Constitution Hill
8.6Friend Score / 10#1 of 11 Museums in Johannesburg
Known forconstitution hillapartheid historyold fortnumber four
A former prison complex — where both Mandela and Gandhi were held — now wrapped around South Africa's Constitutional Court. The Old Fort, Number Four cells and the working court make it Joburg's most powerful single precinct after the Apartheid Museum. Hourly Highlights Tours (R90 adults) make it easy to visit; open daily 09:00-17:00.
Key facts
| Hours | Daily 09:00–17:00 |
|---|---|
| Price | $ |
| Phone | — |
| Website | — |
| Nearest transit | Rea Vaya BRT to Braamfontein/Hillbrow edge; Park Station (Gautrain and rail) is about 10-15 minutes' walk, though most visitors Uber to the gate. On-site parking. |
| Time needed | 1.5-3 hours |
| Best time to go | Morning tours on weekdays; court sessions are also more likely to be sitting midweek |
| Last verified | July 12, 2026 |
Friend Score
8.6/10- Value8.5
- iconic7.5
- Freshness9.2
- Crowd level8.0
- Authenticity9.0
- Accessibility7.5
Frequently asked questions
- Can you go inside the Constitutional Court?
- Yes — the court is open to visitors, and if it's in session you can sit in the public gallery and watch South Africa's highest court at work. The building itself, built with bricks from the demolished prison, is worth the visit alone.
- Was Nelson Mandela really imprisoned at Constitution Hill?
- Yes, twice — in 1956 during the Treason Trial and again in 1962. Gandhi was held here in the 1900s too. The Number Four section, which held Black male prisoners in brutal conditions, is the most harrowing part of the tour.
- How much is a Constitution Hill tour?
- The one-hour Highlights Tour is R90 for adults and R50 for children, free under 5, running hourly from 09:00 with the last at 16:00. Longer two-hour full-site tours run daily at 10:00 and 13:00. Book on Webtickets for a small discount or pay at the visitor centre.
- What else is near Constitution Hill?
- Braamfontein is right there — good coffee, street art and Saturday's Neighbourgoods-style market scene, plus Wits and the Origins Centre a short hop away. It pairs well into a Braamfontein half-day.
- How long does a Constitution Hill visit take?
- The Highlights Tour is an hour; add time for the Constitutional Court, the Flame of Democracy and exhibitions and you're at two to three hours. The full-site tour at 10:00 or 13:00 runs about two hours if you want everything.
- Is Constitution Hill safe to visit?
- Yes — it sits on the Braamfontein/Hillbrow ridge with its own secure parking and a steady flow of visitors and school groups. Uber to the entrance is the easy play; wandering deep into Hillbrow on foot afterward is not.
- What is Constitution Hill?
- It's a precinct combining the Old Fort prison complex — which held Mandela, Gandhi and thousands of ordinary people under apartheid — with the Constitutional Court, deliberately built on top of the old awaiting-trial block. Prison to court, on the same ground: the symbolism is the point.
- Do I need a guided tour or can I self-guide?
- You can wander parts of the precinct, but take the guided tour — the guides are excellent and the prison buildings need the storytelling. The hourly Highlights Tour is the sweet spot if you're short on time.
Nearby in Ask Johannesburg
- Untitled Basement BarBar0.73 km · 9 min walk
- Kitchener's Carvery BarBar0.82 km · 10 min walk
- Joubert ParkPark0.83 km · 10 min walk
- BraamfonteinNeighborhood0.86 km · 11 min walk
- Johannesburg Art GalleryMuseum0.91 km · 11 min walk
Where to stay near Constitution Hill
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