Nelson Mandela Square
Nelson Mandela Square
4.5
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Nelson Mandela Square and nearby attractions
The area
Address
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Best nearby
Restaurants
499 within 5 kms
Attractions
136 within 10 kms
See what travellers are saying
- AkhileshMalikUganda85 contributionsGood place!Nelson Mandela Square is centered by Sandton mall and surrounded by lot of bars and restaurants. This location is very beautiful to visit both during the day and during the night. And most importantly, it is very safe to visit! In center is a larger than life statue of the man himself. The center of the square has lighted fountains and is very well lit up and is safe to move around.Visited February 2024Travelled on businessWritten 10 April 2024
- duranieNew Baltimore, Michigan615 contributionsMemorable SquareWe only had one night in Johannesburg and we decided to visit Nelson Mandela Square. It was a pleasant surprise. Beautiful, safe and great story. The mall connected to the square is enormous. There are so many stores and it is so clean. We did not feel in any way unsafe within the mall and the square. However, we were warned not to go out of the square and/or mall and into the streets outside the area.Visited March 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 13 April 2024
- Golden1975Edinburgh, United Kingdom25 contributionsBreathtaking and historicalSandton as an area was such a vibe. It’s beautiful, clean and safe. The Nelson Mandela statue and art around it is breathtaking. We did an evening visit and a day time visit. I loved the evening one.Visited April 2024Travelled with familyWritten 2 May 2024
- 6Giulio ATreviso, Italy214 contributionsFor a morning stroll near the HotelHuge shopping complex with luxury brands (mostly Italian) Wide choice of restaurants and fast food. the main technology brands present (apple, samsung, oppo etc) A nice place to spend a morning if you don't want to go too much around the cityVisited June 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 3 June 2024
- Eber ShibinMumbai, India501 contributionsGood place in Sandton for an evening hangoutWhat a lovely place to hangout. A marvellous statue at the edge of the square with artforms spread all over. Photo ops are in full force unsurprisingly. The place is is an enclosure within the Sandton Convention centre mall lined with fine dining restaurants lining the square on one side.Visited May 2024Travelled with familyWritten 27 June 2024
- g_money15Orlando, Florida21 contributionsMORE THAN A MALLA wonderful mall with restaurants, hotels, shops, bars and history. This place was very safe to move around at night with everyone being so nice. While this is not the place to get all of the history of SA and Nelson Mandela it does have a very beautiful tall statue of him in the square. Finally this place was soooo clean and one of the best i have ever been to.Visited October 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 19 October 2024
- LJ LFort Pierce, Florida24 contributionsI felt safe here, even at night.Restaurants here offer some of the best food in Joburg. Pappys and Steak house was delicious. The mall is massive! Very nice, but pricey. That monumental statue of Nelson Mandela is amazing. It is a Hugh attraction and it’s free to visit and take photos.Visited December 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 19 December 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
2 879 reviews
Excellent
1 291
Very good
1 136
Average
382
Poor
52
Terrible
18
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juls21
Birkenhead, UK176 contributions
Feb 2023
Such a fab square, lots of restaurants and amazing choices. Quality of food in Johannesburg is wonderful as are the prices. Everyone seems to dress up to go out of an evening which is so lovely to see. It felt very safe to walk around, we had no issues whatsoever.
We ate in the square on a Saturday night and there was a singer in the middle of the square entertaining us all. Such a fab night, people were dancing in the square and also in the water fountains, there was such a lovely happy atmosphere going on.
Take an uber to the square for around £2 from most places; Uber in Johannesburg and in Cape Town were fantastic!
We ate in the square on a Saturday night and there was a singer in the middle of the square entertaining us all. Such a fab night, people were dancing in the square and also in the water fountains, there was such a lovely happy atmosphere going on.
Take an uber to the square for around £2 from most places; Uber in Johannesburg and in Cape Town were fantastic!
Written 20 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roxtor
Nova Scotia, Canada598 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
A visit to Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton is worthwhile when in Johannesburg. The square is a pleasant area with cafes, restaurants, art installations, and live music, providing an upbeat festive ambiance. Good place to get a seat in a cafe and people watch over coffee or something stronger. The shopping center is impressive with multi levels and many high end shops, and bustling food options. It’s clean, well maintained and bright. There’s also a very nice grocer, general merchandise store there if you need to get some supplies or snacks. We were a bit pressed for time but would return there for sure on our next visit.
Written 26 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elaine
Nottingham, UK148 contributions
Jan 2020
Nelson Mandela square is the obvious tourist attraction in Sandton. It's flanked by very trendy restaurants which are popular at all times of day and night. Next door is the large shopping centre.
At one end overlooking the square is the giant statue of Nelson Mandela and to one side of it there is a 1 metre tall version for the visually impaired.
At one end overlooking the square is the giant statue of Nelson Mandela and to one side of it there is a 1 metre tall version for the visually impaired.
