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South Africa🇿🇦 | attractionsConstitution HillOld Fort cells, Constitutional Court, Number Four, Gandhi's cell | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Constitution Hill
🌟 Highlightattraction ranked #5
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

The Gautrain from Park Station had me walking uphill past a man selling roasted corn, and the smoke followed me to the gate where a guard checked my bag with a bored flick of the zipper. Constitution Hill sits in Johannesburg, South Africa, in the Braamfontein area just north of the city center, and it is the old Fort prison complex turned home of the Constitutional Court. Be plain about it: the site is sobering, not a thrill ride, and the paid guided tour is the part worth the money. Crowds stay thin outside school holidays. Skip the gift shop and linger instead over the cell where Gandhi was held, and the Court's door panels carved with the Bill of Rights in South African languages.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #5 attraction in South AfricaWhy visitors keep coming back

Constitution Hill is the one place in Johannesburg where apartheid history and the democracy that replaced it share a single hillside. Inmates here included Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Albertina Sisulu, and you stand in the same blocks where they were held. That is the first reason to come: the story is told in the original walls, not behind glass.

The second is the Constitutional Court, built from bricks of the demolished awaiting-trial block, so the country's highest court literally rests on the prison's remains. Walk in free and you can sit in the public gallery's design, with its light wells shaped like trees to echo justice under a tree.

The third is route value. Constitution Hill pairs with Apartheid Museum and Soweto to give a full picture of how the country got to where it … read more 👉
Constitution Hill is the one place in Johannesburg where apartheid history and the democracy that replaced it share a single hillside. Inmates here included Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Albertina Sisulu, and you stand in the same blocks where they were held. That is the first reason to come: the story is told in the original walls, not behind glass.

The second is the Constitutional Court, built from bricks of the demolished awaiting-trial block, so the country's highest court literally rests on the prison's remains. Walk in free and you can sit in the public gallery's design, with its light wells shaped like trees to echo justice under a tree.

The third is route value. Constitution Hill pairs with Apartheid Museum and Soweto to give a full picture of how the country got to where it is. Skip it and the rest of Johannesburg makes less sense.

💡 HighlightsThe experiences that define the visit

  1. Old Fort prison complex: the walls and watchtowers of the 1890s fort give the site its bearing, and the guided walk explains how it held both political prisoners and common criminals.
  2. Number Four: the section that held black male prisoners, with crowded, cold cells and exhibits of testimony that make the conditions plain.
  3. Women's Jail: holds the cell where Winnie Mandela was kept and offers a quieter, more personal view of detention under apartheid.
  4. Constitutional Court: the court building with its Great African Tree theme, a slate-floored foyer and a collection of contemporary African art.
  5. Human rights door: the heavy wooden entrance carved with the rights of the Constitution in the country's official languages.
  6. Great African Steps: the stairway built from reclaimed prison bricks, leading you
… read more 👉
  1. Old Fort prison complex: the walls and watchtowers of the 1890s fort give the site its bearing, and the guided walk explains how it held both political prisoners and common criminals.
  2. Number Four: the section that held black male prisoners, with crowded, cold cells and exhibits of testimony that make the conditions plain.
  3. Women's Jail: holds the cell where Winnie Mandela was kept and offers a quieter, more personal view of detention under apartheid.
  4. Constitutional Court: the court building with its Great African Tree theme, a slate-floored foyer and a collection of contemporary African art.
  5. Human rights door: the heavy wooden entrance carved with the rights of the Constitution in the country's official languages.
  6. Great African Steps: the stairway built from reclaimed prison bricks, leading you up through the old Awaiting Trial block remains.
  7. Gandhi's cell exhibit: marks the time Mahatma Gandhi spent here as a young lawyer, and why it matters to nonviolent resistance.
  8. Women's Jail exhibitions: rotating shows on gender, justice and civic life that are often overlooked by quicker visitors.
Number Four and the Constitutional Court combine well in a single morning, one for the cost of the old system and the other for what replaced it.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around Constitution Hill

Soweto /Johannesburg and Apartheid Museum Guided Full Day Tour

Soweto /Johannesburg and Apartheid Museum Guided Full Day Tour

4.8(1134)
From €105
per personViator
Ultimate Johannesburg Soweto Experience with Apartheid Museum

Ultimate Johannesburg Soweto Experience with Apartheid Museum

4.9(462) 9h
From €113
per personViator
Private Full Day Soweto and Johannesburg Tour from Johannesburg or Pretoria

