Durban is an incredible city, surrounded by the wildest nature in the country on one side and the Indian Ocean on the other. It is characterised by its cultural mix, which is reflected in the facades of the buildings, where you can see art deco, Indian, neo-baroque and post-colonial styles. It is also well known among surfers from all over the world for its ideal conditions for surfing. But that’s not all, there’s plenty to see in Durban.
Durban, known as the city of surfing, is the third largest city in the country and the ideal place to go on holiday. In the city itself, as well as beachcombing and strolling through its parks, you can visit zoos with exotic species such as the Umgeni River Bird Park and the city’s aquarium, the largest in the southern hemisphere. We also recommend getting lost in the Indian Quarter, which has such a strong influence on the character of the city. Want to know more about Durban? Read on for everything you need to know.
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What to see in Durban?
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
1. The Golden Mile, the beach to visit in Durban
The Golden Mile is what the city’s 6km of beaches are known as. It’s a must-see in Durban for its incredible beauty. The beaches are always full of people sunbathing, strolling, playing sports and surfing. In fact, it is one of the safest beaches for surfing as there are nets installed to keep sharks out. There is also a lot of life around the beach. The promenade is lined with hotels, shops and restaurants.
2. Durban Botanic Garden
The Durban Botanic Garden is the oldest botanic garden in Africa. It was established in the Berea Hills in 1849 as a centre for experimenting with new crops. Today the park is home to hundreds of plant species from all over the world and trees more than 100 years old that provide shelter for numerous species of birds. There are up to 50 different types of birds that reside in the park.
The garden is open daily from 7:30am to 5:45pm and admission is free, although donations are accepted. They also organise activities for children and adults, such as guided tours and workshops. It is a beautiful and very pleasant place to spend some time.
3. The Indian Quarter, a must-see in Durban
Durban is characterised by its strong Indian influence, which can be seen in its cuisine and streets. Many say the city smells of curry, and curry is one of the best quality dishes you’ll eat in the city. The Indian Quarter, located between the Juma Masjid Mosque and Victoria Street Market, is home to several cultures, including Pakistani, Somali and Chinese.
Throughout the neighbourhood you’ll see buildings influenced by different cultures, markets filled with spices and sandals, and restaurants serving authentic cuisine. The culture shock is impressive as you enter the neighbourhood.
4. Umgeni River Bird Park
Durban is a good destination to go with children as, apart from the beaches, it has several zoos where you can see exotic species. One of them, a must-see in Durban, is the Umgeni Bird Park. Here you can see more than 200 species of birds, many of them indigenous to Africa and Asia, along trails set in landscapes where you can see these birds. There is also a daily show where you can learn while interacting with the animals. The park is open daily from 9am to 4pm. Admission for adults costs 67R and for children 44R.
5. UShaka Marine World, the aquarium to see in Durban
The Durban Aquarium is another favourite tourist attraction. It’s located along the Golden Mile, and inside you’ll find underground galleries to see the animals up close, and dolphin, seal and penguin arenas where they put on shows. It’s the largest aquarium in the southern hemisphere. In addition, there are also water attractions: slides, wave pools… It is a paradise for children between 2 and 12 years old.
The park is open from 9:00h to 17:00h and the aquarium and water park tickets have different prices and access. On the one hand the water park costs 167R (full day) and the aquarium 157R (full day). Once there you can book other activities such as the dangerous animal show or climb the tree bridges that span part of the park.
What to see around Durban?
1. Tala Game Nature Reserve
There are several game reserves in the KwaZulu Natal region. The most famous is probably the Phinda Game Reserve, almost four hours from Durban. However, there is another, Tala Game Reserve, just 1.5 hours from the city. There you can organise walking or game drives, luxury or standard safaris to see individual animals such as hippos, rhinos, kudu, giraffes and giraffes. The reserve itself also has accommodation and restaurant facilities. The best way to get there is by private transport.
2.Valley of a Thousand Hills
On the outskirts of Durban, just half an hour’s drive away, you’ll find some incredible scenery set against the backdrop of the thousand hills that stretch along the Umgeni River. The whole route takes between 5 and 6 hours, but you can always walk less. Next to it is Phe-Zulu, a Zulu village where you can learn about the Zulu people and their culture. There you can taste Zulu beer and take guided tours.
What to see in 1 day in Durban?
