The 11 best museums and galleries in Johannesburg to explore

Come and enjoy a blend of art and science at the Origins Centre at Wits University. The Centre showcases Southern African art traditions and lifeways through time – the earliest technologists, art and rock art, clothing, indigenous knowledge systems, spirituality and contemporary art making.

The Tapestry Room is a must-see, featuring 11 beautiful and intricately embroidered panels that illustrate the history of the San in Southern Africa.

The Centre’s majestic eland is also marvelled over and is often shown in San hunter-gatherer rock art as it was a special animal believed to hold large amounts of supernatural potency.

Finally, don’t forget to make use of an augmented reality app where elements of the museum can be brought to life on one’s phone such as the rock engravings.

Ever visited Wonderland? If you drive past a few back roads in Ruimsig, you’ll find this hidden gem, consisting of 3 galleries, including a magnificent Micheal Heyns exhibition. As you pass outside to move to another exhibition, you’ll notice the Alice in Wonderland themes in the background. Every piece, from investment art to fine art has been bought by the owner Alice, who believes that even if you’re not purchasing art from her gallery, come and feed your soul when visiting. “If you buy the right piece, you’ll never want to sell it.”

They also host auctions once a quarter where you can pick up some bargains. And their in-house café has a host of freshly made treats on offer, including a homebrewed iced tea that’s fresher than the Mad Hatter’s. Why not venture down the rabbit hole, or go through the looking glass, and experience something truly inspiring?

Thin green ferns creep over Everard Read’s sign in Rosebank, beckoning you to enter the gallery in an alluring manner. Since its founding in 1913; it’s been the beating heart of South Africa’s art world for over a century. As our country’s oldest private gallery, it’s seen the rise of some of Mzansi's most revered artists. This includes Wayne Barker, who gained widespread recognition during a period of intense political turmoil under Apartheid, and Tamlin Blake, who explores important local themes like belonging, identity and status.

The gallery evolves with culture, expanding its horizons and welcoming in new artistic voices. It’s not just a gallery; it’s a dynamic space where art and life converge in the most inspiring ways. And how fitting that they’re based in Rosebank - a haven for creative expression in Johannesburg.

Art is meant to be brave, bold and a freedom of expression. During Apartheid, the Goodman Gallery did not care for race nor classification and allowed everyone to showcase their work, thus earning it recognition for pioneering 20^th Century African Art.

The founder, the late Linda Givon, was at the heart of this vision. Linda even used to bail black artists out of jail for not carrying their ‘pass books’ during those oppressive years. Today, with galleries in London, New York, Cape Town and, of course, Joburg, her vision remains intact with artists who wish to push the boundaries being given a chance to display their work.

Melrose Arch is famous for its fine restaurants and exciting bars, but it’s also an opportunity to take in the work of some talented artists. The Melrose Gallery is a vibrant hub for Pan-African Contemporary Art and proudly showcases the voices of both established and emerging artists. More importantly, their art addresses significant issues impacting the African continent on a global scale. Come and be enlightened.

The past is also key to the present, which is why they commit to honouring the trailblazing elders who have shaped African Contemporary Art. These invaluable contributions have laid a solid foundation for the dynamic new generation of artists rising from Africa. Hopefully, the flow continues, as inspiration is also handed down, generation by generation.

If you could only choose one museum to visit in Johannesburg, then this is the one. Nothing chronicles our country’s dark past quite like this - a poignant and chill-tingling visit for both locals and non-South Africans. From the time you are made to choose to enter via the White or Non-White gates, you’re transported into a world that seems like it could never have existed. Yet it did.

Giant ID cards hang in the Race Classification section; come and learn more about how damning segregation was and the significance of 1976. You can also look for renewed hope by taking in 30 years of democracy with one the newer exhibitions, Born Free: A Generation of Hope.

Art doesn’t have to just be taken in via a nice, fancy gallery. If you have a true African spirit, then you’ll know you can gain your inspiration amongst a hustle and bustle of noise and energy. The Rosebank Art & Craft Market offers patrons a chance to browse through true creativity that is at the heart of what’s on show.

Art belongs to us all and can be created by us all. There are all types of vendors here, who have given life to African handicrafts, jewellery, decor and souvenirs. This is the perfect place to pick up some nifty gifts or a few epic bargains.

Everything is not always what it seems. That’s the theme of the Museum of Illusions. Come and spend fun-filled hours with the family in a haven of illusions, tricks and magic that will leave your eyes wandering and your mind pondering.

A few highlights include the upside-down room; images that fool the eyes; a cloning table; and a room full of mirrors. Oh, and there’s also an opportunity to levitate off the ground. Intrigued yet?

Opened by South African Prime Minister Jan Smuts in 1947, the Museum serves as a memorial to South Africans who fought in the Second World War. It gives us fascinating insight into a turbulent past where loss of life and violence were at the heart of some of Earth’s darkest days.

The aircrafts, tanks, guns, uniforms and medals are all historical artifacts that bring to life our part played in one of history’s most colossal happenings.

Mabida’s legacy lives on in so many facets of our country. But why not get a glimpse into this revered man’s home on the iconic Vilakazi Street in Soweto? Built in 1945, Winnie Mandela moved in with Madiba in 1958 and when he was imprisoned in the 60s and she was exiled in the 70s, their daughters continued to live there.

The house underwent a massive restoration project in 2008. It’s now a well-preserved museum that offers us an opportunity to gain insight into the father of our nation through various artworks, other forms of media and historical artifacts such as the Mandela family’s couch and camera, as well as a boxing belt given to Mabida by Sugar Ray Leonard. 

The house only had one bedroom and visiting this historic yet confined home reminds us not only how many people lived during apartheid, but how they continue to live today.

With South Africa continuing to invest in STEM skills (Google it), the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre exposes kids to an array of learning through engaging and cutting-edge experiences.

This includes cycling to explore electricity and magnetism, interacting with AI and robotics, a range of brain teasers that encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills and learning the mechanics behind operating a crane… by operating a miniature version. The Centre subscribes to the whole notion of learning through exploratory play.

It’s a brilliant opportunity to get their hands full with something other than a cellphone. And you’re sure to learn something yourself.