3 Best Hotels in Johannesburg, South Africa

You can find just about every type of lodging in Johannesburg, from the stately and classic Saxon to the fun and funky Ten Bompas or the Peech. Although these varied options are all worthy places to lay your head, the truth is that most travelers stop here only for an overnight or two before they head out to their safari destination. With that in mind, we have compiled a list of places that are easy to get to from the airport and are in well-secured areas so that you will feel safe and comfortable.

Most, if not all, of the good hotels are in the northern suburbs. Many of them are linked to nearby malls and are well policed. Boutique hotels have sprung up everywhere, as have bed-and-breakfasts from Melville to Soweto. Hotels are quieter in December and January, when many locals take their annual vacations and rates are often cheaper. But beware: if there's a major conference, some of the smaller hotels can be booked months in advance.

All the hotels we list offer no-smoking rooms, and many have no-smoking floors.

Soho Hotel

$$$ | Sun City, South Africa

This is the original Sun City hotel, housing spacious and comfortable rooms in the complex that houses the resort's gaming casino, banks of slot machines, and other gaming activities. If gambling and nonstop action are your scene, you'll love it. The hotel pool is large, surrounded by lovely lawns and gardens. There's an area just below the hotel decked out like a Tarzan jungle, with palms, artificial waterfalls, and rope walkways. And a stay here also includes complimentary access to The Valley of Waves.

Pros

  • Classic turn-down and chocolate-on-the-pillow service
  • Easy access to all the entertainment facilities
  • Top-notch restaurants

Cons

  • Casino can be noisy
  • Crowded during high season
  • Expensive food and drink
Sun City, South Africa
011-780–7800-reservations
hotel Details
340 rooms
Rate Includes: Free Breakfast

Quick Facts

The Cabanas

$$ | Sun City, 0316, South Africa

Paths thread through pleasant gardens to rooms in these small apartment blocks overlooking a man-made lake. The Cabanas, which are within the Sun City complex but are a short shuttle drive away from the main hotel and entertainment area, are modern, clean, and convenient for accessing the resort's restaurants, casino, and outdoor activities, which are all open to Cabanas guests. The cabanas have TVs, tea/coffeemakers, and air-conditioning and are particularly popular with families, who appreciate being out of the fray.

Pros

  • Great for kids
  • More affordable than other Sun City accommodations
  • Includes complimentary access to The Valley of Waves

Cons

  • Not a particularly tranquil setting
  • Smallish rooms
  • Need to hop a shuttle for dining options
Sun City, 0316, South Africa
011-780–7800-reservations
hotel Details
380 rooms
Rate Includes: Free Breakfast

Quick Facts

  • $$

The Palace of the Lost City

$$$$ | Sun City, South Africa Fodor's Choice

You might think a hotel based on the concept of a lost African palace would suffer from theme-park syndrome, but happily, that's not the case here as sculpted cranes and leaping kudu appear to take flight from the hotel towers, elephants guard stairways and bridges, and graceful reminders of ersatz Africa strike you at every turn. No expense has been spared, and the attention to detail is mind-boggling. All rooms have hand-carved doors and furnishings, the jungle paintings on the ceiling of the lobby's rotunda took 5,000 hours to complete, and the hand-laid mosaic floor is made up of 300,000 separate tiles. The property was renovated in 2022.

Pros

  • Luxury accommodations
  • Impeccable service
  • Great activities

Cons

  • Pricey
  • Some would find it unbearably ostentatious and a little kitsch
  • Requires a minimum booking of two nights
Sun City, South Africa
011-780–7800-reservations
hotel Details
338 rooms
Rate Includes: Free Breakfast

Quick Facts

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