
Visit the tallest Building in Johannesburg Ponte city & Hillbrow
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 17 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Visit the tallest Building in Johannesburg Ponte city & Hillbrow worth booking?
Visit the tallest Building in Johannesburg Ponte city & Hillbrow is a 3-hour experience in Pretoria, South Africa, from $62 per person. It scores 73 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 5/5 rating across 17 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 73 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (17)
- Duration
- 3 hours
- From
- $62 per person
Ponte City Tour – Johannesburg’s Iconic Landmark Visit Ponte City, the tallest residential building in Africa. Rising 54 stories above Johannesburg, this cylindrical tower – often compared to Paris’s Montparnasse – offers the best views of the city and a history as dramatic as its skyline. From its glamorous beginnings in the 1970s, to its fall into a “vertical slum,” and its transformation into a vibrant hub today, Ponte’s story will captivate you. Our tour takes you inside the building, then out into Hillbrow for a walking tour of this dynamic neighborhood. With transport, lunch, and three tours daily, everything is taken care of. Whether you want to admire the view, dive into the building’s history, or explore the city’s heart, this experience has it all.
What you get
About this experience
Ponte City Tour – Johannesburg’s Iconic Landmark Visit Ponte City, the tallest residential building in Africa. Rising 54 stories above Johannesburg, this cylindrical tower – often compared to Paris’s Montparnasse – offers the best views of the city and a history as dramatic as its skyline. From its glamorous beginnings in the 1970s, to its fall into a “vertical slum,” and its transformation into a vibrant hub today, Ponte’s story will captivate you. Our tour takes you inside the building, then out into Hillbrow for a walking tour of this dynamic neighborhood. With transport, lunch, and three tours daily, everything is taken care of. Whether you want to admire the view, dive into the building’s history, or explore the city’s heart, this experience has it all.
What's included
Included
- Private transportation
- Bottled water
- Admission fees
- Lunch
- Gratuities
Not included
- Alcoholic beverages
What you'll see and do
We start the tour at our community centre where we introduce ourselves ourselves Lotjhani! Molo! Sawubona! Dumela! Avuxeni! Ndaa! and illustrate the relevance of our location. Our guides will take you through a chronological journey, helping better understand the building's history and context. We will go through the early days of grand opulence, government red-lining and social oppression. We will also detail the stories of urban decay and the building's resilient nature through complex economic times. You will enjoy a drink on the 51st floor of the building to compliment the experience.
120 minutes here · Admission included
Hillbrow Tower
We will be providing context to the iconic Hillbrow Tower.
Pass by without stopping
The iconic Windybrow provides context to housing in the area back in the apartheid days.
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 60 minutes before departure.
Options you can book
Ponte city Experience
Duration: 3 hours Transport: Pick up and drop off is included Pickup included
Hillbrow Tour + Ponte Tower
Access to Ponte city building Duration: 3 hours Lunch is Included Full tour Van Pickup included
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 20 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Honest Travel Experience
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 17 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
8 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Traveler reviews
17 verified traveler reviews for Visit the tallest Building in Johannesburg Ponte city & Hillbrow. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Tour
Guide Manga was excellent! Thank you for a remarkable and educational tour.
via Tripadvisor
A fascinating glimpse into Johannesburg’s complex history
Easily one of the strangest and most interesting places I’ve ever visited. The Ponte and Hillbrow tour was a highlight of my time in Johannesburg and gave me a much better appreciation of the city’s complex history. Ponte is extraordinary to see in person, particularly looking up through its enormous hollow centre. But walking through Hillbrow was just as interesting. There’s a lot to take in, and experiencing the neighbourhood adds context that you simply wouldn’t get from looking at the tower or reading about it. Johannesburg struck me as a city that is both beautiful and brutal, and this tour really brought that home. It left me with plenty to think about and a greater curiosity about the people who call it home. Highly recommended if you want to see a different side of Johannesburg and understand a little more of its story.
via Tripadvisor
Carefully Crafted Storytelling
This was an amazing experience led by Mbongiseni. Through a carefully crafted series of questions and storytelling he shared his intimate knowledge of the history of the area and Ponte Tower. I recommend it especially because the tours give back to the community.
via Tripadvisor
Absolutely Awesome.
