Where to go for the best entertainment in Johannesburg
A city with a skyline of towering skyscrapers and a fascinating past, Johannesburg is an incredible place to visit. While it is perhaps best known for its rich - and turbulent - history, it is also home to a bustling, vibrant nightlife and a host of other entertainments.
Indeed, whether you're intent on spending chic evenings out enjoying great cuisine or sophisticated bars, or you're searching for something exciting to do during the day, you'll find plenty of choice in this sprawling city.
Once your flight to Johannesburg has landed and you have settled into your accommodation, you're bound to be eager to discover just what the destination has to offer.
Playing host to an array of fascinating places to visit during the daytime, you'll find that entertainment here certainly isn't in short supply. Perhaps one of the most popular places to visit is Gold Reef City, which is actually situated just outside of Johannesburg.
Themed around the gold rush of the late 19th century, this incredible complex is home to a wealth of attractions - from casinos and restaurants to a theme park and theatre. So, when heading here you will have plenty of choice when it comes to how you spend your day - or night. Indeed, you could choose a day of fun on the rides, or a quiet and sophisticated evening out.
In the city itself, there are a number of excellent theatres well worth discovering. Market Theatre is one of these and boasts a rich history. Founded in 1976, it is perhaps best known for standing up to the apartheid regime and today provides a stage for a wide variety of performances.
Comprising three spaces for live theatre, as well as a cafe and a gallery, the venue puts on everything from contemporary plays to stand-up comedy - and is one of the best places to go if you're interested in soaking up some of the country's modern-day culture.
Joburg Theatre is another good choice and is somewhere you can enjoy home-grown plays and international productions alike. These can take the form of dramas, comedies and even ballet, so you can rest assured of a splendid selection when you come here.
Of course, plays are not the city's only attraction when it comes to watching amazing performances - and you will find two stadiums offering the chance to experience some of South Africa's most important sports.
Among these is Ellis Park, which is where South Africa achieved its 1995 Rugby World Cup victory. If you choose to go to a game here, you'll find that the passion the locals have for the sport fills the stadium, creating an electric atmosphere that'll give you an authentic experience of the city.
Wanderers Stadium, meanwhile, is the home of cricket and is the ideal place to relax and see local sportsmen in action.
After a day spent exploring the city, there's likely to be little more welcome than a trip to a restaurant or bar for some refreshments. Johannesburg has a huge selection of venues, including sophisticated eateries, trendy bars and must-visit music establishments.
Particularly popular with young locals and holidaymakers is Gin - a bar where you can indulge in delicious cocktails and sit outside around pavement tables. Alternatively, if you're eager to soak up some more culture and see some live music, you won't find anywhere better than Kippie's Jazz International - perhaps one of the most famous venues in the city.
As its name suggests, its performances centre around jazz and it's here that you can see some of the best musicians of the genre in South Africa.
Meanwhile, there are a host of museums and other attractions you can explore during your stay. A visit to the Apartheid Museum, which charts this dark side of the country's history, is a must for many travellers. Another good place to learn about this part of Johannesburg's past is Constitution Hill, where you can see jails that imprisoned black men during this period.
If, however, you are looking for a more light-hearted day out, you might prefer to visit Joburg Zoo. Spanning 54 hectares, it is a hugely popular attraction among holidaymakers, giving visitors the chance to see more than 365 species - including elephants, lions, antelope and polar bears.
This is just a handful of the fantastic things to see and do during a break in Johannesburg. To discover more, why not book cheap flights to the city today?
