Soweto Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Soweto. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Soweto / Johannesburg and Apartheid Museum Guided Full-Day Tour

• Half-Day Tour of Soweto Tour

• Half Guided Day Tour of Soweto And Apartheid Museum

• Full-Day Soweto, Apartheid Museum, and Lunch Tour

• Ultimate Johannesburg Soweto Experience with Apartheid Museum

You can visit Soweto on your own for free. However, visiting without a guide is not recommended, especially at night, due to high crime rates. The best way to visit Soweto is via a guided tour where a local handles logistics. Half-day tours start around US$50 per person, and full-day tours that include a stop at the Apartheid Museum start around US$130 per person.

Yes, Soweto is worth visiting, especially if you're interested in South Africa's more recent history. It's also a culturally significant destination where you can experience fashion, music, dance, food, and more. See where luminary figures like Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela lived, and have a more meaningful experience with your guide, who can help you navigate the sprawling township.

Per one customer who booked the Half-Day Tour of Soweto Tour, "This has to be on your list. Our guide, Prince, was amazing. Knowledgeable, funny, and engaging. The tour had you filled with laughter, guilt, anger, pity, sadness, and compassion. With a lasting feeling of gratitude and the feeling of community and unity. Plus, the children of Soweto were funny, happy, and posing with a smile."

Soweto is an acronym for “South West Townships.” Soweto was created in the mid-20th century by South Africa’s apartheid government to segregate Black residents. Soweto has a significant place in South African history as it was a center of resistance against apartheid and the setting for the 1976 Soweto Uprising.

Must-visit attractions and landmarks in Soweto include the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum, which commemorates the students killed during the Soweto Uprising of 1976; the Mandela House, Nelson Mandela’s home from 1946 to 1962; and the Tutu House, where Desmond Tutu lived when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Yes, Soweto is generally safe for tourists. As in any city, there are pockets of shady areas and some crime issues. It is best to visit during the day and to stick to well-trafficked and well-lit areas. Most visitors to Soweto do not experience problems.

The best time to visit Johannesburg is from late fall to early spring (May through September). Conditions are typically dry and sunny, and you’ll avoid the crowds and humidity of summer. That said, winter (June through August) can get chilly, with average highs of 61°F (16°C) in July.

Yes, the Soweto Festival takes place in September on Walter Sisulu Square. The festival celebrates South African culture, from wine to locally made fashion and crafts. Youth Day (June 16) marks the anniversary of the 1976 Soweto Uprising, and is a particularly poignant time to visit the township’s key landmarks.

You can experience the local culture in Soweto by booking a tour led by a local resident. Walking tours provide insights into Soweto’s history, culture, and traditions and typically include visits to major landmarks and cultural sites, as well as opportunities to talk with residents.

There are tons of things to do when you're done visiting Soweto. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in and around Johannesburg:

• Apartheid Museum

• Sun City

• Mandela House

• Constitution Hill

• Gold Reef City

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Johannesburg.