When to visit Pretoria: June to August is Pretoria's mild, dry winter with sunny days and cold nights, good for sightseeing without summer thunderstorms
When is the best time to visit Pretoria?
Avg Temp
6–19°C
Rainfall
Low, ~10mm/month (Pretoria's dry winter season)
Best Time
June to August is Pretoria's mild, dry winter with sunny days and cold nights, good for sightseeing without summer thunderstorms
Packing Tips (3)
- A warm jacket for cold mornings and evenings
- Layers to shed as days warm up under the sun
- Comfortable shoes for walking Church Square and the Union Buildings gardens
What does Pretoria cost?
Typical prices
- Budget mealZAR 100.00
- Mid-range mealZAR 280.00
- CappuccinoZAR 30.00
- Domestic beerZAR 35.00
- Taxi (per km)ZAR 11.00
- Public transport ticketZAR 15.00
- Museum entryZAR 100.00
- Mid-range hotel (night)ZAR 1,400.00
Local currency: ZAR
Food & Drink
Café Riche
Pretoria's oldest restaurant, operating on Church Square since 1905, known for its Art Nouveau interior and traditional bistro fare.
The Blue Crane Restaurant
Restaurant in the Pretoria National Botanical Garden known for game meats and a scenic garden-view terrace.
Marabi Club
Hatfield-area restaurant and jazz venue known for its retro-South African decor and live music evenings.
Aandklas
Hatfield student-district bar and live-music venue popular with University of Pretoria students.
Culture & History
Voortrekker Monument
Massive granite monument south of the city commemorating the Great Trek, with a museum and a hilltop viewing platform.
Union Buildings
Herbert Baker-designed seat of the South African government, fronted by a large statue of Nelson Mandela and terraced gardens.
Ditsong National Museum of Natural History
Natural history museum with fossil and dinosaur collections, including specimens from the nearby Cradle of Humankind.
Freedom Park
Hilltop heritage site and museum honoring those who died in South Africa's conflicts, with the Isivivane memorial garden and Sikhumbuto wall.
Jacaranda season
Not a festival but a beloved seasonal event: tens of thousands of jacaranda trees bloom purple across the city's streets.
Nature & Outdoors
Fountains Valley (Groenkloof Nature Reserve)
Nature reserve within city limits with hiking trails through hills and grassland, home to zebra and antelope.
Cities in South Africa
Planning Pretoria?
Try a ready-made trip first.
Open the demo trip with no sign-up: Barcelona on your own, or Rome, Florence and Venice as a group. Then plan Pretoria your way.