Three specific landmarks can help you choose accommodation in Sandton: Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton City and Sandton Station. They represent different aspects of a stay: an open-air piazza, a shopping destination and a train station with clearly identified entrances. Nearby, Innesfree Farm in Sandown offers another place for dams, picnics and events. Consider which of these interests you want to shape your stay before looking for hotels.
Piazza and shopping in Sandton
Nelson Mandela Square is an open-air piazza in the heart of the bustling Sandton CBD. A six-metre-high statue of Nelson Mandela is a landmark in the square, which covers 1,000 square metres and adjoins Sandton City. The piazza and the shopping centre are therefore two distinct places to visit: here, the focus is on the square and its monument; there, on shopping.
The tourism association counts Sandton City among Africa’s leading and most prestigious shopping centres. The centre has nearly 400 local and international retail stores and is considered a fashion and leisure destination. A simple comparison can help with planning your day: Nelson Mandela Square is an open-air public square; Sandton City focuses on retail, fashion and leisure. This lets you decide which place better suits your plans without treating both as a single destination.
Innesfree Farm nearby
Innesfree Farm is in nearby Sandown, in the vicinity of Sandton. The grounds include two dams and are often used for motorsport shows and art and cultural exhibitions. They are also suitable for picnics and outdoor events. These offerings have a different emphasis from the piazza and shopping centre: alongside its event uses, the site offers dams and opportunities to spend time outdoors. Taking these into account can help you weigh up a stay beyond Sandton’s central destinations.
Culture in the broader destination of City Of Johannesburg
If you want to explore culture in a broader context, you can also consider the wider destination of City Of Johannesburg. The Apartheid Museum illustrates the rise and fall of apartheid. Its permanent exhibition traces South Africa’s history from the dark days of oppression to a place of healing shaped by the principles of democracy. Constitution Hill is home to South Africa’s Constitutional Court and tells the story of the country’s journey to democracy as a living museum. The two sites offer different perspectives: the museum traces the history of apartheid, while Constitution Hill links democratic development with the seat of the Constitutional Court.
The Origins Centre offers another thematic focus. Its interactive exhibitions explore the origins of humanity in Africa and the development of technology, art, culture and symbolism; they also explore the diverse traditions of South African rock art. Museum Africa, in turn, focuses on South Africa’s social, political and cultural development. These themes can help you distinguish between the cultural attractions in the broader destination according to your interests.
Sandton Station as a landmark
Sandton Station is located deep beneath Rivonia Road. The pedestrian entrance is at the corner of Rivonia Road and West Street; the vehicle entrance to the parking garage is on West Street. When planning your trip, consider which entrance suits your route of arrival. As access arrangements may change during infrastructure work, it is a good idea to check the latest information before visiting.
Which of these matters most to you depends on which of the aspects of Sandton described here you want to prioritise during your stay.
Discover more destinations: Bryanston, Soweto, Lanseria, Roodepoort, Randburg, Pimville, Lenasia, Johannesburg.
See the broader travel overview: City Of Johannesburg.
