Carlton Centre and Top of Africa
7.1Friend Score / 10Known forobservation decktop of africacarlton centreskyline view
The 223m Carlton Centre was Africa's tallest building for 46 years, and its 50th-floor Top of Africa deck gives an unmatched 360° view of Joburg for about R30. Honest caveat: the mall below is faded, the CBD location demands street smarts, and the deck's operations have been erratic over the years — go with a tour or confirm it's open that day.
Key facts
| Hours | Daily 09:00–17:00 |
|---|---|
| Price | $ |
| Phone | — |
| Website | — |
| Nearest transit | Rea Vaya BRT stops on Commissioner Street; Gandhi Square bus hub is two blocks away. Park in the Kruis Street basement garage (stamped tickets park free). |
| Time needed | 45 minutes to 1 hour |
| Best time to go | Late afternoon on a clear day for golden light over the skyline; highveld winter days are crispest |
| Last verified | July 12, 2026 |
Friend Score
7.1/10- Value6.5
- iconic6.5
- Freshness9.2
- Crowd level8.5
- Authenticity7.0
- Accessibility5.0
Frequently asked questions
- How do I get to the Carlton Centre without a car?
- Rea Vaya BRT runs along Commissioner Street right past it, and it's a short ride from Park Station. Realistically, most visitors come by Uber straight to the entrance or on an inner-city guided tour, which is the low-stress option.
- What happened to the Carlton Hotel?
- The famous five-star hotel next door — which hosted everyone from Hillary Clinton to Whitney Houston — closed in the late 1990s as the CBD declined and has stood mothballed since. The tower and mall stayed open under Transnet ownership.
- What are the Top of Africa's opening hours?
- Roughly 09:00 to 17:00 daily, in line with the mall. Operations have been inconsistent in recent years, so it's genuinely worth calling ahead or asking your tour operator to confirm the deck is open that day.
- What can you see from Top of Africa?
- On a clear day, the whole city: the CBD grid below, Ponte Tower and Hillbrow, the mine dumps to the south, and out toward Soweto and the Magaliesberg. Winter days after a cold front give the sharpest visibility.
- Is it safe to visit the Carlton Centre?
- The building itself and the basement parking are fine; it's the surrounding inner-city streets that need respect. Drive into the Kruis Street garage or come with a guided CBD walking tour — don't wander the area with a camera out.
- Is the Carlton Centre mall worth visiting?
- Manage expectations — it was Joburg's glamour address in the 70s and 80s, but today it's a workaday inner-city mall. You're coming for the view and the history, not the shopping.
- Is the Carlton Centre still the tallest building in Africa?
- No — it held the title for 46 years from 1973 until 2019, when it was overtaken. It's still the tallest thing in the Joburg skyline view from most angles, and the 360° panorama from the deck is unchanged.
- How much does Top of Africa cost?
- Around R30 per adult — one of the cheapest big-city observation decks anywhere. Buy the ticket at ground level in the mall, then take the dedicated lift to the 50th floor.
Nearby in Ask Johannesburg
- Johannesburg Art GalleryMuseum0.96 km · 12 min walk
- Joubert ParkPark1 km · 13 min walk
- Market on Main at Arts on MainMarket1.18 km · 15 min walk
- MabonengNeighborhood1.19 km · 15 min walk
- Maboneng PrecinctAttraction1.23 km · 15 min walk
Where to stay near Carlton Centre and Top of Africa
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