector Pieterson Memorial in Soweto and then spent the afternoon at the Apartheid Museum.
Final Thoughts
We only had one night in Johannesburg, but it became one of the most meaningful parts of our trip. Visiting Soweto, the Apartheid Museum, and the Hector Pieterson Memorial in person, and seeing his sister there, is something I’ll never forget.
If you have a layover, don’t spend it all at the airport hotel. And if you love fitting a lot into a short trip, here’s how I spent 4 days in Iceland.
Where Should We Go Next?
We’re planning the next Soul Sisters trip now. Tell us where you want to go, and while you’re here, read about our 10 days in Morocco.