What an amazing experience this was. I had to Google something like “Ponte City tour with hotel pick-up” in order to locate and book a coordinated transfer from my hotel to the tower, which eventually led me to a tour I booked through TripAdvisor. Unless you’re particularly brave or an Urbex type, I would suggest you do the same because the neighborhood is rough, to put it mildly. With the hotel transfer, we were deposited inside the gates of Ponte City. Throughout the experience, I never felt unsafe as a result. Once you’re at Ponte City, you are in very good hands, indeed. Our tour guide was Kea, who told us of the great work the in-house charity performs, took us to their 52nd floor event space, to the interior base of the tower, and around the grounds. Kea was absolutely delightful and extremely informative. She was really a perfect tour guide. I really don’t have the appropriate adjectives to describe the experience, but it was superlative. The building in its own weird way is a concrete and glass microcosm of the story of apartheid and it’s downfall, and visiting here is an experience I will never forget. Super cool. Highly recommend.
via Tripadvisor
Discovery in the other face of Johannesburg
It was quite good having two young guys as guide, they took time to explain me everything about the historical places of Pointe city and Hillbrow. I felt bad knowing what happened to the black people like me there, specifically in Hillbrow which shows the bad conditions of blacks but, i finally gained by learning some historical courses I was good and pleasant
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $62 to $1,250
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 6
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Who runs this experience
Operated by Honest Travel Experience, who run 12 experiences we rank across 4 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 70.1.
See everything Honest Travel Experience runsWhy this scores 73
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Visit the tallest Building in Johannesburg Ponte city & Hillbrow: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Pretoria.
How much does Visit the tallest Building in Johannesburg Ponte city & Hillbrow cost?
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Prices start at $62 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Pretoria usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Visit the tallest Building in Johannesburg Ponte city & Hillbrow take?
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Plan for about 3 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Pretoria is not rushed.
Is Visit the tallest Building in Johannesburg Ponte city & Hillbrow worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 73 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 17 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Pretoria, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Visit the tallest Building in Johannesburg Ponte city & Hillbrow?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Visit the tallest Building in Johannesburg Ponte city & Hillbrow suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 3-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Visit the tallest Building in Johannesburg Ponte city & Hillbrow?
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Around 6 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Pretoria can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Pretoria and add a light layer if any part of the 3-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Visit the tallest Building in Johannesburg Ponte city & Hillbrow start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Pretoria within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Pretoria?
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On Outty we rank every Pretoria experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Soweto Cultural Walking Tour with Lunch, Guided Bicycle Tour of Soweto with Lunch, Johannesburg and Soweto tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Pretoria?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Pretoria?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Visit the tallest Building in Johannesburg Ponte city & Hillbrow?
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Included: Private transportation; Bottled water; Admission fees; Lunch; and Gratuities. Not included: Alcoholic beverages. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Visit the tallest Building in Johannesburg Ponte city & Hillbrow include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 22 listed pickup locations in and around Pretoria. Be ready about 60 minutes before the start time. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.
What languages is Visit the tallest Building in Johannesburg Ponte city & Hillbrow offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Visit the tallest Building in Johannesburg Ponte city & Hillbrow?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Visit the tallest Building in Johannesburg Ponte city & Hillbrow wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Wheelchair accessible; Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller; and All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Visit the tallest Building in Johannesburg Ponte city & Hillbrow if the weather is bad?
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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about Visit the tallest Building in Johannesburg Ponte city & Hillbrow?
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Across 17 reviews averaging 5.0 out of 5, recurring themes include knowledge and storytelling, the guide. Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
What booking options are available for Visit the tallest Building in Johannesburg Ponte city & Hillbrow?
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There are 2 options to choose from, including Ponte city Experience, Hillbrow Tour + Ponte Tower. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.
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