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Voykit pocket guide · South Africa
Pretoria
Give Pretoria 2 nights: one for the Union Buildings, Church Square and a museum, one for the Voortrekker Monument and Freedom Park. Skip it if you only have 3 days in Gauteng.
Pretoria is South Africa's executive capital, an inland city of wide avenues, government buildings and jacaranda trees that flower purple in October. It sits 50 km north of Johannesburg and is joined to OR Tambo airport by the Gautrain. Sights spread from the CBD to the eastern suburbs, so plan two half-days by car or ride-hail rather than trying to walk it.
- Country
- South Africa
- Best months
- Apr–May, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (afternoon storms), Jun–Jul nights (cold, uninsulated rooms)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- ZAR
- Money
- Currency is the South African rand (ZAR, R), about 17–18 per US$ in 2026 (check). Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere in cities and at lodges; carry small cash for tips.
- Daily spend
- Budget R700–1,100 excl. bed · Mid R1,100–2,000 excl. bed · High R2,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Vodacom and MTN have the best coverage; Cell C and Telkom are cheaper. Buy at the airport shop with your passport (RICA registration is required).
- Emergency
- From a mobile 112
- Plugs
- Types M, C, N · 230 V · 50 Hz · The big round-pin type M is rarely used elsewhere; buy a local adapter at the airport or any supermarket.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 10–15%; check if a service charge is added for large groups.; Fuel attendant: R5–20, more if they wash windows and check tyres.; Car guard: R5–20 when you leave.; Safari ranger and tracker: About R150–300 per guest per day for the ranger, R100–200 for the tracker — check lodge guidance.; Hotel porter: R10–20 per bag.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in most cities and towns; in some municipalities with failing infrastructure, ask your host.
- Toilets
- Clean Western toilets at fuel stations (Engen, Shell, Ultra City), malls and park camps.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | R30–55 |
| Noodle or burger lunch | R90–180 |
| Beer: draught in a bar / can at a shop | R35–60 / R20–30 |
| 5 km ride-hail trip3.1 mi ride-hail trip | R80–150 |
| Tshwane bus ride | R8–16 (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | R150–350 |
| Museum entry | R35–270 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- JNB · O.R. Tambo International
- Gautrain to Pretoria station, about 40 min; or R21 highway by car, 45–60 min
Typical fares
- Gautrain, OR Tambo → Pretoria
- about R164, about 40 min (check)
- Ride-hail, Hatfield → Union Buildings
- R100–160
- Voortrekker Monument entry
- R270 per person plus R22 per car (check)
Get around
The Gautrain links Hatfield and Pretoria station to Johannesburg and OR Tambo. For the sights, use Uber or a metered taxi, or rent a car: the Union Buildings, Voortrekker Monument and Freedom Park are 5–10 km apart. Tshwane buses are cheap but infrequent and poorly signposted; minibus taxis are for commuters, not luggage. Walking works by day in Hatfield and Menlyn, not in the CBD after dusk.The Gautrain links Hatfield and Pretoria station to Johannesburg and OR Tambo. For the sights, use Uber or a metered taxi, or rent a car: the Union Buildings, Voortrekker Monument and Freedom Park are 3.1–6.2 mi apart. Tshwane buses are cheap but infrequent and poorly signposted; minibus taxis are for commuters, not luggage. Walking works by day in Hatfield and Menlyn, not in the CBD after dusk.
See and do
Known for
- Union Buildings
- Voortrekker Monument
- Jacaranda season
- Church Square
- Freedom Park
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Centurion | Gautrain or N1 by car, 20–30 min south | About 40 min |
| Irene | Car via the N1 and R21, about 25 min south-east | About 40 min |
| Johannesburg and Soweto | Gautrain to Sandton or Park station, then ride-hail | 1.5–2 h |
| Cradle of Humankind | Car via the N14, about 1 h west | About 1.5 h |
Sleep
- Hatfield
- Student district near the university and Gautrain station; cafés, guesthouses, walkable by day.
- Menlyn
- Eastern suburbs; malls, chain hotels and easy parking, best if you have a car.
- CBD / Church Square
- Historic core and museums; quiet and thin on the ground after dark, so use it for sightseeing, not sleeping.
- Waterkloof and Brooklyn
- Leafy, low-density and safe-feeling; guesthouses and embassies, car needed.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hallohah-loh |
| Thank you | Dankiedun-kee |
| How much is it? | Hoeveel is dit?hoo-feel is dit |
| Please | Assebliefah-suh-bleef |
| Excuse me | Verskoon myfer-skohn may |
| Goodbye | Totsienstot-seens |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say hello and ask how someone is before any request; avoid: Launching straight into a question
- Handshakes: Three-part African handshake with friends; a normal handshake with strangers; avoid: Refusing an offered hand
- Elders: Use Mr/Mrs or 'Mama', 'Baba' respectfully in townships and rural areas; avoid: First names with older people you have just met
- Braai invitations: Bring meat or drinks, and arrive on 'African time'; avoid: Taking over the fire
- Photos: Ask first, especially in townships and villages; avoid: Photographing children without a parent's permission
- Politics and race: Ask questions and listen; avoid: Lecturing on history or crime
Scams and watch-outs
- Don't walk in the CBD after dark; take a ride-hail door to door.
- Summer afternoon thunderstorms bring lightning and occasional hail: start outdoor sights in the morning.
- Winter nights drop near 5°C and buildings are poorly insulated: pack a warm layer.
- Uber pickups are restricted around the Gautrain station; walk to a nearby street.
- Carry small change for car guards (R5–20) and fuel attendants.
Pretoria is fine by day if you stay in the tourist and suburban zones and use ride-hail after dark. The real risks are the CBD at night, isolated walks and cash-only street transactions: keep a card, keep small change, and don't flash a phone on the pavement.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Pretoria yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Union Buildings
- Voortrekker Monument
- Jacaranda season
- Church Square
- Freedom Park
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality: www.tshwane.gov.za/
- Gautrain: www.gautrain.co.za/
- Wikivoyage: Pretoria, revision 5322363 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5322363
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Pretoria
Na hierdie adres, asseblief
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- From a mobile112
Many countries keep embassies in Pretoria (the US embassy is on Pretorius Street); check your own country's address before you travel.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/pretoria). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.