OR the art-loving tourist, the city hosts numerous art galleries and dealers showing a wide range of contemporary and traditional South African paintings, sculptures and art objects. If you're interested in theatre, you'll find that stage productions in Johannesburg are alive and kicking. Catch a homegrown play, comedy or musical and find out what makes South Africans tick. See What's on.

Visit the numerous museums that are dotted around the city and absorb something of the diverse cultural and historical influences that have contributed to making Johannesburg what it is today. Among these are the newly built Museum of Apartheid and downtown Johannesburg's Museum Afrika, which incorporates the Bensusan Museum of Photography. See Museums.

Party animals agree that when it comes to nightlife, Jo'burg rocks. The city buzzes with an exciting range of dance clubs and a live music scene that's renowned the world over. South African jazz is particularly popular and there are many sophisticated venues where you can get down and experience the rhythm and soul of Africa. See What's on.

Johannesburg's numerous restaurants reflect the cosmopolitan nature of the city. South African specialities like crocodile, zebra and eland can be found on various menus, but if your taste buds are more inclined towards Moroccan, Thai or Indian cuisine (or, for that matter, McDonald's), you'll find there are plenty of options. See Restuarants.

Most tourists want to take home mementoes of their travels, and the city's many flea markets are a treasure trove of suitable trophies. Pick up beautiful wooden carvings, African masks, wire toys and baskets, beadwork, colourful fabrics and other indigenous crafts. Then there's the ubiquitous Nelson Mandela memorabilia - a fitting reminder of a visit to the rainbow nation. See Markets .

At the end of a busy day sightseeing and shopping, the city offers many superb hotels and guesthouses where you can relax and revitalise yourself before enjoying another day in Africa's most vibrant city. See Hotels and guesthouses.

It's first world, it's third world, it's happening and its name is Johannesburg.