About O.R. Tambo Intl. Airport
Oliver Reginald Tambo Airport is the largest and busiest airport in the African continent and is named after Oliver Reginald Tambo, South Africa's former president. The airport is situated in Johannesburg, the capital of South Africa and has flights to major cities in all five continents and half of the passengers traveling by plane in the country will use Oliver Reginald Tambo Airport. The airport opened in 1952 and with its three therminal buildings it handles more than 20 million passengers annually.
Getting to the City Center from O.R. Tambo Intl. Airport
O.R. Tambo International Airport, also known as O.R. Tambo, is located near Johannesburg city centre. You can travel to the city centre from the airport by buses or taxis which you can find in front of the airport terminals. There are also other transportation options such as limousine and train which respond to different needs for the passengers at the airport. There are both international and domestic flights at the airport, which hosts millions of passengers every year. Among the vehicles that you can choose for traveling to the city centre from O.R. Tambo International Airport, bus is the most affordable one. Buses going to the city centre depart from the terminal exit and pick up passengers from both domestic and international terminals. Bus fares are usually low and once you arrive in the city centre, you can walk to your destination or take a taxi or another bus. If you are not familiar with the city and visiting for the first time, it is recommended to take a taxi instead of public transportation such as bus. You can easily find a taxi at any time of the day in front of the airport terminal and travel to different districts in or near Johannesburg city centre. Compared to the other vehicles, taking a taxi is a far better option for the foreigners visiting the city for the first time, because of safety reasons. Traveling to Johannesburg city centre by the taxis you can take from the exit gates of the airport terminals takes about 35 – 40 minutes. Moreover, taxi fares in the city are generally not too high, and if you are traveling in groups of 2 – 3 people, you can travel to the city centre by taxi at reasonable prices. You can also travel by the trains that you can take from the train station located between the A and B terminals at the airport. The train fares are just as reasonable as the bus fares. When you take the train, you can travel to different routes you want to go in the city centre. There are also more comfortable transportation options such as limousines at the airport for the passengers. The limousines, which you can hire from the terminal, offer an extremely fast and pleasant journey with their chauffeurs. Limousines, together with taxis, are the safest vehicles to travel to the city centre. Passengers who want to rent a car at Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport can get a car delivered in a short time by going to the offices of international rent a car companies such as Hertz, AVIS, Europcar, Budget or National. Rental cars are a convenient and fast way to travel and passengers may also choose luxury cars . Remember to take your travel documents and identification papers, which you will need to rent a car, with you. Also, by making reservation in advance, you can get your car ready before you land on the airport and begin driving to the city centre without losing too much time.Bus
Taxi
Train
Limousine
Rent a Car
Getting to O.R. Tambo Intl. Airport from the City Center
As the distance between Johannesburg city centre and O.R. Tambo International Airport is not much, you can travel to the airport from the city centre in a short time and at reasonable prices. Locals mostly prefer public transportation such as bus or train in the city, but it is recommended to the new travelers in the city to prefer taxi for transportation instead of these vehicles. You can easily find a taxi at any time of the day in the city centre. Also remember that there are many rent a car offices in the city centre if you consider renting a car. Passengers who give priority to comfort and convenience while traveling to the airport from the city centre may consider renting a limousine as well. Limousines transport passengers to the airport from the city centre in about 30 minutes. Train is also another option for traveling to the airport from the city centre but like bus, it is not recommended to the new travelers for safety reasons.
Bus
Bus, one of the most preferred vehicles by the locals to travel to the airport from Johannesburg city centre, is not recommended to the foreign visitors for safety reasons. It takes about 35 – 40 minutes to get to the airport by buses departing from the city centre. If you want to travel by bus you can go to the one of the bus stops in the city centre. If you are staying in a hotel in the city, you can get information about buses and bus stops from your hotel. Remember, however, that you should look at other options if your priority is safety rather than a low cost travel.
Taxi
In Johannesburg, taxis are the most preferred means of transportation especially by foreign travelers. You can be at the airport terminal in a short time by taking these safe and fast vehicles. Taxi fares are not too high for the tourists in the city. However, if you are traveling from somewhere far from the airport, you can get information about the taxi fee in advance. Taxis can take you from your hotel or from anywhere in the city centre and bring you to the airport terminal. They stand out as a much more preferable option when compared to the public transportation such as buses and trains.
Train
Trains are also a convenient and fast option to travel to O.R. Tambo International Airport from the city centre. However, like buses, they are not recommended to the foreign visitors for security reasons. You can take a taxi or rent a car or a limousine as an alternative for a safer and more comfortable journey.
Limousine
Business travelers in Johannesburg often prefer limousines for transportation. These luxurious and comfortable vehicles, driven by chaffeurs, take you from the city centre and bring you to the airport entrance in about 30 minutes. Although renting a limousine is comfortable and pleasant, it will cost more than the other options. You can use these vehicles at a cheaper price with seasonal discounts or group reservations.
Rent a Car
Renting a car is one of the most preferred means of transportation in Johannesburg and vicinity. You can find some rent a car companies such as AVIS, Budget, National and Hertz in the city and within minutes, you can rent a car and begin driving to the airport. If you are not familiar with the city’s roads, remember to get a navigation device or a map beforehand. You just need to inform the rental company in advance if you want to drop off the car at the airport. You must have your internationally valid travel documents with you to rent a car.
Airport Information
Domestic and international terminals at Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport offer an extremely pleasant and comfortable environment with lounges, cafes, restaurants and shops to the passengers. Thanks to the wireless internet connection at the airport, you can go online and make your transactions in many areas of the terminal. There are also ATMs and bank offices at the airport for those who want to send or withdraw money or make other banking transactions without leaving the terminal. You can change money at the exchange offices or banks at the airport. There are places of worship in the O.R. Tambo International Airport for Muslim and Christian visitors who wish to pray. You can use the conference room at the domestic terminal if you need to hold a meeting at the airport. You can send mails to different regions both home and abroad from the post office located at the international terminal of the airport. You will find many options such as telephone and accessories, electronic devices, clothes, books, newspapers and magazines if you want to shop at the airport. You have the opportunity to taste delicious meals and drinks from many parts of the world, such as South Africa, Asia and Europe at the airport. You can spend time at the passenger lounges which have comfortable seats. If you have to stay in a place close to the airport, you can make a reservation for one of the hotels around the terminals.
