As one might expect of the country’s administrative capital and a city that has played such a key role in the South Africa’s political history, Pretoria is home to a large number of museums and buildings of historic interest. However, it is also a fun, famiy-friendly city that welcomes visitors. Here are a few of the city’s attractions:

Church Square and the city centre
A good place to start any visit to the city is Church Square, which is located in the heart of Pretoria and home to a number of important buildings. In the early days farmers used to outspan their oxen here and camp for the night. It continues to be a popular meeting place for modern city folk and has seen many political demonstrations and protests. The square's central statue of Paul Kruger is a reminder of the past. Among the impressive buildings fronting the square are the Raadsaal (the old parliament), the old Capital Theatre (now the Tswane craft market), the General Post Office and Stamp museum, the Reserve Bank and the grandiose Palace of Justice, where Nelson Mandela stood trial.

Voortrekker Monument
This unique monument stands on the outskirts of central Pretoria. A massive building carved with scenes from Voortrekker history, it is the city’s mosti-theatre, where performances are held.

Union Buildings
The Union Buildings form the official seat of the South African government and also house the offices of the President of South Africa. The grand sandstone buildings, designed by Sir Herbert Baker, sit on Meintjies Kop and overlook the city. It is also worth visiting for its beautiful gardens. The 9,000-seat amphitheatre is where presidents take the oath of office.

Kruger House Museum, Pretoria
This is the last house in which President Paul Kruger was to live, between 1883 and 1901, before he left South Africa to go into exile in Europe. This beautiful Victorian style home at 60 Church Street was interestingly built using milk instead of water for mixing the cement as the cement of the time was deemed to be of a poor quality. Paul Kruger’s home was one of the first in the city to use electricity.

African Window (National Cultural History Museum)
Now known as the African Window, the National Cultural History Museum in Visagie Street is one of the most dynamic museums in Pretoria. It consistently displays new and exciting exhibitions alongside its rather appealing permanent exhibitions. It focuses on the diversity of the country’s cultures and history of its people. It includes objects, manuscripts, documents, records, photographs and publications on cultural history.

Pretoria Botanical Garden, Pretoria
Open every day, the garden is divided into two sections by a 50 m high quartzite outcrop. Fifty hectares of the total area are devoted to developed garden, using almost exclusively South African plants. Special features are the treed wisteria avenue and special collections of medicinal plants, cycads, aloes, tree species, succulents and natural ridge vegetation. It is also home to more than 198 bird species and a number of reptiles and small mammals such as the common duiker.

National Zoological Gardens, Pretoria
More widely known as the Pretoria Zoo, the National Zoological Gardens in Boom Street, Pretoria, is not only the largest zoo in South Africa and the only one with national status, but is also rated as one of the top zoos in the world. For many visitors, this is the only way of coming face-to-face with, for example, an African elephant. Today there are 3117 animals and the zoo boasts the largest inland marine aquarium in the country, as well as a reptile park. The zoo also has the third largest collection of exotic trees.

The dining options in Pretoria are endless, offering a wide array of international cuisine alongside traditional African dishes. Some of South Africa’s favourite dishes include: biltong, dried and salted raw meat; frikkadel, traditional South African meat balls made of tomatoes, onion, minced beef and other ingredients; and mashonzha, fried worms similar to caterpillars in appearance. Skop is a favourite of African men. It is the boiled head of a cow, sheep or goat.

As the home of many embassies and foreign residents, you will find the cuisine of almost any country in the world represented in Pretoria. To find truly unique restaurants, take your time to explore the restaurants located outside of the shopping centres or ask local residents for recommendations.

There is no shortage of shopping malls in the city. Wherever you go, you are bound to find a shopping centre filled with tempting stores, restaurants and entertainment venues. However, for a more African experience, you should try to get to the markets where traditional goods and eye-popping curios are on sale.

One of the more interesting places to visit is the Hatfield Market. Over 200 undercover stalls offer incredible bargains on a wide variety of merchandise - from trendy clothing and edgy decor to authentic handcrafted African wares. Browse and shop for the latest in accessories, art, crafts, jewellery and furniture, and indulge in an excellent array of treats in the Food Court.

You can also visit some of the unlicensed street stalls around the city centre, where you can often find goods from other African countries. If you have time, a visit to one of the many flea markets can be entertaining and turn up some good bargains. Among the African masks and wood carvings, there are usually some toys, beaded dolls, clothing, ceramics, jewellery and other interesting items.