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Pretoria Travel Guide: Where to Stay and What to Do

Pace: balanced Historic Green Cultural Relaxed
Ideal trip length
2–5 days
Busiest
Sep-Nov, Mar-May

Updated September 2026

Pretoria

About Pretoria

Pretoria’s jacaranda-lined avenues, formal gardens and hilltop monuments give South Africa’s administrative capital a leafy, historic identity in Gauteng province.

Government buildings, university districts and quiet residential streets give Pretoria a measured, academic feel, softened by gardens and broad avenues. The Union Buildings overlook the city, while the Voortrekker Monument and Freedom Park frame different chapters of its history.

Church Square and the Ditsong Museum of Natural History add central-city landmarks, and Rietvlei offers wildlife among open grassland. Arcadia places visitors near the Union Buildings, museums and shaded streets.

Where to stay

Hotels in Pretoria

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

Stay like a local in Pretoria

Places to stay in Pretoria

Best for

Ranked by verified guest score, then stars. Based on 435 of 469 hotels with verified data.

Best for families

Family rooms listed · 88 hotels qualify

  1. At 98 on Lynburn Guest House9.6/10 · 59 reviews · 4-star
  2. The Aviary9.5/10 · 135 reviews · 4-star
  3. Spacube Luxury Suites and Spa9.4/10 · 149 reviews · 4-star
  4. Casa Flora Guesthouse9.4/10 · 56 reviews · 4-star
  5. Apogee Boutique Hotel & Spa9.3/10 · 371 reviews · 5-star

Best for drivers

Free parking · 118 hotels qualify

  1. Klyne Jiweel Guesthouse9.4/10 · 120 reviews · 4-star
  2. Abendruhe Lodge9.4/10 · 70 reviews · 4-star
  3. The Woodpecker Inn9.3/10 · 122 reviews · 5-star
  4. Glen Marion Guest House9.3/10 · 211 reviews · 4-star
  5. Chateau Vue Guesthouse9.3/10 · 79 reviews · 4-star

Best for a pool

Swimming pool listed · 99 hotels qualify

  1. Brooks Cottage9.5/10 · 131 reviews · 4-star
  2. Christa's Place 8999.3/10 · 188 reviews · 4-star
  3. Opikopi Guest House9.2/10 · 182 reviews · 5-star
  4. Bed & Breakfast in Hatfield9.2/10 · 191 reviews · 4-star
  5. Hagios House9.2/10 · 61 reviews · 4-star

Pretoria at a glance

Check-in / check-out
2:00 PM / 10:00 AM
Free parking
240 of 255 hotels (94%)
To JNB airport
43 km median closest hotel 26.1 km
Pool
238 of 435 hotels
Climate
Temperate
Languages
English, Afrikaans and Zulu
Local currency
ZAR (ZAR)
Local time
(GMT+2)
Ideal trip length
2–5 days
Cost level
3 of 5 · our research
Suggested area to stay
Arcadia
Tap water
Generally described as safe to drink
Tipping
10-15% for service

History, culture and food in Pretoria

History

95 · Outstanding

Culture

90 · Outstanding

Food

90 · Outstanding

Family 70 · Good

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

Food to try

Biltong Boerewors Malva Pudding Potjiekos

Hotel facts in Pretoria

Based on 435 of 469 hotels with verified data.

Hotels that listHotelsShare
Free parkingof hotels with verified parking240 of 25594%
Swimming pool238 of 43555%
24-hour front desk91 of 43521%
Facilities for disabled guests90 of 43521%
Family rooms126 of 43529%
Breakfast availablefree or paid depends on the rate11 of 4353%
Kitchen or kitchenette128 of 43529%
Airport shuttle2 free112 of 43526%

Pools and room sizes by star rating

StarsPoolStandard room
3-star61 of 11624 m²usually 19 m²–30 m² · 71 hotels
4-star125 of 18025 m²usually 20 m²–35 m² · 95 hotels
5-star22 of 2925 m²usually 21 m²–31 m² · 17 hotels

