Pretoria Travel Guide
Weather, best time to visit, and the best food, culture, nature and activities.
Guide updated:
Typical prices
- Budget mealZAR 100.00≈ $6.04
- Mid-range mealZAR 280.00≈ $16.92
- CappuccinoZAR 30.00≈ $1.81
- Domestic beerZAR 35.00≈ $2.11
- Taxi (per km)ZAR 11.00≈ $0.66
- Public transport ticketZAR 15.00≈ $0.91
- Museum entryZAR 100.00≈ $6.04
- Mid-range hotel (night)ZAR 1,400.00≈ $84.59
Food & Drink
- Café RicheSouth African / European · $$
Pretoria's oldest restaurant, operating on Church Square since 1905, known for its Art Nouveau interior and traditional bistro fare.
- The Blue Crane RestaurantSouth African · $$$
Restaurant in the Pretoria National Botanical Garden known for game meats and a scenic garden-view terrace.
- Marabi ClubSouth African · $$
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.