# Spending your layover inside O.R. Tambo International Airport

Past security, the place to rest at OR Tambo is a lounge: the Bidvest Premier Lounge in Terminal A is open 24 hours, with showers, for R708. The InterContinental opposite arrivals and the Protea, a free shuttle away, are before immigration, so you need to be able to enter South Africa to use them.

- Web page: https://johannesburglayover.com/airport/
- Guide: [Johannesburg Layover](https://johannesburglayover.com/), an independent layover guide to O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), part of City Layover
- Updated 10 November 2026; facts checked 8 November 2026

## Can you sleep at Johannesburg airport during a layover?

Yes, in a lounge rather than a room, if you stay past security. The Bidvest Premier Lounge in OR Tambo's Terminal A is open 24 hours, with showers, and R708 covers the 4 hours before your flight; each extra hour costs R180. If you can enter South Africa, the InterContinental is opposite international arrivals and the Protea Hotel O.R. Tambo Airport is a free shuttle ride away, but neither publishes a day rate.

## At a glance

- **Hotels at the terminal**: InterContinental, opposite arrivals (landside)
- **Shuttle hotel**: Protea, free shuttle; call the hotel overnight (landside)
- **Rest airside**: Lounges in Terminal A, past security
- **Lounge entry**: R708 at the Bidvest Premier Lounge, open 24 hours
- **Wi-Fi**: Free, 1 GB or 4 hours
- **Porters**: R20 a bag is the suggested tip

## Hotels in and next to the terminals

Both hotels by O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) are before immigration, so for rest past security, use a lounge. To sleep in a bed you need to be able to enter South Africa and pass through immigration. See [visa and transit rules](https://johannesburglayover.com/visa-and-transit/).

| Hotel | Where | Airside or landside | How you get there |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| InterContinental Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport | Opposite the international arrivals hall | Landside | A short walk from arrivals; the Gautrain station is a few metres away |
| Protea Hotel by Marriott O.R. Tambo Airport | Kempton Park, a few minutes away | Landside | Free shuttle from the airport bus terminal near Terminal A, 4:15am to 12:30am; overnight on request |

**The InterContinental** is the nearest hotel to arrivals: once you're through immigration and out of arrivals, you cross over to it on foot. It suits a late landing and an early flight the next day. Check-in is from 2pm and check-out by 11am.

**The Protea** is reached by its free shuttle, which runs to a schedule from 4:15am to 12:30am and leaves from the airport bus terminal: from international arrivals, follow the signs to the car rentals, then to the bus terminal. Between 12:15am and 4:15am it runs only on request, so after a late landing call the hotel on +27 11 977 2600 once you're through immigration; an Uber or Bolt is the fallback. Check-in is from 2pm and check-out by 11am.

Neither hotel publishes a rate for transit passengers. [Our layover plans](https://johannesburglayover.com/itineraries/) include both, with a morning plan for night arrivals.

## Day rooms

Neither hotel publishes a day-use rate, and standard check-in is from 2pm, so a room after a morning landing isn't guaranteed. If you want one, ask the hotel about early check-in when you book. For a few hours' rest without the paperwork, a lounge past security is simpler, and you don't have to enter South Africa.

## Lounges you can pay for

| Lounge | Terminal | Hours | Walk-in price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Bidvest Premier Lounge | Terminal A, mezzanine above the duty-free shops | 24 hours | R708 for the 4 hours before your flight |

- **Finding it.** After security in Terminal A, walk to the south end of the duty-free shops and take the escalator up to the mezzanine. The lounge is in the right-hand corner.
- **Who can use it.** Any departing passenger with a boarding pass, whatever the airline or class.
- **How long.** The R708 covers the 4 hours before your flight's departure. Arrive earlier and you pay R45 for each 15 minutes, so R180 an hour: 8 hours in the lounge costs about R1,430.
- **Children.** Under 2s go free; older children pay the full walk-in rate.
- **Paying.** Cards only: the lounge takes no cash and no virtual cards. A voucher booked online doesn't reserve a seat; entry is first come, first served.
- **Passes.** Priority Pass, LoungeKey and DragonPass are among its partners. The rules are set by your card or bank, so check yours, and bring the physical card. GetYourGuide also sells OR Tambo lounge access.

The airport lists more lounges in the international terminal, among them Shongololo, Aspire and the airlines' own: British Airways, South African Airways, Emirates, Air France and Virgin Atlantic. Those don't publish walk-in prices, so ask at the desk or check your lounge membership.

## Showers

The Bidvest Premier Lounge has showers, with towels, shampoo and soap, included in its entry. There are no public showers to pay for on their own, so a lounge or a room at the InterContinental is the way to get one.

