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.
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.
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.
| 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 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 (opens in a new tab).
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 under 2 hours after landing.