South Africa
15 Best Landmarks in South Africa
The landmarks travelers rate highest across South Africa, with what makes each worth the trip.
Order reflects review volume from real travelers in South Africa. Refreshed monthly.
V&A Waterfront
Landmark · Cape TownThe V&A Waterfront is a bustling hub where Cape Town's maritime history meets modern entertainment.
Read our full guide →Moses Mabhida Stadium
Landmark · DurbanMoses Mabhida Stadium is a striking sports venue in Durban, built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Read our full guide →Greenmarket Square
Landmark · Cape TownGreenmarket Square is a cobblestone civic square in central Cape Town, surrounded by historic buildings including the Old Town House.
Read our full guide →Castle of Good Hope
Landmark · Cape TownThe Castle of Good Hope is a pentagonal fortress built by the Dutch East India Company between 1666 and 1679, making it the oldest surviving colonial structure in South Africa.
Read our full guide →Ponte City
Landmark · JohannesburgPonte City, a 54-story cylindrical residential tower, is one of Johannesburg's most recognizable landmarks. Its distinctive shape and height make it visible across the city.
Read our full guide →Mandela House
Landmark · SowetoMandela House, located on the historic Vilakazi Street in Soweto, is the modest brick home where Nelson Mandela lived from 1946 to 1962.
Read our full guide →Irene Farm
Landmark · CenturionFree entryIrene Farm is a working dairy farm established in 1902, located in the suburb of Irene in Centurion, South Africa.
Read our full guide →Carlton Centre
Landmark · JohannesburgThe Carlton Centre is a 50-story skyscraper in downtown Johannesburg, once the tallest building in Africa.
Read our full guide →Honest Travel Experience (Johannesburg)
Landmark · JohannesburgHonest Travel Experience (Johannesburg) is a unique nightlife tour that takes visitors beyond the typical tourist spots to explore Johannesburg's authentic after-dark scene.
Read our full guide →Arts on Main
Landmark · JohannesburgFree entryArts on Main is a dynamic cultural complex located in the Maboneng Precinct, one of Johannesburg's most creative neighborhoods.
Read our full guide →Vilakazi Street
Landmark · SowetoFree entryVilakazi Street in Soweto is the only street in the world to have housed two Nobel Peace Prize winners: Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Read our full guide →Ellis Park Stadium
Landmark · JohannesburgEllis Park Stadium, located in the Doornfontein suburb of Johannesburg, is a landmark sports venue with a rich history.
Read our full guide →The Old Slave Tree
Landmark · GeorgeFree entryThe Old Slave Tree in George, South Africa, is a somber historical landmark located on York Street.
Read our full guide →Kings Park Soccer Stadium
Landmark · DurbanKings Park Soccer Stadium, also known as Moses Mabhida Stadium, is a premier sports venue in Durban.
Read our full guide →Durban City Hall
Landmark · DurbanDurban City Hall is an iconic Edwardian building located in the city center, renowned for its impressive clock tower and architectural grandeur.
Read our full guide →
Good to know
What is the best-known of the landmarks in South Africa?
V&A Waterfront in Cape Town is the most reviewed, with 14,609 traveler reviews and a 4.5 rating. That makes it the safe choice if you are only fitting in one.
Which of South Africa's landmarks is worth going out of your way for?
Honest Travel Experience (Johannesburg) in Johannesburg rates highest at 5.0 out of 5 across 347 reviews. Smaller crowds than the headline entry usually explain the gap.
Which city in South Africa has the most landmarks?
Johannesburg, with 5 on this list, ahead of Cape Town on 3. The list spans 6 cities in total, capped at three per city so one big city cannot crowd out the rest of the country.
Are any of these landmarks free to visit?
Yes, 4: Irene Farm, Arts on Main, Vilakazi Street and others. That is based on each place's own visiting information, not an assumption about the category.
How is this list of landmarks ranked?
By how many travelers reviewed each place, filtered to those rated well enough to be worth your time, drawn from 237 tracked places in South Africa. No one pays to appear on it, and the order is refreshed monthly as new reviews land.
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