Durban is a typical destination where you can spend a day or two weeks. The city as such is a quick visit. As mentioned earlier in the post, the main attractions are the Umgeni River Bird Zoo, the Aquarium, the Botanical Gardens and the Indian Quarter. However, if you are surf and beach lovers, you can always extend your holiday as much as you like. There are also more surfing beaches and nature reserves in the surrounding area where you can go on safari or hiking trips. The KwaZulu Natal region has a lot to offer, and Durban is a good base from which to organise excursions.
Where and what to eat in Durban?
Durban is home to a wide variety of restaurants from all over the world due to the influences of different cultures, the predominant one being Indian, which has left its taste in dishes in the form of spices. Some of the most famous dishes are Bunny Chow (bread stuffed with meat stew), Shisa Nyama (grilled meat) or Bombay Crush (a really sweet cocktail). Here are a few of our favourite restaurants in the city:
- Butchers Block:is the best restaurant in town for grilled meat. It’s not the cheapest, but the price is affordable and you pay for the quality you eat.
- My Diners: This is an Indian, Pakistani and African restaurant. It has an extensive menu but by far the best are their curries and butter chicken. The price is moderate.
- Hollywoodbets: is by far the best restaurant in town for bunny chow, which is why it’s always packed with locals. Prices are around €10, so it’s also a very cheap option for lunch.
Where to stay in Durban?
There is a wide range of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets in Durban as it is a fairly touristy city. There are some very luxurious areas such as the Golden Mile and Morningside, but there are also very affordable areas such as Glenwood and Musgrave. The best areas in terms of price and proximity to the main attractions are Durban City Centre, North Beach and Durban North. Accommodation in South Africa is not as expensive as in Europe anyway. Here are some of our favourite places to stay in the city.
- Blue Waters Hotel: this is a luxurious 4-star hotel located on the beachfront. It has a restaurant, bar, swimming pool and room service. It is an ideal place to go with children and breakfast is included. A night’s stay costs around 60€.
- Point Waterfront Apartments: These beachfront flats are the perfect place to unwind. The views are exceptional and they also have a garden and swimming pool. The price per night starts at 100€.
- Dirkie Uys Backpackers: This cosy hostel between the city centre and the beach is one of the cheapest options. A bunk bed costs just €10. They also have private rooms for less than €50 a night.
How to get to Durban?
Durban is well connected internationally by air and land. The nearest airport, King Shaka International Airport, 35km from the city centre, is served by flights from major European cities such as London. The city also has a good rail network and a fairly central station from which trains run continuously to major cities such as Johannesburg.
To get from the airport to the city centre, there are several options:
- Bus: operates from 4:30am to 10:00am and runs every 45 minutes. The fare is 80R.
- Taxi: costs 600R and takes 30-40 minutes to arrive.
- Hire a car: there are several car rental companies at the airport itself, a highly recommended option if you’re travelling around the country.
- Private transport: Another option is to arrange airport pick-up from the hotel where you’ll be staying.
What should I consider before travelling to Durban?
- The official currency of South Africa is the South African Rand.
- Cards are accepted at most tourist sites.
- Tipping 10% is the norm.
- The best time to travel to Durban is April to May or October and November.
- Tap water is safe to drink in Durban and the country’s major cities.
- It’s best to hire a car to get around South Africa
- The time is the same as in Spain, except when we change the time.
- There are many languages spoken in the country, with English being the second official language, so you’ll have no trouble communicating in English.
- If you are travelling as a Spanish citizen, you will only need a valid passport with an expiry date greater than 30 days from the date of departure.
- Hedge against possible medical emergencies: travel insured
- Tourist sites are generally safe, but just in case, be careful with your belongings and try to avoid travelling at night.
How to prepare a trip to Durban?
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all the possibilities.
- Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers.
- Create your own itinerary and add suggestions from the app to it.
- Add the stops you’re most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes presented in the post).
- Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make any modifications you need to make and you’re all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see in Durban.
If you have any doubts about how to do it, you can consult our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.
Frequently asked questions about a trip to Durban
Some of the most famous dishes are Bunny Chow (bread stuffed with meat stew), Shisa Nyama (grilled meat) or Bombay Crush (a really sweet cocktail).
The best time to travel to Durban is in spring and autumn. Temperatures are still pleasant and there are not as many tourists as during the summer, which is our winter.
If you are travelling as a Spanish citizen, you will only need a valid passport with an expiry date greater than 30 days after leaving the country.
Tap water is drinkable in Durban and in all urban areas of the country.
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