The Gautrain service is the easiest, fastest, and most reliable way to travel between Gauteng's two main cities of Joburg and Pretoria. As well as ferrying commuters from home to work and back, it's a fantastic way to get around for some sightseeing as the Gautrain stations are located near museums, art galleries, restaurants, shopping destinations, and heritage landmarks. As part of our series of guides exploring Gauteng with the Gautrain, we've pulled together everything you need to know to plan day trips around the Gautrain's main stations.
Perfectly poised between Joburg’s historic inner city and Sandton’s glossy skyline, Rosebank is where business meets leisure with its pedestrian-friendly malls, top contemporary art galleries, buzzing restaurant scene, and cultural hotspots. While Rosebank has undergone significant development in the past decade, the district remains a friendly and welcoming one, drawing a diverse crowd daily. It’s also one of the best neighbourhoods in Joburg to explore on foot, ideally straight from the Rosebank Gautrain station.
1. Navigating from the Rosebank Gautrain Station
The Rosebank Gautrain station opens directly onto the pedestrianised section of The Zone @ Rosebank, linking seamlessly to Rosebank Mall and The Firs. From here, most major attractions – including Keyes Art Mile – are just a 10–15 minute walk via Tyrwhitt Avenue, the main artery connecting the station to Keyes Avenue.
Rosebank sits among Joburg’s leafy Parks suburbs: walk 20 minutes west to Parktown North, 15 minutes south to Parkwood, head north along Oxford Road to Illovo and the DP World Wanderers Stadium, or east toward Melrose.
For destinations further afield, Gautrain's fleet of Midibuses and Gaubuses connect Rosebank to Hyde Park, Killarney, Illovo, Parkhurst, and Melrose Arch. These operate on weekdays only, with the exception of the Parkhurst route. To use the Gaubus connections you will need a Gautrain card or a contactless bank card, as cash is not accepted on board. To use the Midibuses, passengers can purchase a Midibus Ticket at stations that offer Midibus services. Get our guide to Gautrain bus routes and find the route info and timetables here.
The Rosebank Gautrain station operates from 05:18 – 21:24, with trains running every 10 minutes during weekday peak hours, every 20 minutes off-peak, and every 20 – 30 minutes on weekends. For real-time updates and schedules, download the Gautrain app or visit gautrain.co.za. For a helpful overview, check out our guide to using the Gautrain.
2. Rosebank's art galleries and design hubs
Photo: 223 Creative Hub.
KEYES ART MILE AND BEYOND
Rosebank has one of the biggest concentrations of art galleries in Johannesburg, so if you're interested in contemporary art, these alone might keep you occupied all day. Start out at the sister galleries Everard Read and Circa on Keyes Avenue, which represent some of the biggest names in South African contemporary art. Host to the lively Keyes Art Night on the first Thursday of every month, Keyes Art Mile is where you'll find BKhz Gallery , a champion of up-and-coming local artists, and the moody and museum-grade Gallery 1 space. Further down past Jellicoe Avenue is Lizamore on Keyes , which always has an interesting lineup on show.
223 JAN SMUTS CREATIVE HUB
Part of the greater Rosebank area along Jan Smuts Avenue is a modern building with bold red metalwork – that’s 223 Jan Smuts Creative Hub , and it’s well worth stopping for. Reimagined by gallerist Candice Berman , this light-filled creative destination has two floors of contemporary art, design studios, fashion labels to explore, including the largest African showroom of Swiss furniture brand USM . The ever-evolving residency space, The Creatory , is always a surprise.
GALLERIES ALONG JAN SMUTS
At the corner of Jan Smuts Avenue and Bolton Road sits Goodman Gallery , a landmark contemporary art gallery that's a Joburg staple. A few doors up Jan Smuts Avenue from Goodman Gallery is the Blue House , home of top fine art print studio David Krut Projects, where you'll find an art gallery space and the fantastic David Krut bookstore specialising in unique local and imported art books. Don't miss the neighbouring Gallery 2 , a small, eclectic gallery that regularly features lesser-known artists. At the corner of Wells and Jan Smuts avenues is the Kim Sacks Gallery which showcases exquisite handmade objects by African artists, including ceramics, woven textiles, and beadwork.
NINE YARDS
On the corner of Jan Smuts Avenue and Chester Road (technically Parktown North, but effectively part of the Rosebank orbit), Nine Yards transforms 13 historic back-of-house buildings into a serene, bamboo-lined cultural precinct. For local design, fashion, and furniture, Something Good Studios , Artclub and Friends , and Houtlander are our favourites here. Plus, stock up on artisanal goodies at GardenFresh and Ti Amo Deli , and don't leave without your Plato Coffee in hand.
JOIN A GUIDED ART TOUR
For a guided experience of Rosebank's gallery circuit, Thabo the Tourist hosts a Hop-On Joburg Art Galleries tour that is light-hearted and incredibly refreshing. Email thabothetourist@gmail.com to make a booking.
3. Where to grab a bite in Rosebank
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