8 Free Photo Spots in Johannesburg
Heads up: some links here are affiliate links. Book or buy through them and we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only point you to things we would actually use.
None of the eight spots below cost more than a modest entry fee, and half are free. The best single shot in the city is also the cheapest: the Carlton Centre’s rooftop deck, still one of the highest viewpoints in Africa for a few rand. Phones and cameras are exactly what smash-and-grab and street theft target, so shoot smart: keep gear in a bag between shots rather than slung visibly, use Uber or Bolt between spots rather than walking with a camera out, and treat the inner-city spots (Maboneng, Ponte City, Constitution Hill) as day-or-guided-tour visits (check your own government’s current travel advisory before you go).
Where can I get good photos in Johannesburg for free?
The Carlton Centre’s “Top of Africa” deck, Emmarentia Dam, and the Johannesburg Botanical Garden’s rose beds cost nothing beyond a Gautrain or Uber fare, and all three give you a genuinely different side of the city.
1. Carlton Centre, “Top of Africa.” A rooftop deck at the top of what was once Africa’s tallest building, a cheap, wide skyline shot over the whole city. Go by day, Uber there and back.
2. Maboneng Precinct. Street art and industrial-chic architecture make this the best urban texture in the city. Shoot by day; the area empties out and gets riskier after dark.
3. Constitution Hill. The Old Fort prison buildings against the Constitutional Court’s modern glass and salvaged brick is one of the more layered, thought-provoking frames in Johannesburg. Sober subject matter; the Number Four cells and Women’s Jail are part of the story, not a backdrop.
4. Ponte City tower. The cylindrical skyscraper is a striking silhouette from a distance and, if you book the Dlala Nje guided tour, the 51st-floor interior view is worth the roughly R350-R450 fee on its own.
5. Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden. The roughly 70m Witpoortjie Falls and a resident Verreaux’s eagle pair give you both a waterfall shot and genuine wildlife, open daily 8am-5pm.
6. Emmarentia Dam. Free, and the reflections off the dam at golden hour are some of the calmest, least “urban Johannesburg” frames you’ll get in the city.
7. Newtown and the Nelson Mandela Bridge. The bridge itself is a clean architectural shot, and the surrounding Newtown precinct, with the Market Theatre and Museum Africa, adds street-level detail.
8. Sandton’s Nelson Mandela Square. The safest, most relaxed spot on this list for an evening shoot, no real safety planning required beyond normal city sense.
What does each spot cost?
| Spot | Approx cost (ZAR) | Best time | Safety note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlton Centre deck | Cheap entry (verify) | Daytime | Uber there and back |
| Maboneng street art | Free | Daytime | Uber after dark |
| Constitution Hill | Modest entry (verify) | Daytime | Sober subject, guided tour adds context |
| Ponte City (Dlala Nje) | R350-R450 | Daytime, guided | Tower interior only via tour |
| Walter Sisulu NBG | Modest entry (verify) | 8am-5pm daily | Safe, family-friendly |
| Emmarentia Dam | Free | Golden hour | Safe, daytime |
For the rest of the sights worth building a route around, see the things to do guide , or work a photo day into the 3-day itinerary .
To book the Ponte City guided tour: Johannesburg city tour on GetYourGuide . For Soweto and the inner city more broadly, book a guided tour and use trusted transport rather than going solo. For a Sandton base near Nelson Mandela Square, see Sandton hotels on Booking.com .
Before you go, check the current advisory from your own government: the US State Department South Africa page or the UK FCDO South Africa advice . For the botanical garden’s current hours, South African Tourism is a useful starting point.
The verdict: the Carlton Centre deck is the best value shot in the city for the price, and the Ponte City tour is the one worth paying for. Everything else on this list is free or close to it.