O.R. Tambo International Airport Map (Most Up-To-Date)
O.R. Tambo International Airport is a long, mostly indoor North–South terminal complex stitched together by the Central Terminal Building, with the real “map problem” being vertical: Arrivals on Level 0, Departures on Level 2, plus a Level 3 mezzanine. International Terminal A sits on the north end, Domestic Terminal B on the south end, all within Johannesburg’s main airport hub footprint—so most transfer errors come from staying on the wrong floor, not walking the wrong direction.
Map Table
| Terminal | Key Airlines | Primary Function | Transfer Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal A | international carriers | International Arrivals, Customs, International Departures | Central Terminal Building escalators/elevators, Level 0 → Level 2 |
| Central Terminal Building | multi-airline | vertical circulation, concourse spine | escalators/elevators, indoor corridor |
| Terminal B | FlySafair, Airlink, South African Airways domestic, LIFT | Domestic check-in, Domestic security, Domestic gates | Level 2 departures hall, airside pier |
2026 O.R. Tambo International Airport Map + Printable PDF
The 2026 layout still rewards a “Level 2 first” approach: International Arrivals on Level 0 forces a landside transition, then a two-level climb to the Departures plane where Domestic check-in and security actually live. Queue variability at immigration and domestic screening remains the swing factor, so a printable map is most useful when it locks your route to the Central Terminal Building escalator bank, the correct Terminal B security entry, and the official Parkade 2 South pickup zones.
O.R. Tambo International Airport Level 0 Map 2025
O.R. Tambo International Airport Level 1 Map 2025
O.R. Tambo International Airport Level 2 Map 2025
O.R. Tambo International Airport Level 3 Map 2025
2026 O.R. Tambo International Airport Guide
What is the exact walking distance (meters) from International Arrivals exit to the Domestic Departures check-in hall (shortest indoor route)?
Walking distance is approximately 300–500 meters from the International Arrivals exit doors (post-Customs sliding doors, Level 0) to the Domestic Departures check-in hall in Terminal B (Level 2). The shortest indoor route stays inside the terminal complex via the Central Terminal Building, but the final distance shifts based on which check-in island you need (some domestic airline counters sit farther south).
| Segment | Landmark-to-landmark | Approx. distance |
|---|---|---|
| Arrivals to CTB spine | International Arrivals exit → Central Terminal Building atrium | ~150–250 m |
| Vertical transition | CTB escalator/elevator bank → Level 2 Departures | vertical only |
| Departures to domestic hall | Level 2 CTB edge → Terminal B domestic check-in islands | ~150–250 m |
Which level/floor is the fastest route from International Arrivals to Domestic Departures?
Level 2 is the fastest route because Domestic check-in and Domestic security are on the Departures level, and Level 0 walking leads to dead ends and backtracking. After exiting International Customs into the public Arrivals hall on Level 0, the quickest move is to reach the Central Terminal Building escalator/elevator bank and go straight up, bypassing Level 1.
Use this sequence anchored to fixed points: exit Customs into the International Arrivals hall (Level 0), turn left toward the Central Terminal Building atrium, take the main escalators/elevators up to Level 2, then continue south on Level 2 following “Domestic Departures” / “Terminal B” signs into the Domestic check-in hall.
What is the exact walking distance (meters) from International Arrivals exit to the first Domestic security screening entry point?
Walking distance is roughly 500–600 meters from the International Arrivals exit doors (post-Customs, Level 0) to the first Domestic security screening entry point in Terminal B (Level 2). The shortest path runs indoors via the Central Terminal Building, then continues through the Terminal B departures hall to the central security entrance.
| Segment | Landmark-to-landmark | Approx. distance |
|---|---|---|
| Arrivals to CTB spine | International Arrivals exit → Central Terminal Building atrium | ~150–250 m |
| Vertical transition | CTB escalator/elevator bank → Level 2 Departures | vertical only |
| Departures to security | Level 2 CTB edge → Terminal B domestic security entry | ~350–400 m |
Where is the primary “re-check bag” / airline bag-drop zone located for passengers transferring to Domestic?
The primary re-check bag area sits immediately after International Customs but before you fully enter the public International Arrivals hall. This is a transit buffer zone just beyond the Customs exit threshold on Level 0 in Terminal A, positioned so you can hand off eligible domestic-connecting bags without hauling them through the landside concourse.
Follow the flow past the baggage carousels to Customs, then look for the “International to Domestic Transfer” re-check desks right after you clear Customs—near the sliding exit doors and adjacent to the boundary where meet-and-greet crowds begin. If those desks are closed or your airline isn’t participating, the fallback is carrying the bag to Terminal B Level 2 and using the main domestic check-in counters.
What is the exact walking distance (meters) from the International baggage carousels to the International customs exit?
Walking distance is approximately 50–80 meters from the International baggage carousels to the International Customs exit, depending on which carousel your flight is assigned. The route is a straight, open walk within the baggage reclaim hall toward the Customs channels.
Most passengers move from their carousel to the monitored Customs entry point, then continue through either the Green Channel (nothing to declare) or the Red Channel (declarations/inspection) to the same Customs exit threshold leading into the public International Arrivals hall.
