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Bloemfontein Travel Guide: Where to Stay and What to Do

Pace: relaxed Relaxed Historical Friendly Scenic
Ideal trip length
2–4 days
Busiest
Dec-Feb

Updated September 2026

Bloemfontein

About Bloemfontein

Bloemfontein is known for its museums and Free State history, while South Africa’s Free State province gives the city a relaxed cultural identity.

Naval Hill and Franklin Game Reserve bring open views and wildlife near the center, while Oliewenhuis Art Museum and National Museum Bloemfontein trace the region’s art, natural history, and past.

December through February is the peak season, and Westdene provides a convenient area for a stay. Relaxed streets around President Brand Street pair historic architecture with Free State staples such as braai, biltong, boerewors, and vetkoek.

Where to stay

Hotels in Bloemfontein

Book direct on our own Bloemfontein hotel pages — no booking fee.

Stay like a local in Bloemfontein

Places to stay in Bloemfontein

Best for

Ranked by verified guest score, then stars. Based on 191 of 217 hotels with verified data.

Best for families

Family rooms listed · 71 hotels qualify

  1. The Homestead9.4/10 · 269 reviews · 4-star
  2. Franklin View Guesthouse9.3/10 · 253 reviews · 4-star
  3. The Suburban Guest House9.3/10 · 183 reviews · 4-star
  4. Figberry Guestrooms9.3/10 · 216 reviews · 3-star
  5. The Royal Fischer Hotel9.2/10 · 97 reviews · 5-star

Best for drivers

Free parking · 87 hotels qualify

  1. Liedjiesbos Urban Olive Farm Accommodation9.5/10 · 229 reviews · 4-star
  2. Schnehage Self Catering9.3/10 · 205 reviews · 4-star
  3. Dias Guest House9.2/10 · 286 reviews · 4-star
  4. Sleep@161 Benade Drive9.2/10 · 210 reviews · 4-star
  5. Rest at Lieben9.2/10 · 107 reviews · 4-star

Best for a pool

Swimming pool listed · 56 hotels qualify

  1. Sixty Three9.2/10 · 130 reviews · 4-star
  2. INBLOEM9.1/10 · 396 reviews · 4-star
  3. La Belle Guest House9.1/10 · 329 reviews · 4-star
  4. Impa-Lala Country Estate9.1/10 · 396 reviews · 3-star
  5. Arista B&B9.1/10 · 155 reviews · 3-star

Bloemfontein at a glance

Check-in / check-out
2:00 PM / 10:00 AM
Free parking
129 of 134 hotels (96%)
Pool
74 of 191 hotels
Climate
Arid
Languages
English, Afrikaans and Sesotho
Local currency
ZAR (ZAR)
Local time
(GMT+2)
Ideal trip length
2–4 days
Cost level
2 of 5 · our research
Suggested area to stay
Westdene
Tap water
Generally described as safe to drink
Tipping
10-15% for good service

History, culture and food in Bloemfontein

History

95 · Outstanding

Culture

90 · Outstanding

Food

90 · Outstanding

Family 60 · Moderate

Our own 0–100 ratings for this one destination. They describe a city; they are not a league table of cities.

Food to try

Braai (BBQ) Biltong Boerewors Vetkoek

Hotel facts in Bloemfontein

Based on 191 of 217 hotels with verified data.

Hotels that listHotelsShare
Free parkingof hotels with verified parking129 of 13496%
Swimming pool74 of 19139%
24-hour front desk38 of 19120%
Facilities for disabled guests35 of 19118%
Family rooms98 of 19151%
Breakfast availablefree or paid depends on the rate2 of 1911%
Kitchen or kitchenette21 of 19111%
Airport shuttle3 free42 of 19122%

Pools and room sizes by star rating

StarsPoolStandard room
3-star28 of 6323 m²usually 18 m²–30 m² · 52 hotels
4-star37 of 7324 m²usually 18 m²–30 m² · 56 hotels
5-star2 of 611 m²usually 9 m²–20 m² · 4 hotels

When to visit Bloemfontein

How good each month is here, on this destination's own scale. It compares months within this city, never one city against another.

