Best museums and art galleries in Johannesburg

THINGS TO DO, JOHANNESBURG Updated : Jun 16, 2017, 12.20 PM IST

Sumedha Bharpilania

Sumedha has travelled across 28 countries, including a major chunk of India, and calls Japan, Thailand, France and Switzerland her pet destinations. She is seasoned in going off the beaten track and loves documenting her journeys. Apart from getting lost in metropolises, being stranded at airports and finding solace in the hills, she actively writes for eminent travel platforms. You can follow her trips on her social media handles.

Photo courtesy: Johannesburg Art Gallery

The second largest city of the African continent, Johannesburg is a thriving metropolis that is home to as many as 3 million people. A truly diverse city, it offers a plethora of memorable experiences for tourists in the form of its monuments, entertainment complexes, gardens, shopping malls, restaurants and bars. However, it is the many museums and art galleries of the city that truly stand out because of the wonderful ways in which they have preserved important arts and artefacts. Right from addresses that pay homage to the great Nelson Mandela to those that celebrate life and times of Mahatma Gandhi, Johannesburg is a thorough learning experience. And to enlighten you even further, there are galleries that hold sublime paintings by renowned artists like Pablo Picasso and institutions that document the heart-breaking history of the Apartheid. Your Johannesburg itinerary will definitely be a busy one.

To that end, here are the seven most important museums and art galleries in the capital of the Gauteng Province. If you visit them all, you will certainly go back home a well-informed traveller.
1
Museum

THINGS TO DO, JOHANNESBURG

The Apartheid Museum

The Apartheid or the abominable system of racial discrimination against black South Africans that lasted for almost 50 years is perhaps one of the most significant periods in the history of mankind. Moreover, Nelson Mand...more

2
Museum

THINGS TO DO, JOHANNESBURG

Mandela House Museum

Located in the township of Soweto, Mandela House is the former residence of the deceased South African President Nelson Mandela and has been operating as a museum since 2009. Madiba lived in this house ‘8115’ on Vilakazi...more

3
Museum

THINGS TO DO, JOHANNESBURG

The Lindfield Victorian House Museum

A museum that dates way back to the year 1910, the Lindfield Victorian House Museum, is as the name suggests a house of the Victorian era and was designed by the celebrated architect Herbert Baker.

4
Museum

THINGS TO DO, JOHANNESBURG

SAB World of Beer

If you are a beer lover and you often wonder if a museum dedicated to the golden beverage exists at all—yes it does! The SAB World of Beer is a beer museum and also a conference venue that is managed by the breweries of ...more

5
Art Gallery

THINGS TO DO, JOHANNESBURG

Johannesburg Art Gallery

A shining gem of the Central Business District of Johannesburg, the Johannesburg Art Gallery houses some of the best historical art in the city. Designed by the British architect Edward Lutyens, it has some excellent Dut...more

6
Museum

THINGS TO DO, JOHANNESBURG

South African National Museum of Military History

Inaugurated in 1947, right after the Second World War, The South African National War Museum once sought to trace the country’s involvement in the most devastating war known to mankind. It was in 1975 that it changed its...more

7
Museum

THINGS TO DO, JOHANNESBURG

Satyagraha House

A guest house and a museum that was the residence of Mahatma Gandhi for a year, the Satyagraha House is an important attraction in Johannesburg, especially for Indian tourists. Designed by the Jewish architect Hermann Ka...more

Liked this article? Let your friends know about it

Next story

Scindia Museum