Introduction
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

Soweto travel guide

Soweto Tourism | Soweto Guide

You're Going to Love Soweto

With a population of 1.70 million, Soweto is a must-see destination in Gauteng, South Africa. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Soweto has to offer.

When to visit Soweto

Soweto in September
Estimated hotel price
£15
1 night at 3-star hotel
Soweto in September
Estimated hotel price
£15
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Soweto in January, when the average temperature is 20 °C, and the highest can go up to 26 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is June, when it can get as cold as -2 °C, with an average temperature of 7 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in January, when precipitation is around 150 mm. In contrast, June is usually the driest month of the year in Soweto, with an average rainfall of 7 mm.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Soweto

Plane

Although Soweto doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Johannesburg Lanseria (HLA), which is located 22 miles from Soweto.

Car

Another option to get to Soweto is to pick up a car hire from Johannesburg, which is about 12 miles from Soweto. You’ll find branches of CarWiz and Woodford, among others, in Johannesburg.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Soweto, including City to City, Eagle Liner and APM. From Pietermaritzburg, the bus ride to Soweto takes 220 miles and will cost you around £18. From Bloemfontein, the ticket costs about £12 for a journey of 305 miles. Soweto’s bus station is located 6 miles from the city centre.

Plane

Although Soweto doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Johannesburg Lanseria (HLA), which is located 22 miles from Soweto.

Car

Another option to get to Soweto is to pick up a car hire from Johannesburg, which is about 12 miles from Soweto. You’ll find branches of CarWiz and Woodford, among others, in Johannesburg.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Soweto, including City to City, Eagle Liner and APM. From Pietermaritzburg, the bus ride to Soweto takes 220 miles and will cost you around £18. From Bloemfontein, the ticket costs about £12 for a journey of 305 miles. Soweto’s bus station is located 6 miles from the city centre.

Airports near Soweto

PRYPretoria Wonderboom Apt.
HLAJohannesburg Lanseria
JNBJohannesburg OR Tambo

Airlines serving Soweto

Lufthansa
Good (7,045 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,334 reviews)
British Airways
Good (6,845 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,588 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,934 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,791 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,701 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,447 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (781 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,696 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,217 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,564 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,252 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,349 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (346 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,275 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (9,973 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,203 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,292 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (855 reviews)
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Where to stay in Soweto

Average rates range from around £20 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £19 and up for a 5-star experience.

Where to stay in popular areas of Soweto

Most booked hotels in Soweto

See all
Holiday Inn Johannesburg Sunnyside Park
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
£38+
View
Radisson Blu Gautrain Hotel, Sandton Johannesburg
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
£67+
View
Protea Hotel by Marriott O.R. Tambo Airport
4 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
£63+
View
Southern Sun Or Tambo International Airport
4 stars
Good (7.8, Good reviews)
£73+
View

Hiring a car in Soweto

Expect to pay £0.90 per litre in Soweto (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £10.69 and £14.25. Economy (Class Economy Car or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Soweto, while also 35% cheaper than other types, on average.

Expect to pay £0.90 per litre in Soweto (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £10.69 and £14.25. Economy (Class Economy Car or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Soweto, while also 35% cheaper than other types, on average.

Soweto Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Soweto city guide for the best Soweto travel tips. To help you organise your Soweto trip ideas, this Soweto visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.