Private Full Day Soweto and Johannesburg Tour from Johannesburg or Pretoria

5.0(78) 7h
From €145
per personViator
Best of Johannesburg: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus & Soweto Tour

Best of Johannesburg: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus & Soweto Tour

4.8(66)
From €51
per personViator
Soweto and Johannesburg & Apartheid Museum

Soweto and Johannesburg & Apartheid Museum

4.7(55)
From €99
per personViator
Private Soweto, Mandela House, Apartheid Musem, Constitutional

Private Soweto, Mandela House, Apartheid Musem, Constitutional

4.8(48)
From €78
per personViator
Johannesburg Soweto and Apartheid Experience

Johannesburg Soweto and Apartheid Experience

4.9(42) 8h
From €97
per personViator
Johannesburg and Soweto Tour (6-7 hours)

Johannesburg and Soweto Tour (6-7 hours)

5.0(35) 7h
From €108
per personViator
Johannesburg, Apartheid Museum & Soweto Experience

Johannesburg, Apartheid Museum & Soweto Experience

5.0(25)
From €122
per personViator
Tour of Johannesburg, Soweto and Apartheid Museum

Tour of Johannesburg, Soweto and Apartheid Museum

5.0(19) 8h
From €126
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Choosing the right time of year

  • Dry Winter (May to August): Johannesburg’s clearest, sunniest stretch, with days of 16 to 21°C (61 to 70°F) and nights that can drop to 3 to 7°C (37 to 45°F). Cell blocks and the old fort stay cold, so bring a fleece. Crowds are light on weekdays.
  • Spring (September to October): Days warm to 22 to 27°C (72 to 81°F), jacarandas flower along the streets, and school groups fill the site on weekday mornings.
  • Summer (November to March): Highs of 25 to 28°C (77 to 82°F) come with afternoon thunderstorms, usually after lunch. Visit in the morning and you will miss most of them. December and January bring the most domestic holidaymakers and higher bed prices.
  • Autumn (April): Dry, mild days of 20 to 24°C (68 to 75°F) and fewer visitors.
Aim for a weekday outside school holidays, and book a guided tour in … read more 👉
  • Dry Winter (May to August): Johannesburg’s clearest, sunniest stretch, with days of 16 to 21°C (61 to 70°F) and nights that can drop to 3 to 7°C (37 to 45°F). Cell blocks and the old fort stay cold, so bring a fleece. Crowds are light on weekdays.
  • Spring (September to October): Days warm to 22 to 27°C (72 to 81°F), jacarandas flower along the streets, and school groups fill the site on weekday mornings.
  • Summer (November to March): Highs of 25 to 28°C (77 to 82°F) come with afternoon thunderstorms, usually after lunch. Visit in the morning and you will miss most of them. December and January bring the most domestic holidaymakers and higher bed prices.
  • Autumn (April): Dry, mild days of 20 to 24°C (68 to 75°F) and fewer visitors.
Aim for a weekday outside school holidays, and book a guided tour in advance for Human Rights Day (March 21) and Freedom Day (April 27), when free events draw crowds.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: good for travelingFEBFebruary: good for travelingMARMarch: highly recommended for travelingAPRApril: highly recommended for travelingMAYMay: good for travelingJUNJune: good for travelingJULJuly: highly recommended for travelingAUGAugust: highly recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: highly recommended for travelingOCTOctober: excellent for travelingNOVNovember: excellent for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
when-to-go

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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas to stay in South Africa

Braamfontein is the best base for Constitution Hill, roughly a 10 to 15 minute walk away, with dorm beds around US$12 to 20 a night. It is a student district with coffee shops, street art, bars and the Neighborgoods Market on Saturdays, so you can find company easily without leaving a few safe blocks. Stick to the main streets after dark and use a rideshare for late returns.

Melville is a good choice if you want a calmer, more social scene. It has a lively strip of restaurants and pubs, plenty of backpacker-style guesthouses, and a relaxed crowd of travelers and locals. It sits about 15 to 20 … read more 👉
Braamfontein is the best base for Constitution Hill, roughly a 10 to 15 minute walk away, with dorm beds around US$12 to 20 a night. It is a student district with coffee shops, street art, bars and the Neighborgoods Market on Saturdays, so you can find company easily without leaving a few safe blocks. Stick to the main streets after dark and use a rideshare for late returns.

