The 10 Best Day Trips from Pretoria
How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.
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There are 10 good day trips from Pretoria, South Africa, led by Johannesburg, Soweto, Soshanguve. The closest is Diepsloot, about 40 min by car, and 5 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.
Built from 10 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.
Day trips from Pretoria
- 1
Johannesburg, South Africa
Half-day tripAbout 1 hr by car53 km south of PretoriaWhat travelers see in Johannesburg
- Apartheid Museum - Gain profound insight into South Africa's history of apartheid with detailed exhibitions and thought-provoking narratives.
- Johannesburg Botanical Gardens - Immerse yourself in lush greenery and diverse plant species at this expansive garden, perfect for a leisurely stroll or picnic.
- Gold Reef City Theme Park - Enjoy thrilling rides and experiences that celebrate Johannesburg's gold mining history in a fun and family-friendly environment.
- 2
Soweto, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 15 min by car67 km south-west of PretoriaKnown for Ghandi Tolstoy Farm.
- 3
Soshanguve, South Africa
Half-day tripAbout 35 min by car32 km north of PretoriaKnown for Crater Viewpoint.
- 4
Evaton, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car94 km south of Pretoria - 5
Thembisa, South Africa
Half-day tripAbout 40 min by car28 km south of Pretoria - 6
Vereeniging, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 40 min by car106 km south of Pretoria - 7
Rustenburg, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car95 km west of Pretoria - 8
Emalahleni, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 40 min by car106 km east of Pretoria - 9
Diepsloot, South Africa
Half-day tripAbout 40 min by car27 km south-west of Pretoria - 10
Randburg, South Africa
Half-day tripAbout 50 min by car43 km south-west of Pretoria
A sample day: Pretoria to Johannesburg
- 08:30Leave Pretoria
- 09:30Arrive in Johannesburg (1 hr drive)
- 09:45Apartheid Museum
- 11:45Lunch
- 13:00Johannesburg Botanical Gardens
- 14:45Gold Reef City Theme Park
- 16:15Head back to Pretoria
- 17:15Home in Pretoria
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best day trips from Pretoria?
- The best day trips from Pretoria are Johannesburg, Soweto, Soshanguve, Evaton, Thembisa. The closest is Diepsloot, about 40 min away by car.
- What is the closest day trip from Pretoria?
- Diepsloot is the closest, 27 km south-west of Pretoria, roughly 40 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
- Where can I go within an hour of Pretoria?
- 5 places are within about an hour's drive of Pretoria: Diepsloot (40 min), Thembisa (40 min), Soshanguve (35 min), Randburg (50 min), Johannesburg (1 hr).
- What is the biggest city near Pretoria for a day out?
- Johannesburg is the largest city in day-trip range, 53 km south of Pretoria and about 1 hr by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
- Where can I go for a weekend from Pretoria?
- For a weekend away from Pretoria, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Emalahleni (106 km, 1 hr 40 min), Vereeniging (106 km, 1 hr 40 min). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
- How far is too far for a day trip from Pretoria?
- Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Emalahleni at 106 km, around 1 hr 40 min by car.
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