When to visit Pretoria

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: Sep-Nov, Mar-May
  1. Jan
    12

    Often avoided: Frequent summer thunderstorms and rainy-season showers

  2. Feb
    4

    Often avoided: Frequent summer thunderstorms and rainy-season showers

  3. Mar
    33

    Warm, less rain

  4. Apr
    47

    South African public holidays

  5. May
    41

    Cool, dry

  6. Jun
    27

    Cold, dry

  7. Jul
    27

    Cold, dry

  8. Aug
    43

    Cool, dry

  9. Sep
    53

    Pretoria Show

  10. Oct
    58

    Jacaranda bloom

  11. Nov
    38

    Hot, wet

  12. Dec
    14

    Often avoided: Frequent summer thunderstorms and rainy-season showers

Things to do in Pretoria

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

Best in the morning

4 places

Reflect at Freedom Park

Salvokop 3 hours

Indoors

Go on a mini-safari at Rietvlei

Rietvlei 4 hours

Outdoors Good for children

Best in the afternoon

2 places

Stroll through Church Square

Central Business District 1 hour

Outdoors Good for children

Explore Ditsong Museum of Natural History

Central Business District 2.5 hours

Indoors Good for children

Any time of day

1 place

Relax at Pretoria National Botanical Garden

Brummeria 3 hours

Outdoors Good for children

Pretoria itineraries, day by day

View all itineraries
3 Days in Pretoria — First-Timer Highlights
First-timer highlights

3 Days in Pretoria — First-Timer Highlights

3 days10 stops

Uncover the rich history, vibrant culture, and natural beauty of South Africa's administrative capital.

Things to book

Tours and activities in Pretoria

Guided tours, day trips and tickets to book alongside your stay.

Before you go to Pretoria

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

Eating out

Biltong 95 · Outstanding
Boerewors 87 · Outstanding
Malva Pudding 78 · Very good
Potjiekos 70 · Good

Signature experiences

Explore The Union Buildings 95 · Outstanding
Visit The Voortrekker Monument 91 · Outstanding
Stroll Through Church Square 87 · Outstanding
Relax At Pretoria National Botanical Garden 83 · Very good
Reflect At Freedom Park 78 · Very good
Go On A Mini-safari At Rietvlei 74 · Good
Explore Ditsong Museum Of Natural History 70 · Good

Who it suits

Couples 95 · Outstanding
Families 89 · Outstanding
Friends 83 · Very good
History 76 · Very good
Culture 70 · Good

Planning tips

Use ride-sharing apps for transport 95 · Outstanding
Be aware of surroundings, especially at night 83 · Very good
Book popular attractions in advance 70 · Good

Ratings and recommendations are curated from local travel data.

Near Pretoria

Straight-line distance from the centre of Pretoria.

Getaways from Pretoria

Places people from Pretoria travel to, from our own travel research.

Frequently asked questions about Pretoria

How many places to stay are there in Pretoria?

There are 470+ hotels, apartments and other places to stay in Pretoria. They include 82 hotels and 110+ apartments.

When is the peak season in Pretoria?

The peak season in Pretoria is Sep-Nov, Mar-May.

Which area is a good base in Pretoria?

The travel guide suggests staying in Arcadia when visiting Pretoria.

Are there tours and activities in Pretoria?

Yes, 330+ tours and activities are listed in Pretoria.

How many hotels in Pretoria have free parking?

240 of the 255 hotels in Pretoria with verified parking details list free parking (94%). 8 charge for parking.

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

2:00 PM at 225 of the 340 hotels with a verified check-in time. The next most common time is 3:00 PM (52 hotels).

What time is check-out at hotels in Pretoria?

10:00 AM at 215 of 338 hotels with a verified check-out time; 11:00 AM at 92.

How far are Pretoria hotels from OR Tambo Intl Airport?

The median distance is 43 km across 435 hotels whose nearest airport is JNB. 0 of them are within 5 km. The closest is Your Pool House @ Salbu at 26.1 km.

How many hotels in Pretoria have a pool?

238 of 435 hotels with verified data list a swimming pool.