Where is the baggage wrapping station located relative to International check-in (distance + reference landmark)?
Baggage wrapping is located in the Departures Hall on Level 2 near the check-in islands, not down in International Arrivals. The practical reference point is the International check-in area in Terminal A on Level 2, where wrapping desks are positioned along the landside concourse close to the check-in queues and terminal entrance doors.
Use a landmark-based approach: after you reach Level 2 and face the International check-in islands, look for the wrapping counters adjacent to the check-in rows and near the main Departures hall entrances. Exact meter distances vary by island placement, but the intent is “wrap before you queue” so you don’t get rejected at check-in and forced into a double-queue loop.
Where is the official rideshare pickup area located?
The official rideshare pickup area is in Parkade 2 South on Level 2, not at the Arrivals curb. Using the designated e-hailing bays prevents driver cancellations and avoids the unauthorized pickup pressure common on Level 0 outside the terminal doors.
From the International Arrivals hall on Level 0, follow the “E-hailing” / “Public Transport” wayfinding toward the Central Terminal Building frontage, cross to the multi-storey parkade opposite the terminal, then go up inside Parkade 2 South to Level 2. The pickup bays and waiting area are marked in the parkade zone, so the correct “anchor” is the parking structure itself rather than the terminal curb.
What is the exact walking distance (meters) from International Arrivals exit to the official taxi rank / regulated taxi queue?
Walking distance is less than 50 meters from the International Arrivals exit doors to the official metered taxi rank on Level 0. The regulated queue is directly curbside outside the International Arrivals hall, so the route is essentially a short straight exit from the sliding doors to the marked taxi line.
Stay oriented to the International Arrivals exit as your landmark: ignore anyone offering a taxi inside the hall, walk through the doors to the curb, and join the official rank where licensed vehicles stage and the formal queue forms right outside the terminal frontage.
Where is the car rental access point that avoids the misleading “walk through parkade” route?
The cleanest car rental access point is Parkade 2 South, reached from the Central Terminal Building frontage rather than following “walk through parkade” corridors. Entering the correct parkade first keeps you in the main pedestrian flow and avoids the darker, more confusing internal routes and tunnel-style wayfinding.
From International Arrivals on Level 0, walk toward the Central Terminal Building public atrium, then cross the service road to the multi-storey parkade opposite the terminal and enter Parkade 2 South. If you’re already on Level 2, use the pedestrian bridge alignment toward the same Parkade 2 South structure, then go down inside the parkade to the rental counter levels. The anchor to look for is the Parkade 2 South entrance signage, not curbside doors outside Arrivals.
What is the exact walking distance (meters) from International Arrivals exit to the car rental counters (or corridor entrance)?
Walking distance is approximately 200–300 meters from the International Arrivals exit doors (Level 0) to the car rental counters in Parkade 2 South. The distance depends on which door you exit from the International Arrivals hall and exactly where you enter the parkade, but the route is short and direct when you aim for the Central Terminal Building frontage first.
| Segment | Landmark-to-landmark | Approx. distance |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal to crossing | International Arrivals exit → Central Terminal Building frontage crossing point | ~80–150 m |
| Into Parkade 2 South | Crossing point → Parkade 2 South entrance → rental counter cluster | ~120–150 m |
Where is the Gautrain station access point from International Arrivals?
The Gautrain station access starts inside the Central Terminal Building and requires going up from Arrivals to the upper levels first. From the International Arrivals hall on Level 0, the correct move is to reach the Central Terminal Building atrium escalators/elevators, then ascend to Level 2 or Level 3 where the “Gautrain” / “Train” signage and station entrance routing begins.
Anchor your route to the Central Terminal Building vertical core: International Arrivals exit (Level 0) → walk into the Central Terminal Building public atrium → take escalators/elevators up to Level 2 (Departures) or Level 3 (Mezzanine) → follow the dedicated Gautrain signs to the station concourse connection. It is not a curbside Level 0 walk-up entrance.
What is the exact walking distance (meters) from Domestic Departures security to the nearest set of restrooms?
Walking distance is effectively immediate—typically within a short hallway just outside the Domestic security exit, usually under about 50 meters. The nearest restrooms sit right off the post-security circulation path leading toward the retail atrium on the Domestic airside side.
Use the security exit as your anchor: once you clear the x-ray area in Terminal B on Level 2, look into the first corridor segment toward the main airside concourse/shops. Restroom signage appears right away in that transition zone, so you do not need to walk down the pier toward the gates to find the closest facilities.
What is the exact walking distance (meters) from Domestic Departures security exit to the closest gate cluster?
Walking distance is approximately 100–200 meters from the Domestic security exit to the closest gate cluster, typically a 3–5 minute walk at normal pace. The nearest gates sit just beyond the airside retail atrium area on Level 2, so you reach them before committing to the longer pier walk.
Use fixed anchors: exit Domestic security in Terminal B (Level 2), continue straight toward the first Flight Information Display Screens and the central retail zone, then follow the nearest gate-direction signage immediately off that atrium. This is the closest “gate cluster” before any split toward bus gates or farther jetbridge gates.
