Top of Africa

Johannesburg


The Carlton Centre (223m) has been Africa's tallest building since 1973. The basement shelters a buzzing shopping mall. For awesome city vistas, head to the observation deck at the top (entrance is via a special lift one floor below street level).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Johannesburg attractions

1. Gandhi Square

0.21 MILES

in 2002 Van der Bijl Sq was revamped and renamed Gandhi Sq in honour of Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi. Look out for the bronze statue representing him as a…

2. Thunder Walker

0.23 MILES

Inside century-old Somerset House, a former bank office, Thunder Walker is a bar/restaurant/events venue with a historic twist. The building's interior is…

3. Workhorse Bronze Foundry

0.26 MILES

The Workhorse Bronze Foundry, based in a former factory in the gritty centre of downtown Jo'burg, is where many of South Africa's top sculptors create…

4. Rissik Street Post Office

0.29 MILES

One of Jozi's most noteworthy heritage buildings is this grand post office dating from 1897. It sat empty and dilapidated for years and was gutted by fire…

5. Rand Club

0.33 MILES

Founded in 1887, this version of the illustrious (and once whites- and men-only) club dates from 1904. It's now open to all, and so long as you're not…

6. Johannesburg City Hall

0.34 MILES

This fine late-Edwardian building received a welcome renovation in 2012. Designed by William Hawke and William McKinlay in a mixture of neo-classical and…

7. One Eloff

0.39 MILES

Painted an unmissable acid yellow and turquoise, this art-deco building was originally a car showroom but was revamped in 2016 by the property developers…

8. Standard Bank Art Gallery

0.45 MILES

If you're in this part of town it's worth dropping by this light-filled gallery to see what's showing in its regularly changing exhibitions by important…

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