Written 10 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Munir D
Toronto, Canada698 contributions
Nov 2019 • Couples
The Nelson Mandela Square is dwarfed among higher buildings but the Christmas tree and the fountains make the place attractive with also the statue of the late Nelson Mandela where hundreds of visitors take photos every day.
Very lively place at all times of the day except late in the night.
Some rooms from the adjacent Michelangelo Hotel overlook this Square. The few restaurants around the Square offer good food. We were satisfied with the grilled salmon we ate in one of the restaurants.
Munir D.
Very lively place at all times of the day except late in the night.
Some rooms from the adjacent Michelangelo Hotel overlook this Square. The few restaurants around the Square offer good food. We were satisfied with the grilled salmon we ate in one of the restaurants.
Munir D.
Written 18 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KChampalimaud
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia90 contributions
Oct 2020
The shopping is good and has few european brands and shops. Outside have a big square were happen sometimes several cultural events and activities. Take a seat and enjoy the fullfilled esplanadas or just watch the people walking around. Is quite easy to see armed physical security guards everywere and for us at same time get as a concern just because isn`t usual in our country. However we know that JHB isn`t safe as in our country.
Written 15 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachel
Johannesburg, South Africa118 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Nelson Mandela Square is centered by Sandton mall and surrounded by a plethora of bars and restaurants. This location is very beautiful to visit both during the day and during the night. And most importantly, it is very safe to visit! The walls along the entrance give you historical facts about Mandela and his journey through life, accompanied by a larger than life statue of the man himself. The center of the square has lighted fountains that are good for kids to run through in the heat of the day.
Written 25 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fernanda G
Sao Paulo, SP25 contributions
Nov 2023 • Solo
It is part of the Mandela route that the city offers, together with the historical points.
The square is part of a commercial complex with hotels, a convention center, restaurants and a luxury shopping center. The giant statue of Mandela is surrounded by information about this great leader, such as a timeline of his life, booths to listen to his speeches (at the back, I think most people don't even notice) and QRCodes spread across the lobsters on the floor, which bring Madiba's memorable phrases.
The square is part of a commercial complex with hotels, a convention center, restaurants and a luxury shopping center. The giant statue of Mandela is surrounded by information about this great leader, such as a timeline of his life, booths to listen to his speeches (at the back, I think most people don't even notice) and QRCodes spread across the lobsters on the floor, which bring Madiba's memorable phrases.

Written 19 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Terence
16 contributions
Dec 2019
The square is a great place to visit, with a huge amount for high class shops in the center. The food is exceptional with some of the best steaks I have eaten anywhere in the world. Security guards carrying machine guns is a little confronting, but the entire time I was there I witnessed no illegal behavior. It is well worth the visit.
Written 7 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andreas M
Hoejbjerg, Denmark9 contributions
Nov 2024 • Business
Nice square, with a big statue of Nelson Mandela and some nice artsy african faces. When we were there there was a smohow small circus. The Shopping mall is fine and with some good dining spots, but also somehow as expected and not out of the ordinary. Very safe environment. After dark the Square is pretty with the lighting
Written 13 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Evabe13
World300 contributions
Mar 2020 • Family
There was few restaurants around the square and access to the huge mall. It was nice to sit there on a sunny weather. There was a small fontain in the middle of the square. It was nothing special, but nice place to get some sunshine in the middle of the shopping.
Written 7 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Me gustaría saber en qué zona céntrica y mejor para hospedarme 3 noches en sudafrica
Written 13 April 2019
Das Zentrum würde ich sagen, ist der Nelson Mandela Square. Viel mehr gibt es nicht anzusehen in Johannesburg. Außerdem ist es nicht ratsam, abends durch die Straßen zu gehen.
Wir haben im Hotel "Crowne Plaza Johannesburg - The Rosebank" gewohnt. Das kann ich weiter empfehlen. Es gibt von dort auch einen Shuttlebus zum Nelson Mandela Square.
Liebe Grüße
Manuela
Written 19 April 2019
Is it safe for woman to walk alone with backpack from Sandton Gautrain station to Signature Lux hotel at 7-8pm?
Written 19 March 2019
I walked from Mandela square to Holiday Inn Sandton at 7:30 pm on a Friday evening. Its a 20 min walk and I arrived safe but it was quite dark and quiet and I didn’t feel that safe. I probably wouldn’t do that again.
Written 14 April 2019
Please help. I will be at J/burgh airport 7/3/18. Is it far by taxi to the square. Also are there good jewellery shops in the mall.
I would love to buy a BIG 5 BRACELET.
Thanks. Patricia
Written 11 February 2018
Approx taxi fare around ZAR 200 one way, other option catch a cab from your accommodation.
Written 14 February 2018
please propose excursions and shopping .all within 3 days . thanks
Written 12 October 2016
bus city tours will take you to the best attractions in town.. safe....informative and fun
Written 25 October 2016
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