South Africa

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Pretoria

South Africa's jacaranda-lined capital

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Best time to visit: Mar, Apr, May, Aug, Sep, Oct
Currency: ZAR
Time zone: UTC+2
Country: South Africa

Photo: Portiatn, CC BY-SA 3.0

Pretoria is South Africa's executive capital, a leafy highveld city of government buildings, embassies and universities. Visitors come for its monuments and museums, its jacaranda-lined streets in spring, and its easy rail link to Johannesburg and OR Tambo airport.

Largest cities

Johannesburg
Cape Town
Durban
Pretoria
Port Elizabeth

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: South Africa
Capital: Bloemfontein
City population: 741,651
Population of South Africa: 62M
Country area: 1,221,037 km²
Official language: South Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Tsonga, and Tswana
Currency: South African Rand (ZAR) · 1 USD ≈ 16.54 ZAR
Time zone: UTC+2
Calling code: +27
Drives on the: Left
Elevation: 1,325 m
Plugs: C / M / N · 230V
Emergency numbers: 10111 (police) · 10177 (ambulance) · 112 (mobile emergency)
Best time to visit: Mar, Apr, May, Aug, Sep, Oct

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	28°	27°	27°	23°	22°	19°	19°	23°	27°	28°	27°	27°
Low	17°	17°	15°	12°	10°	6°	6°	9°	12°	14°	15°	16°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$39
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$88
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$220

Plan a trip to Pretoria

Top things to do

Free
Union Buildings and Terraced Gardens
Walk the free terraced gardens below Sir Herbert Baker's 1913 government seat for sweeping views over the city; the building itself is closed to visitors for security reasons.
- Half day
- Arcadia and Union Buildings
- Good for kids
Free
Church Square and Ou Raadsaal
The historic heart of the city, ringed by the Raadsaal, Palace of Justice and a statue of Paul Kruger; visit in daylight and keep an eye on your belongings.
- Half day
- Pretoria Central / CBD
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
≈ $6
Voortrekker Monument
A vast 1949 granite monument to the Great Trek with a domed hall and a rooftop view over the valley; the site is a short drive south of the centre, so arrange transport both ways.
- Half day
- Groenkloof and Waterkloof
- Good for kids
- Indoors
≈ $6
Pretoria National Botanical Garden
A 76-hectare garden in the eastern suburbs with indigenous plants, a waterfall and quiet walking trails; it is cashless, so bring a card.
- Half day
- Hatfield and eastern suburbs
- Good for kids
≈ $6
National Zoological Gardens
One of the country's oldest zoos, with an aquarium, reptile park and a cableway between the upper and lower sections; golf carts can be rented if the hills look tiring.
- Half day
- Pretoria Central / CBD
- Good for kids
≈ $5
Freedom Park
A hilltop memorial and museum complex on Salvokop telling South Africa's story from prehistory to democracy; the walk to the top gives wide views over the city.
- Half day
- Groenkloof and Waterkloof
- Good for kids
≈ $4
Wonderboom Nature Reserve
A day out north of the centre to see a 1,000-year-old fig tree with 13 trunks, plus rock hyraxes, black eagles and the ruins of a Boer War fort; wear sturdy shoes for the hill.
- Full day
- Arcadia and Union Buildings
- Good for kids
≈ $25
Cullinan Diamond Mine day trip
Tour the workings of the mine that produced the Cullinan diamond, about 40 km east of the city, and walk the small town's historic streets; book the underground tour ahead.
- Full day
- Hatfield and eastern suburbs
- Good for kids
- Indoors

Before you go

Entry and visas

Many visitors, including British citizens, can enter South Africa without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism or business, while other nationalities may need a visa or must apply in advance; rules depend on nationality, so check before booking. Your passport must be valid for at least 30 days beyond your departure date and have at least two blank pages, and travellers with children aged 17 and under face extra documentation requirements. From 1 July 2026 all travellers entering or leaving South Africa must submit an online traveller declaration before travelling, and yellow fever vaccination

Official website

From the airport

Most travellers fly into O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg, about 45–60 minutes away by car or shuttle on the R21/Albertina Sisulu Highway. The Gautrain high-speed rail also runs from the airport to Pretoria in roughly 35–45 minutes.

Getting around

Use the Gautrain and its connecting buses, metered taxis or ride-hailing apps; the municipal Tshwane bus and minibus taxis are cheaper but less predictable, and walking is best kept to daylight hours.

Local tips

Summer (November–February) brings hot days and short, intense afternoon thunderstorms, so carry a light rain jacket; winter nights can drop near freezing, so pack warm layers.
Tipping is customary: around 10–15% in restaurants and small amounts for car guards and petrol attendants.
Be aware of your surroundings, avoid walking alone after dark, especially in the central business district, and keep valuables out of sight.
The jacarandas bloom around October, the city's busiest and most photogenic season, so book accommodation early.