Sandton

Alice Lane in Sandton, Johannesburg. Photo: Paul Saad / Flickr

Felicitously known as “Africa’s richest square mile”, Sandton is one of the more opulent and affluent areas of Johannesburg. A vibrant commercial and residential hub, Sandton delights in all given areas. The suburb was named after the two areas of Sandown and Bryanston and was long ago occupied by indigenous Tswana and Sotho people.

A visit to the suburb now, makes it incredibly hard to believe that a mere 50 years ago, it was just dust and farmland. Now, it is home to some of South Africa’s largest, multinational companies, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Nelson Mandela Square and a number of high-end retail and entertainment centres.

The area also has some of the most expensive real estate in the country; towering New York-style skyscrapers and sophisticated, five-star hotels. When you’ve shopped til you’ve dropped at Sandton City or Melrose Arch, take a stroll through Sandton Central Park – which is a spot of Eden in an, otherwise, concrete jungle. You can also find the Tuscan-inspired Montecasino in the suburb’s midst – for fun and games, fine dining and live entertainment.

Sandton is situated 15km north from Johannesburg and 30km from O.R Tambo International Airport.

What to do in Sandton

Sandton is a mecca for shopaholics – but there’s lots to do in the area. Here’s our top picks:

Where to stay in Sandton

Where to eat in Sandton

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