## Left luggage

There's no left-luggage desk at OR Tambo with published prices that we can point you to, so plan to keep your bags with you. On one ticket your checked bags go through to your next flight; on separate tickets, pack so you can carry everything on the Gautrain and around town, or leave it at your hotel if you're staying the night.

## Connections, money and Wi-Fi

- **Changing planes.** Between two international flights on one ticket, you stay in the transit area and don't pass immigration. A domestic connection means passing immigration and collecting your bags first. Minimum connection times are set by your airline, not the airport.
- **Help.** Information desks in international arrivals, international departures and the transit area are open 24 hours.
- **Wi-Fi.** Connect to the "# AIRPORTS FREE Wi-Fi" network for 1 GB or 4 hours free; after that, "# AIRPORTS PREMIUM Wi-Fi" sells more.
- **Money.** South Africa uses the rand. Cards are the easy way to pay: the Gautrain, the lounge, Constitution Hill and Mandela House all take them, and some take nothing else.
- **Porters.** They wear bright orange and work for tips, and R20 a bag is the suggested amount.

With 5.5 hours or more and a passport that lets you in, you could be standing on [Nelson Mandela Square](https://johannesburglayover.com/getting-to-the-city/) under 2 hours after landing.

## Questions people ask

### Can I sleep at Johannesburg airport on a layover?

Yes, in a lounge, if you stay past security. The Bidvest Premier Lounge in Terminal A is open 24 hours, with showers, and costs R708 for the 4 hours before your flight, plus R45 for each 15 minutes before that. For a bed, you need to enter South Africa and stay at the InterContinental or the Protea.

### Is there a hotel inside Johannesburg airport?

Not past security. The InterContinental Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport is opposite the international arrivals hall, a short walk away, but it's before immigration, so you need to be able to enter South Africa. The Protea Hotel O.R. Tambo Airport is in Kempton Park, reached by a free shuttle that runs to a schedule from 4:15am to 12:30am; overnight, call the hotel to send it.

### Can I pay for just a shower at Johannesburg airport?

Not as a shower on its own. The Bidvest Premier Lounge in Terminal A has showers, with towels, shampoo and soap, included in its R708 entry. A room at the InterContinental, before immigration, is the other way to get one.

### Can I use Priority Pass at Johannesburg airport?

Yes, at the Bidvest Premier Lounge, which lists Priority Pass, LoungeKey and DragonPass among its partners. Check your own card's benefits before you go: the lounge applies the rules your card or bank sets, and you must show the physical card.

### How much is left luggage at Johannesburg airport?

We can't give you a price: there's no left-luggage desk at OR Tambo with published prices that we can point you to. Plan to keep your bags with you, travel light into town, or leave them at your hotel if you're staying the night.

## Sources (checked 8 November 2026)

- [InterContinental Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport: hotel details (checked 8 Nov 2026)](https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/us/en/johannesburg/jnbhc/hoteldetail)
- [Southern Sun: InterContinental O.R. Tambo Airport (checked 8 Nov 2026)](https://southernsun.com/intercontinental-or-tambo-airport)
- [Protea Hotel by Marriott O.R. Tambo Airport: overview and shuttle (checked 10 Nov 2026)](https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/jnbor-protea-hotel-or-tambo-airport/overview/)
- [Bidvest Premier Lounge: OR Tambo International (checked 10 Nov 2026)](https://www.bidvestlounge.co.za/commercial-lounge-or-tambo-international/)
- [Bidvest Premier Lounge: rates (checked 10 Nov 2026)](https://www.bidvestlounge.co.za/rates/)
- [Bidvest Premier Lounge: frequently asked questions (checked 9 Nov 2026)](https://www.bidvestlounge.co.za/faqs/)
- [Bidvest Premier Lounge: card and membership partners (checked 9 Nov 2026)](https://www.bidvestlounge.co.za/partners/)
- [Airports Company South Africa: O.R. Tambo lounges (checked 10 Nov 2026)](https://www.airports.co.za/airports/or-tambo-international-airport/At-the-airport/lounges)
- [Airports Company South Africa: free Wi-Fi (checked 9 Nov 2026)](https://www.airports.co.za/utilities/wifi)
- [Airports Company South Africa: O.R. Tambo travel tips, porters (checked 9 Nov 2026)](https://www.airports.co.za/airports/or-tambo-international-airport/At-the-airport/travel-tips)
- [Airports Company South Africa: O.R. Tambo information desks (checked 9 Nov 2026)](https://www.airports.co.za/airports/or-tambo-international-airport/At-the-airport/information-desk)
- [DIRCO: transit visa exemption for OR Tambo (checked 10 Nov 2026)](https://dirco.gov.za/canberra/transit-visa/)
- [Airports Company South Africa: connection times (checked 8 Nov 2026)](https://www.airports.co.za/news?item=387)