Best months: September and October Busiest: Dec-Feb
  1. Jan
    10

    Often avoided: extreme heat

  2. Feb
    10

    Often avoided: extreme heat

  3. Mar
    44

    Warm, pleasant

  4. Apr
    41

    Mild, clear

  5. May
    27

    Cool, dry

  6. Jun
    0

    Often avoided: cold nights

  7. Jul
    0

    Often avoided: cold nights

  8. Aug
    20

    Cooler, windy

  9. Sep
    54

    Mangaung African Cultural Festival (MACUFE)

  10. Oct
    53

    Bloemfontein Rose Festival

  11. Nov
    37

    Warm, increasing rain

  12. Dec
    10

    Often avoided: extreme heat

Things to do in Bloemfontein

8 places worth your time, grouped by when they are at their best.

Best in the morning

4 places

Naval Hill & Franklin Game Reserve

City Centre 2 hours

Outdoors Good for children

National Museum Bloemfontein

City Centre 2 hours

Indoors Good for children

Cheetah Experience Ashia

Outside City 2 hours

Outdoors Good for children

President Brand Street Architecture

City Centre 1 hour

Outdoors

Best in the afternoon

2 places

Oliewenhuis Art Museum

Dan Pienaar 1.5 hours

Indoors Good for children

Anglo-Boer War Museum

General De Wet 2 hours

Indoors

Any time of day

2 places

Free State National Botanical Garden

Dan Pienaar 2.5 hours

Outdoors Good for children

Loch Logan Waterfront

City Centre 3 hours

Indoors Good for children

Before you go to Bloemfontein

Our own ratings and notes on eating out, signature experiences, who the city suits and planning ahead.

Eating out

Braai (BBQ) 95 · Outstanding
Biltong 87 · Outstanding
Boerewors 78 · Very good
Vetkoek 70 · Good

Signature experiences

Naval Hill & Franklin Game Reserve 95 · Outstanding
Oliewenhuis Art Museum 91 · Outstanding
National Museum Bloemfontein 88 · Outstanding
Free State National Botanical Garden 84 · Very good
Anglo-Boer War Museum 81 · Very good
Loch Logan Waterfront 77 · Very good
Cheetah Experience Ashia 74 · Good
President Brand Street Architecture 70 · Good

Who it suits

Families 95 · Outstanding
Budget 87 · Outstanding
History 78 · Very good
Couples 70 · Good

Planning tips

Always be aware of your surroundings, especially after dark. 95 · Outstanding
Consider renting a car for easier exploration beyond the city center. 83 · Very good
Book accommodations in advance, especially during peak season or local events. 70 · Good

Ratings and recommendations are curated from local travel data.

Near Bloemfontein

Straight-line distance from the centre of Bloemfontein.

Frequently asked questions about Bloemfontein

How many places to stay are there in Bloemfontein?

There are 220+ hotels, apartments and other places to stay in Bloemfontein. They include 34 hotels and 37 apartments.

When is the peak season in Bloemfontein?

The peak season in Bloemfontein is Dec-Feb.

Which area is a good base in Bloemfontein?

The travel guide suggests staying in Westdene when visiting Bloemfontein.

How many hotels in Bloemfontein have free parking?

129 of the 134 hotels in Bloemfontein with verified parking details list free parking (96%). 0 charge for parking.

What is the usual check-in time at hotels in Bloemfontein?

2:00 PM at 128 of the 159 hotels with a verified check-in time. The next most common time is 3:00 PM (13 hotels).

What time is check-out at hotels in Bloemfontein?

10:00 AM at 120 of 167 hotels with a verified check-out time; 11:00 AM at 30.

How many hotels in Bloemfontein have a pool?

74 of 191 hotels with verified data list a swimming pool.