Durban is a city in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The city sits on the coast of the Indian Ocean and is blessed with wonderful beaches. The majority of fun things to do in Durban, South Africa are centered around the coastline.
Aside from pristine beaches, the coastal areas of the city also have water parks, nightlife venues, shopping markets, aquariums, marine parks, entertainment venues, recreational facilities, and food joints. Some of the most important historical places to visit in Durban, South Africa are also situated by the coast. The beaches are also popular for fun activities in Durban such as surfing, snorkeling, boat cruises, scuba diving, kite surfing, swimming, water sports, and more.
After the ocean, forest safaris are the biggest Durban tourist attractions. The city is surrounded by national parks, wildlife reserves, and nature reserves. Lions, Elephants, Impalas, Zebras, Giraffes, and other wild animals are among the most popular things to see in Durban. For those looking for even more adventurous things to do in Durban, they can go for animal encounters at wildlife parks and aquariums. Wildlife feeding sessions and swimming with sharks are the most popular such experiences.
The city itself has a nice blend of modern, historical, and cultural attractions. During Durban sightseeing, you will come across colonial buildings, an art museum, a historical museum, a maritime museum, port facilities, and historical defensive structures.
Before colonization, the city was home to the Zulu community. You can explore cultural centers, art museums, handicraft centers, and historical museums among Durban attractions to learn about the Zulu culture. You can also experience the Zulu tradition through costumes, handicrafts, dance performances, food, festivals, and so on. There are several markets you can explore during Durban travel to purchase traditional items of Zulu origin.
Among modern places to go in Durban, you can explore gardens, parks, zoo, amusement parks, entertainment venues, adventure parks, and so on. The metropolitan culture of this city also has great shopping streets, nightlife venues, and fine dining restaurants.
People visit Durban because they can enjoy a variety of attractions and activities in one city. From cruising the ocean to exploring the jungles and from admiring historical architecture to enjoying modern thrill rides; all is possible at Durban points of interest.
This Blog Post contains affiliate links. If you purchase anything from that link then I may earn a small part of the commission and for that, you do not need to pay any extra amount.
Top 25 Tourist Places to Visit in Durban in 6 Days (Trip Itinerary)
Day 1
1. Durban Botanic Gardens
This is the oldest botanical garden in South Africa. It is spread over 2,000 sqm and is divided into several themed gardens. It is also included among Durban tourist attractions for housing 100 years old palm trees. You will need about an hour to explore the botanic gardens.
I suggest you should go for a city sightseeing tour of Durban and visit Durban Botanic Gardens.
2. Victoria Street Market
Colloquially known as Vic, this market dates back to the 1800s and is the oldest one in the city. It is one of the most fun things to do in Durban, South Africa. You will get to see a variety of stalls for food, decorative, household items, electronics, jewelers, fashion, textiles, and more. The market exhibits a blend of African and Indian cultures. It is also quite popular for various street food stalls. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to tour this market.
3. Golden Mile
This 6 kilometers long beach-front promenade is one of the best places to visit in Durban, South Africa. The route is surrounded by various facilities such as beaches, swimming areas, bike trails, walking routes, food stalls, a craft market, and more. You can easily spend an hour or so exploring this place.
I suggest you can go for a Guided Tour of the Golden Mile along with the Durban Botanic Garden and Moses Mabhida Stadium.
4. Moses Mabhida Stadium
This stadium was first built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Though designed for football, the stadium is also used for a variety of sports including cricket, rugby, motorsports, and so on. It is also a popular venue for events and concerts. The stadium is one of the most wonderful things to see in Durban, known for its modern architecture. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to explore this stadium.
5. Umgeni River Bird Park
This aviary and conservation area is spread over 3.5 hectares. The is popular for several fun activities in Durban including bird watching, nature trails, bird shows, and animal interactions. This bird park is home to several species of birds including owls, storks, cranes, hornbills, cuckoos, vultures, parrots, kookaburras, and many more. You will need about 2 hours to tour this bird park.
Day 2
1. Port Natal Maritime Museum
This museum is dedicated to the merchant and military maritime history of Durban. The museum has naval equipment, real-life vessels, ship models, tug boats, and more. You will need about an hour from Durban sightseeing for this Museum.
2. Durban Natural Science Museum
The museum focuses on various natural sciences, but the majority of the exhibits are centered around zoology. You will see skeletons of Dodo, T-Rex, and several other extinct animals. The fossilized egg of the Elephant Bird is also one of the major highlights of this museum. It is one of the most popular Durban attractions for family tourists. You will need about an hour to tour this museum.
3. Durban Art Gallery
This art gallery is situated inside the City Hall. It has more than 3,500 pieces of art gathered from several places around the world. It is one of the most interesting places to go in Durban. The museum has paintings, sculptures, ceramics, pots, carvings, handicraft items, and more. You will need an hour from Durban travel for this gallery.
