Why go
- Judicial capital of South Africa.
- Served by Bultfontein Airport (UTE).
History
Bloemfontein, also known as Bloem, is the capital and the largest city of the Free State province in South Africa. It is often, and has been traditionally, referred to as the country's "judicial capital", alongside the legislative capital Cape Town and executive capital Pretoria. However, the highest court in South Africa, the Constitutional Court, has been in Johannesburg since 1994.
Restaurants & places to go
Burger, Chicken, Ice Cream, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-21:00; Sa 00:00-21:00; Su 09:00-21:00 Features: takeaway · 187 Raymond Mhlaba Street,… · location.steers.co.za
Steak House, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:00-22:00 · Nelson Mandela Drive, Bloemfontein · spursteakranches.com
Pizza, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 09:30-21:00 Features: takeaway · locations.debonairspizza.co.za
Fish And Chips, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Th 09:30-21:00; Fr 09:30-22:00; Sa 09:00-21:00; Su 09:00-20:00 Features: takeaway · locations.fishaways.co.za
Chicken, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 00:00-24:00 Features: takeaway, delivery · Moshoeshoe Street, Bloemfontein · order.kfc.co.za
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: 24/7 Features: takeaway · seattlecoffeecompany.co.za
Italian, Pizza, Pasta, Restaurant · Italian/Pizza restaurant · panarottis.com
Irish, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 06:30-22:00, Su 06:30-20:00 · copperclover.co.za
Coffee, Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-16:00; Sa 08:00-13:00; Su off Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, vegetarian options · 31… · stereocoffee.co.za
Breakfast, Burger, Salad, Restaurant · Breakfast/Burger restaurant
Seafood, Restaurant · Seafood restaurant
Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 07:30-12:00 · Senaat Street, Bloemfontein, 9301 · brewo2.co.za
French, Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Sa 08:00-13:00 · 40 Spesery Avenue, Bloemfontein, 9301
Asian, Restaurant · Asian restaurant
Restaurant · restaurant · bossa.co.za
Fast Food · fast food · facebook.com
Sandwich, Restaurant · Sandwich restaurant · Park Road
Burger, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:00-22:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, delivery, vegetarian options, step-free access · Jan Spies Avenue,… · rocomamas.com
Steak House, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:00-20:00 · 105 Kingsway, Bloemfontein, 9301 · spursteakranches.com
Pizza, Restaurant · Features: outdoor seating, delivery · Shop 38A, Preller Square Shopping Centre Graaf Reinet Street, Bloemfontein, 9301 · sicilypizzeria.co.za
Chicken, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-17:00; Sa 08:00-14:00; Su off · bloemcoffee.co.za
Coffee, Dessert, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-17:00; Sa 08:00-13:00; Su closed Features: takeaway · 29 Wekkie Saayman Street, Bloemfontein, 9301
Cafe · cafe
Asian, Restaurant · Asian restaurant
Restaurant · restaurant
Fast Food · fast food
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Th 07:00-19:00; Fr-Sa 07:00-20:00; Su 08:00-17:00 Features: takeaway · Kellner Street · locations.wimpy.co.za
Steak House, Restaurant · Steak House restaurant
Pizza, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · Curie Avenue
Chicken, Portuguese, Restaurant · Chicken/Portuguese restaurant · Curie Avenue
Coffee Shop, Breakfast, Lunch, Dessert, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 05:00-17:00; Sa 05:00-13:00; Su closed Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, step-free… · yellocoffee.co.za
Coffee, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-14:00; Sa,Su closed · 115 Koos van der Walt Avenue, Bloemfontein, 9301
Cafe · cafe
Restaurant · restaurant
Fast Food · fast food
Burger, Chicken, Breakfast, Fish, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Th 08:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 08:00-23:00; Su 08:00-21:00; PH 08:00-21:00 · Curie Avenue, Bloemfontein · stadiumfastfoods.com
Pizza, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Chicken, Restaurant · Chicken restaurant · Park Road, Bloemfontein
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Features: takeaway · bootlegger.coffee
Cafe · cafe
Restaurant · restaurant
Burger, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · Nelson Mandela Drive, Bloemfontein
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-17:00; Sa 08:00-14:00; Su closed Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, step-free access · 7 Sir George Grey…
Restaurant · restaurant · 44 West Burger Street, Bloemfontein, 9301
6 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
Bram Fischer International Airport (BFN) 8.5 km to the centre
Bloemfontein, FS, ZA — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 2 airlines (South African Airways, Mango) · direct flights to 3 destinations incl. Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 2 airlines, 3 direct destinations
- South African Airways SA (ER3, 737-300, 737-800, J41, Dash 8-400, AR8…) · 3 routes: Cape Town, Durban*, Johannesburg*
- Mango JE (737-300, 737-800) · 1 route: Cape Town
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Thaba Nchu Tar Airport (TCU) 63 km to the centre
Homeward, FS, ZA — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Bultfontein Airport (UTE) 93 km to the centre
Bultfontein, FS, ZA — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Edenburg Airport 78 km to the centre
Edenburg, FS, ZA
Valencia Private Airstrip 15 km to the centre
Bloemfontein, FS, ZA
Brandfort Moreson Airport 51 km to the centre
Winnie Mandela (Brandfort), FS, ZA
Where to stay
10 Du Plooy Cres, Fichardt Park, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa · book.nightsbridge.com
19 President Steyn Ave, Westdene, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa · hobbit.co.za
2 Leeuwenhoek St, Hospitaalpark, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa · lionlodge.co.za
92 Henry St, Westdene, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa · lochloganhotel.co.za
55 Brill St, Westdene, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa · sweetrose.co.za
4 Wannenburg St, Brandwag, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa · adelante.co.za
175 Nelson Mandela Dr, Westdene, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa · citylodgehotels.com
8 Stapelberg St, Brandwag, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa · premierhotels.co.za
85 Zastron St, Bloemfontein Central, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa · premierhotels.co.za
Nelson Mandela Dr &, 120 Melville Dr, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa · southernsun.com
1 James Scott St, Brandwag, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa · city-living.co.za
1 Union Ave, Bloemfontein Central, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa · hotelpresident.co.za
Indoor
Bloem Plaza, East Burger Street, Bloemfontein Central, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa · bonhotels.com
Brandwag, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa
3 Haarburger Cres, Westdene, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa · serenityliving.co.za
30 Whites Rd, Waverley, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa · 30onwhites.co.za
9E Innes Ln, Waverley, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa · franklinview.co.za
56 Donald Murray Ave, Park West, Bloemfontein, 9330, South Africa · nightingaleguesthouse.co.za
45 Donald Murray Ave, Park West, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa · abientoguesthouse.co.za
Arboretum, Bloemfontein, 9305, South Africa · belmontguesthouse.co.za
41 Donald Murray Ave, Park West, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa · nobishouse.co.za
9 James Scott St, Brandwag, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa · sologracia.co.za
63 Waverley Rd, Waverley, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa
25 Parfitt Ave, Park West, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
October – March
The warmer, longer-day half of the southern-hemisphere year.
Shoulder season
April – May, September
Milder and quieter, with better value.
Worth avoiding
June – August
The southern winter — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Bultfontein Airport (UTE); 5 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: BFN has direct flights to 3 destinations on 2 airlines (incl. Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg).
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Bloemfontein. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Coaches & shuttles
Intercity coach
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
Charter, FBO · Managed fleet · Charter and FBOs at Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Charter, management · Large-cabin & VIP airliners · Geneva-based operator known for large-cabin and VIP airliner charters.
Charter, management, FBO, MRO · Managed fleet worldwide · General Dynamics company: charter, completions and FBOs in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US.