Melville is a good choice if you want a calmer, more social scene. It has a lively strip of restaurants and pubs, plenty of backpacker-style guesthouses, and a relaxed crowd of travelers and locals. It sits about 15 to 20 minutes away by Uber or Bolt, typically US$4 to 8 each way.

Parktown and Rosebank suit those who want the Gautrain. Rosebank has the station, malls and a Sunday rooftop market, and from there you can reach the airport or Pretoria easily. Rooms are a little pricier, with dorms and private rooms at US$18 to 40.

Avoid wandering the inner-city streets around Hillbrow with luggage. Choose Braamfontein first for convenience, Melville for atmosphere.
Best hostels in South Africa


Best quality hotels in South Africa

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)How expensive it really is

A day at Constitution Hill costs about US$50 to 65 for a backpacker, including a bed, food, rideshares and entry to the site. Prices below use today’s exchange rate, and you pay in South African rand.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Entry ticketUS$3 to 5General access to the site is cheap; the Old Fort, Women’s Jail and Constitutional Court are covered. Students and children pay less.
Guided tourUS$5 to 12Guided tours add context on the prison cells where Mandela and Gandhi were held. Book ahead for groups.
Museum extrasUS$0 to 6The Constitutional Court is free to enter, and it has a small art collection. Some temporary exhibitions charge a small fee.
Accommodation (high season)US$12 to 22Dorm beds in Braamfontein or Melville. Off-season rates run about US$10 to 18.
FoodUS$8 to 14Street food and
… read more 👉
A day at Constitution Hill costs about US$50 to 65 for a backpacker, including a bed, food, rideshares and entry to the site. Prices below use today’s exchange rate, and you pay in South African rand.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Entry ticketUS$3 to 5General access to the site is cheap; the Old Fort, Women’s Jail and Constitutional Court are covered. Students and children pay less.
Guided tourUS$5 to 12Guided tours add context on the prison cells where Mandela and Gandhi were held. Book ahead for groups.
Museum extrasUS$0 to 6The Constitutional Court is free to enter, and it has a small art collection. Some temporary exhibitions charge a small fee.
Accommodation (high season)US$12 to 22Dorm beds in Braamfontein or Melville. Off-season rates run about US$10 to 18.
FoodUS$8 to 14Street food and cafés in Braamfontein, with a sit-down dinner at the upper end.
Local transportUS$4 to 10Rideshares such as Uber or Bolt are the safest way across the city, at US$2 to 5 per short trip.
Total Daily BudgetUS$50 to 65Lower if you walk from Braamfontein and eat cheaply.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

FAQTraveler FAQ

Plan on 2 to 3 hours at Constitution Hill, or half a day if you want to see everything. A guided tour of the Old Fort and Number Four prison takes about 90 minutes, and the Constitutional Court and Women’s Jail add another hour. Most visitors arrive in the morning and fit lunch in Braamfontein afterward.
Yes, Constitution Hill is worth the entrance fee of roughly US$3 to 5, which is low for what you get. The site covers the Old Fort, the cells that held Mandela and Gandhi, and the Constitutional Court with its art collection. A guided tour for about US$5 to 12 brings the stories to life and is the best value.
Constitution Hill is in Braamfontein, about a 10 to 15 minute walk from the Braamfontein hostels and a 10 to 20 minute rideshare from Rosebank or Sandton for about US$3 to 8. The Gautrain runs to Park Station, from which it is a short Uber or Bolt ride. Avoid walking from Park Station alone with bags, and use a rideshare for the return after dark.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other South African attractions near Constitution Hill

Explore more nearby:

  • Johannesburg Art Gallery—Lutyens facade, Rodin and Monet, protest-era rooms, Joubert Park chess| 1 km away
  • Origins Centre—75,000-year-old ochre, San rock art, click languages, Wits campus| 2 km away
  • Market Theatre—Protest-era plays, Newtown precinct, Laboratory stage, Kippies jazz| 2 km away

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We 💚 feedbackKey takeaways before you go

Constitution Hill needs about half a day: a guided tour of roughly two hours, plus time in the court and the art inside. I would stay for the full tour and skip the rushed audio route. It is heavy going, so schedule something gentler for the afternoon.

✈️ When did I visit South Africa?
I have visited South Africa, before and after my Zimbabwe trip in 2001.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in South Africa, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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