KwaZulu-Natal · South Africa
Where to stay in Durban
Durban is a city in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, home to about 595,000 people.
- Best months
- April to September
- Nearest airport
- DUR29 km · King Shaka International Airport
- Currency
- ZARrand
- Time zone
- Africa/Johannesburg
- Language
- Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho
About
About Durban
Durban ( DUR-bən; Zulu: eThekwini, from itheku meaning 'bay, lagoon') is the third-most populous city in South Africa, after Johannesburg and Cape Town, and the largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Situated on the east coast of South Africa, on the Natal Bay of the Indian Ocean, Durban is the busiest port city in sub-Saharan Africa and was formerly named Port Natal.
Durban has a large bay that was protected from the seas by a land spit now known as The Point. This bay formed a natural harbour. Durban was originally called Port Natal by the Portuguese mariner Vasco da Gama who sighted the bay on Christmas Day, 1497. The city was founded as Port Natal by British settlers in the 1820s and became part of the British Empire in 1842. It was renamed Durban in honour of Sir Benjamin D'Urban, Governor of the Cape Colony.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Durban
See
- Durban Botanical Gardens
- Berea
- Moses Mabhida Stadium
- City Hall
- Mahatma Gandhi Settlement
- Durban North Japanese Gardens
- KwaZulu Natal National Parks
- Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve
- Crocodile Creek
- Hare Krishna Temple
- Wilson's Wharf
- MINITOWN
Do
- The Golden Mile
- Watersports
- Kingsmead
- Calypso Dive & Adventure Center
- Skydive Durban
- Suncoast Casino
- uShaka Marine World
- Glenholme trail for disabled & blind persons
- Greyville Race Course
- Surf Artificial Waves
- Shark Institute
- Historical compensation sugar mill
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Durban
128 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata; the 40 best known are shown, by the number of Wikipedia editions that cover them. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| 305 Guest House | 22.5 km | |
| 34 on Milkwood | 17.3 km | |
| Acquila Guest House | 7.3 km | |
| Addis Bed and Breakfast | 16.5 km | |
| aha Gateway Hotel | 15.7 km | |
| Albany Hotel | 0.2 km | |
| Albion Manor | 4.0 km | |
| All Seasons Bed And Breakfast | 5.8 km | |
| Ammazulu African Palace | 20.1 km | |
| Andaluz Boutique Hotel | 3.0 km | |
| Audacia Manor Boutique Hotel | 3.7 km | |
| Avondale Boutique Hotel | 2.7 km | |
| Baliridge | 3.8 km | |
| Belaire Suites Hotel | 2.1 km | |
| Bentley on The Beach | 11.4 km | |
| Beside Still Waters Boutique Hotel | 11.6 km | |
| Beverly Hills | 15.8 km | |
| Bizafrika Guest Lodge & Conference Center | 18.8 km | |
| Blue Waters Hotel | 2.2 km | |
| Blue Waves Lodge | 16.3 km | |
| Boma Lodge | 9.8 km | |
| Bon Ami Guest House | 2.9 km | |
| Buckleigh Guest House | 6.2 km | |
| Burnham House B&B | 14.0 km | |
| Carrington Guest House | 6.0 km | |
| Caza Beach Guesthouse | 11.7 km | |
| Centre Court B&B | 6.3 km | |
| Chartwell Guest House | 14.3 km | |
| City Lodge Hotel Durban | 1.1 km | |
| City Lodge Hotel Umhlanga Ridge | 15.3 km | |
| Coastlands Musgrave Hotel | 3.5 km | |
| Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel and Convention Centre | 15.3 km | |
| Collards B&B | 6.4 km | |
| Coweys Corner | 2.4 km | |
| Cowrie Cove Guest House | 11.9 km | |
| Cozy Nest Guest House | 9.0 km | |
| Crooked Tree Cottage | 16.0 km | |
| Die Strandhuis | 22.1 km | |
| Dolphin Point | 19.7 km | |
| Durban Manor Hotel and Conference Centre | 0.3 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Durban
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Durban are April to September. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 28 °C; January is the wettest, with about 138 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Durban: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is King Shaka International Airport (DUR), about 29 km from the city centre in a straight line; Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB, 65 km) and Margate Airport (MGH, 129 km) are also within reach.
Getting around
The best way to get around Durban is by car. Check that you have the latest updated street maps and/or GPS device as some street names have changed. It also helps to have a list of old and new names as some of the new names are vandalized. Durban People Mover buses feature CCTV cameras and wheelchair-friendly ramps. They run from 6AM until 11PM every 15 minutes. These buses stop in the CBD, the Victoria Street Market, the Workshop, Suncoast Casino, Ushaka Marine World and along the beach route.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
DUR · King Shaka International Airport
PZB · Pietermaritzburg Airport
MGH · Margate Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Durban
Eat
As Durban has one of the largest Indian populations outside of India, a Durban curry is a popular dish and can range from mild to very hot. There is also the bunny chow which is unique to the city, a quarter loaf of bread hollowed out and filled with a curry of your choice. Check out restaurants at the Workshop shopping center for some of the best bunny chow in the city. Or head over to the Indian neighborhood near Victoria Market for more authentic Durban Indian food.
Stay safe
The beach strip is frequently patrolled by policemen, there are CCTV cameras and many lights at night. As everywhere else, there are several basic safety rules to follow. Avoid dark, deserted areas, and do not go out alone in the early hours of the morning. The promenade along the beach is safe to walk, but do not venture to the side and back roads of the hotels. Avoid the Point Road (aka Mahatma Gandhi Road) area at all times. At night, it is still a good idea to stick to the main streets and not go out at night unless you are very familiar with a particular area. Avoid the usually busy central business district, which is empty after dark. Above all, use common sense.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Durban: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Durban?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Durban are April to September. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 28 °C; January is the wettest, with about 138 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Durban?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is King Shaka International Airport (DUR), about 29 km from the city centre in a straight line; Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB, 65 km) and Margate Airport (MGH, 129 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Durban?
rand (ZAR).
Nearby
Destinations near Durban
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.