Durban

If you are looking for laid-back surfers’ vibes with a bite of spicy Indian food – look no further! Besides being the chief seaport of South Africa, the city of Durban offers a remarkable laid-back atmosphere. Bordered by the famous Golden Mile Beach, it boasts relaxing beach vibes, while perfectly blending architecture and nature in the rest of the town. With a history of British colonialism mixed with Indian and Zulu cultures, it warmly welcomes all visitors with its friendly people, tropical climate and delicious, spicy food! 

Urban Durban

Take a walk around the city formerly known as KwaZulu-Natal, and note how its architecture blends contemporary art-deco structures with colonial buildings. Taking its origins in both the Zulu and the Indian cultures, Durban has been through a lot of changes since the end of the Apartheid. It rapidly became a powerful city in terms of economy and trade, and South Africa’s leading seaport thanks to its location by the ocean. People interested can pay a visit to the 21-kilometre-long harbour, then follow up with a visit to the Port Natal Maritime Museum for a deeper understanding of its growth.

Fun Durban

When stepping into the Ushaka Marine World (the fifth-largest aquarium in the world) get ready to embark on water rides, attend live shows and have lunch in the immersed restaurant while being closely watched by turtles and sharks!
Looking for more adrenaline? Go for the Big Swing at the Moses Mabhida Stadium: bungee jump from the arch of this impressive building and fall 106 meters into the void. Is that too much adrenaline? Then by all means just admire the 360° view of the city from the top of this sports and concert venue, built for the 2010 World Cup Games.

Natural Durban

With its Golden Mile Beach (attracting thousands of visitors per year), Durban is THE place to put your flip-flops and sunglasses on and enjoy a laidback beach vibe. Feel the relaxed surfer’s atmosphere and give surfing a go, or just sit back, relax and watch the scene.
Golden Mile Beach is a 6-kilometre-long beachfront where many locals and travellers chill after a long day of work or strolling around the city. It’s a great place to try watersports like body boarding or paddle skiing, but you can also just go for an afternoon swim, a bike ride, a walk along the coast or a night out (with many restaurants and nightclubs to choose from)! 

Indian Durban

Durban is known as the most Indian city in Africa, as in the 19th century migratory waves brought many Indians to help industrialise the city. As such, it’s said to be one of the best places in Africa to try spicy Indian food. And to share a local secret: the best curries can be found at the Victoria market. Located in the east of the city, this enormous market is noisy and crowded, yet so filled with colours, smells and above mentioned curries, that you don’t want to miss it!

Activities in Durban

• Get around the city with a 3-hour tour of Durban on the Rickshaw double-decker bus
• Visit City Hall with its copper dome, home to the Durban Art Gallery
• Go Indian and try a “bunny chow” at the Victoria Street market: a loaf of bread filled with a curry
• Explore the botanical gardens, a true oasis in urban Durban, or to one of the many parks the city has
• Observe the mangroves at the Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve 
• Learn about the city’s history during Apartheid in the Kwa Muhle Museum 
• Walk, hire a bike on the promenade or surf, paddle, swim and try bodyboard in the warm Indian Ocean of the Golden Mile Beach
• Test your luck at the SunCoast Casino, also called the South African Las Vegas!
• Discover traditional medicine at the Muthi Market
• Shop for fabrics in Madressa
• Visit the Juma Mosque, one of the biggest mosques in the southern hemisphere

How to get there

By plane: King Shaka International Airport is a half-hour drive from the city centre. A flight to Johannesburg takes 45 minutes, while Cape Town is an hour’s flight. Durban is also well-connected to major international cities.

By train: The Shosholoza Meyl line connects Durban to many places in the area and other long-distance cities like Cape Town or Johannesburg.

Climate

Durban has a humid subtropical climate, with hot and humid summers and pleasantly warm and dry winters. The average temperature in summer ranges around 24 °C, while in winter the average is 17 °C.

The best time to visit

Due to its warm climate, Durban is a great place to visit all year round.