Soweto: how to get there and around
Airports, stations, ports, where the hotels are and what the numbers say, from public data rather than a brochure.
Soweto is a city of 1.7 million people in South Africa (Gauteng), 1,632 m (5,354 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is Lanseria International Airport (HLA), 37 km (23 mi) from the centre. Our booking partner lists 33 places to stay.
Key facts
Daylight in Soweto runs from about 10 h 32 min a day in late June to 13 h 50 min in late December (computed for -26.27° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.
Getting there
Soweto is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Lanseria International Airport (HLA), 37 km (23 mi) from the centre, whose 10,000-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft. The alternatives are O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB, 41 km).
Flights to Soweto: every airport, routes and times
Buses to Soweto · Driving and car hire
Where to stay
Our booking partner lists 33 places to stay in Soweto. Of the 16 with a star rating, the largest group is 3-star (9). Guests have left 1,436 reviews in total.
Hotels in Soweto: the full picture, and book
Nearby cities, and how to get between them
- Johannesburg, 20 km — tours
- Pretoria, 67 km — trains · buses · car rental · tours
- Soshanguve, 92 km — trains · buses · car rental · tours
- Evaton, 30 km — car rental · tours
- Benoni, 47 km — trains · buses · car rental · tours
- Bloemfontein, 356 km — flights · trains · buses · car rental
- Thembisa, 48 km — trains · buses · car rental · tours
- Vereeniging, 46 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Boksburg, 40 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Welkom, 220 km — buses · car rental · tours
Common questions
Which airport serves Soweto?
Lanseria International Airport (HLA), 37 km (23 mi) from the centre, plus 1 other airport with scheduled flights within 100 km.
How big is Soweto?
About 1.7 million people live in Soweto, across 200 km² (GeoNames and Wikidata).
What time zone is Soweto in?
Africa/Johannesburg, currently UTC+2.
What currency is used in Soweto?
The Rand (ZAR). Traffic drives on the left.
How many hotels are there in Soweto?
Our booking partner lists 33 places to stay in Soweto, bookable on this site.
Which cities are near Soweto?
Johannesburg (20 km), Pretoria (67 km), Soshanguve (92 km), Evaton (30 km), Benoni (47 km).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.