Stand on the riverbank where the White Nile slides past Juba and you can watch a boat push upstream while a boda-boda weaves along the road behind you. This is a capital that grew from a small Bari village into a city of traders, and its downtown still carries the stone buildings those traders put up.
Juba suits the traveller who is already in the region for work, for a mission, or for the long overland route, and who is content to make their own entertainment rather than follow a set circuit of sights. Come expecting a handful of landmarks, a river, and a lively bar and restaurant scene kept going by expatriates and aid workers, and you will spend your time well.
This guide covers the specific places worth your time in the city, followed by a plan for a single day and answers to the questions travellers ask most often.
Top things to do in Juba
1. The "Greek" buildings
In the 1920s about 2,000 Greeks lived in Juba as merchants and tradesmen, and they built many of the city's major public stone buildings. Among them are the Ivory Bank, Notos Lounge, the old Sudan Airways Building, Paradise Hotel, the Nile Commercial Bank and the Buffalo Commercial Bank, with the Central Bank and Juba Hotel buildings following later.
These are the clearest surviving trace of the city's early commercial life, and many of the structures are still standing. Pair a walk through the downtown Juba Market area with the small suburb of Hai Jalaba, the area British soldiers once called the Greek Quarter, to see the range of what was built.
2. St. Theresa Cathedral
St. Theresa Cathedral was built in 1952, which makes it one of the older buildings you can still visit in the city. Its age and its place in the life of the city make it worth a quiet stop rather than a quick photograph.
Visit as part of a wider walk through the centre, and treat it as a pause between the market streets and the river rather than a destination on its own.
3. John Garang Mausoleum
The mausoleum is the final resting place of John Garang, who led the Sudan People's Liberation Movement to gain independence for South Sudan in 2011. He died in a helicopter crash before independence was achieved.
The mausoleum itself is closed to the public and guarded, so plan around that: across the street is a statue that can be visited. Go there to pay your respects and to see the site from the outside.
4. Juba Stadium
Juba Stadium is a multi-use stadium that opened in 1962 and is home to the national football team. If your visit coincides with a match, it is one of the few places in the city where a large crowd gathers for something other than work.
Check locally whether anything is being played during your stay, and combine a visit with the surrounding streets rather than making a special journey for the building alone.
5. A boat trip on the Nile
Juba sits on the White Nile, and a boat trip on the river is one of the simplest ways to see the city from a different angle. The water is the reason the town was sited here in the first place, and the river port remains part of its character.
Ask at your hotel or among residents about arranging a trip, and consider timing it for the cooler part of the day.
6. Fishing on the Nile
Fishing is one of the activities residents turn to on the river, and it needs little more than a line and some patience. It is a good way to spend a slow morning if you are in Juba for an extended period rather than passing through.
Combine it with your boat trip so that you are already on the water, and bring whatever supplies you need with you.
7. Jogging in the city
Jogging is a common way for residents and visitors to keep active here, and it gives you a reason to get out early and see neighbourhood streets before the day's business starts.
Go in the morning while it is cooler, and stay on routes you know or have been shown.
8. The Hash House Harriers
Juba has a Hash House Harriers, the running and social group found in many cities around the world. It is a way to meet people if you are in town for longer than a few days.
Ask around among expatriates and long-staying residents for when the group meets, and treat it as a social evening rather than a sightseeing stop.
9. Bars, restaurants and nightspots
Juba has a large expatriate community, including many Kenyans, Ugandans and hundreds of Westerners, and that population supports numerous bars, restaurants and nightspots. There is something going on most weekends.
Plan to entertain yourself here, since there is not much to see or do in the way of formal attractions. If you are coming to work for an extended period, bring books, films and other things to fill your evenings.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start early with a jog through the streets while it is cool, then walk the downtown Juba Market area and Hai Jalaba to see the "Greek" buildings, including the Ivory Bank, Notos Lounge, the old Sudan Airways Building, Paradise Hotel, the Nile Commercial Bank and the Buffalo Commercial Bank. Stop at St. Theresa Cathedral along the way.
Afternoon. Take a boat trip on the Nile, and fish from the water if you have arranged it. Afterwards, visit the statue across the street from the John Garang Mausoleum, since the mausoleum itself is closed to the public and guarded. If a match is on, Juba Stadium is the place to end the afternoon.
Evening. Eat at one of the city's restaurants and move on to a bar or nightspot, which is where Juba's weekend life happens. If the Hash House Harriers is meeting during your stay, that is an easy way to spend the evening with other people.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a lot to see and do in Juba?
Not in the way of formal attractions. The advice for visitors is to plan to entertain yourself, and to make use of the bars, restaurants and nightspots that exist because of the city's large expatriate community.
Can I visit the John Garang Mausoleum?
The mausoleum itself is closed to the public and guarded. Across the street, however, there is a statue that can be visited.
What can I do on the river?
You can take a boat trip on the Nile and you can go fishing. Both are among the activities residents and visitors turn to in the city.
What should I bring if I am staying for a long time?
Bring plenty of books, films and similar entertainment. Juba is a place where people come to work for extended periods, and there is not much in the way of sights to fill the time.
Work out which of these fit your dates, confirm the arrangements you can only make locally, and start planning your time in Juba.