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Pretoria — travel, stays & events guide
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Pretoria, South AfricaOpen-Meteo forecast.
Pretoria city overview
Pretoria is South Africa's administrative capital, known for its jacaranda-lined streets and the grand sandstone Union Buildings overlooking the city. First-time visitors should photograph the Union Buildings' terraced gardens, climb the Voortrekker Monument for panoramic views, and browse cafes around historic Church Square. OR Tambo International Airport near Johannesburg is the main gateway, about an hour's drive away, and Pretoria pairs easily with a Johannesburg stay.
City facts
Airport baseOR Tambo International Airport (JNB)
Known forUnion Buildings, Voortrekker Monument, National Zoological Garden of South Africa, Freedom Park
RegionSouth AfricaSouth Africa
Time zoneAfrica/Johannesburglocal time
Founded1838historical origin
City history
The elder Pretorius had become a national hero of the Voortrekkers after his victory over Dingane and the Zulus in the Battle of Blood River in 1838.
The elder Pretorius also negotiated the Sand River Convention (1852), in which the United Kingdom acknowledged the independence of the Transvaal.
It became the capital of the South African Republic on 1 May 1860.
The peace treaty that ended the war was signed in Pretoria on 3 August 1881 at the Pretoria Convention.
The city surrendered to British forces under Frederick Roberts on 5 June 1900 and the conflict was ended in Pretoria with the signing of the Peace of Vereeniging on 31 May 1902 at Melrose.
Between 1910 and 1994, the city was also the capital of the province of Transvaal. (As the capital of the ZAR, Pretoria had superseded Potchefstroom in that role.) On 14 October 1931, Pretoria achieved.
When South Africa became a republic in 1961, Pretoria remained its administrative capital.
The founding of Pretoria as the capital of the South African Republic can be seen as marking the end of the Boers' settlement movements of the Great Trek. Boer Wars During the First Boer.
The Second Boer War resulted in the end of the Transvaal Republic and start of British hegemony in South Africa.
The Pretoria Forts were built for the defence of the city just prior to the Second Boer War.
Though some of these forts are today in ruins, a number of them have been preserved as national monuments. Union of South Africa The Boer Republics of the ZAR and the Orange River Colony.
Pretoria then became the administrative capital of the whole of South Africa, with Cape Town serving as the legislative capital and Bloemfontein as the judicial capital.
Worth seeing
Union Buildings
Union Buildings is a named stop in Pretoria worth keeping on the route when it fits the day's transport, timing and neighborhood plan.
Voortrekker Monument
Voortrekker Monument is a clear heritage marker in Pretoria, best used as a fixed point when grouping nearby streets, monuments and viewpoints.
National Zoological Garden of South Africa
National Zoological Garden of South Africa adds outdoor time to a Pretoria stay, with open space, views or waterfront breathing room between denser city sights.
Freedom Park
Freedom Park adds outdoor time to a Pretoria stay, with open space, views or waterfront breathing room between denser city sights.
Church Square Pretoria
Church Square Pretoria anchors the historic and ceremonial side of Pretoria, making it a practical stop for architecture, local memory and orientation.
Pretoria National Botanical Garden
Pretoria National Botanical Garden adds outdoor time to a Pretoria stay, with open space, views or waterfront breathing room between denser city sights.
Stay overview
Base in Hatfield or Sunnyside for an easy, affordable first stay near the university and Church Square, or choose Brooklyn for embassy-district calm and upscale dining. Menlyn suits travelers wanting shopping and modern hotels close to the eastern suburbs.
Hotels & areas
Pretoria hotel choice depends on priorities: Hatfield and Sunnyside suit budget-conscious travelers wanting nightlife and central sights, Brooklyn suits business and diplomatic visits, and Menlyn suits those wanting shopping malls and newer hotel stock.
Hatfield
Hatfield is Pretoria's student and nightlife hub near the University of Pretoria, packed with bars, cafes and budget-friendly guesthouses.
Best for: nightlife, budget stays, studentsCompare staysBrooklyn
Brooklyn is an upscale district of embassies, malls and restaurants, a quiet and convenient base for business and diplomatic visits.
Best for: business trips, embassies, diningCompare staysSunnyside
Sunnyside is a busy, affordable neighborhood close to the CBD, popular for its lively street life and easy access to Church Square.
Best for: budget stays, local lifeCompare staysMenlyn
Menlyn centres on one of South Africa's largest shopping malls, useful for travelers wanting modern hotels and retail close by.
Best for: shopping, modern hotelsCompare staysFlights & airports
OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) arrival plan
- OR Tambo International Airport (JNB)OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa
OR Tambo International Airport near Johannesburg is Pretoria's main gateway, roughly an hour's drive south via the Gautrain or highway.
Rental cars
Pretoria day-trip car use
A rental car or the Gautrain helps for trips between Pretoria and Johannesburg, though Hatfield, Brooklyn and Menlyn are each walkable once you're based there.
Compare rental carsTravel tips
Best base
Choose Hatfield or Brooklyn for an easy first stay close to the Union Buildings, restaurants and university life.
Jacaranda season
Visit in October for Pretoria's famous jacaranda bloom, when purple-flowering trees line entire avenues across the city.
Airport transfers
Use the Gautrain plus a connecting shuttle, or a pre-booked taxi, for the roughly hour-long trip from OR Tambo International Airport.
Pairing with Johannesburg
Combine a Pretoria stay with Johannesburg using the Gautrain, which links the two cities in well under an hour.
Nearby ideas
City
Johannesburg
Johannesburg is under an hour away by Gautrain, worth combining with Pretoria for its museums, markets and Soweto tours.
Heritage
Cullinan
Cullinan is a small mining town east of Pretoria, home to the diamond mine that produced the Cullinan Diamond, open for guided tours.
Nature
Rietvlei Nature Reserve
Rietvlei Nature Reserve offers an easy game drive on Pretoria's southern edge, with zebra, antelope and birdlife close to the city.