4. Old Court House Museum
This museum is housed inside one of the oldest buildings in the city. First built in 1860, this building has served as a recruitment center, military canteen, and library. The building has several museums including the Miniature Car Collection, Court House Museum, History of Natal museum, and more. The building is also popular among places to see in Durban as it is associated with Mahatma Gandhi. You will need about an hour to tour this building and the exhibits within it.
5. Kwa Muhle Museum
This museum focuses on the precursor and aftermath of the apartheid era. It is one of the biggest Durban points of interest as this government policy had brutal implications for the citizens. The museum is held inside the former Native Administration Department building, which itself played a huge role during the apartheid. You will need an hour to tour this museum when you visit Durban, South Africa.
I suggest you should book a Half Day City Sightseeing Tour of Durban to see Kwa Muhle Museum.
6. The Old Fort
This fort was built after the British suffered defeat in the siege of 1842. It was later converted into cottages for military veterans. The museum focuses on the military and warfare history of this fort and the stories of the soldiers who served here. It is also one of the most popular places of interest in Durban for its park and recreational activities. You will need about an hour to tour this fort.
7. North Beach
Facing the Indian Ocean, this beach is popular for surfing, water skiing, swimming, and other adventurous things to do in Durban, South Africa. The waters are barricaded with shark nets to protect the people. It is also one of the most facilitated Durban beaches with restaurants, clubhouses, bars, shacks, recreational activities, and more. You can easily spend a couple of hours enjoying at this beach.
Day 3
1. Paradise Valley Nature Reserve
Spread over 100 hectares, this nature reserve is popular for outdoor activities to do in Durban. You can explore waterfalls, forest areas, cliffs, streams, and more. You can come here for nature trails, hiking, bird watching, wildlife spotting, and camping. You will need at least 2 hours to explore Paradise Valley.
2. Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve
This nature reserve is spread over 253 hectares and is particularly known for its abundance of flora and fauna. It is one of the best places to visit in Durban for bird & wildlife spotting. You can see zebra, bushbuck, impala, mongoose, vervet monkeys, rock hyrax, and several species of birds. You will need 3 to 4 hours to explore this area.
Day 4
1. Phezulu Safari Park
Wildlife safari is one of the biggest Durban tourist attractions. This wildlife park is home to Lions, Giraffes, Wild-beasts, Blesboks, Zebra, Impala, crocodiles, and many other African animals. You can also enjoy a variety of cuisine at the park’s restaurant and purchase Zulu handicraft items at the Curio Shop. You will need about 3 hours to tour this park.
I suggest you should combine your Tour to Phezulu Safari Park with Durban City Sightseeing.
2. Valley of a Thousand Hills
This scenic valley covers several villages and natural landscapes. It is one of the most beautiful things to see in Durban. You can see many cultural villages, cottage industries, horseback riding, farmer’s markets, hiking, and train tour. You can easily spend 3 to 4 hours driving through this valley and exploring various attractions along the way.
I suggest you should book a Tour of the Valley of a Thousand Hills in advance.
Day 5
1. uShaka Marine World
This is the largest marine park on the entire African continent. The park has a large aquarium with various animals from around the world including sharks, dolphins, rays, whales, octopuses, jellyfish, seahorses, turtles, and more. It is especially popular for marine animal shows, feeding presentations, and performances. You will need about 2 hours from Durban sightseeing to explore this park.
2. Ushaka Wet ‘n Wild
This water park has thrill rides, water games, entertainment, recreational activities, dining, themed parks, and more. It is one of the most fun places to go in Durban for family tourists. Some of the most popular rides in this water park include 72 meters tall slide, body tornado, mamba tunnel, super tube, kamikaze speed slide, the Cuba, and so on. You can easily spend a couple of hours at this water park.
3. Ushaka Beach
This golden sands beach is part of the Ushaka Marine World and is one of the best beaches in Durban. It is also protected by a shark net and is patrolled by lifeguards. People come here for swimming, kayaking, surfing, kite surfing, and other adventurous things to do in Durban, South Africa. The beach also has some grassed areas for recreational activities and sunbathing. You will need at least an hour to explore this beach and its various attractions.
Day 6
1. Mitchell Park & Jameson Park
These two public parks are great for leisure, recreational, and fun activities in Durban. Both parks have green spaces, picnic spots, sports facilities, and more. Mitchell Park is home to the Blue Zoo which has monkeys, raccoons, cranes, crocodiles, and a few other animals. Jameson Park on the other hand was built on a former pineapple plantation and is popular for its rose garden. The garden has more than 200 species of roses originating from different parts of the world. You can easily spend 20 to 30 minutes at each of the parks when you visit Durban.
2. Phansi Museum
This museum is dedicated to the history and culture of the KwaZulu-Natal province. It is one of the best places to see in Durban, South Africa to explore traditional Zulu culture as well as that of the colonial period. You will see traditional artifacts, paintings, carved items, woodwork, jewelry, instruments, sculptures, agricultural objects, and more. You will need about an hour to tour this museum.
I suggest you should book a Full Day Zulu Cultural Tour with Food Tasting and visit the Phansi Museum.
3. Durban North Japanese Gardens
This park is designed like a traditional Japanese garden. The gardens have themed green areas, ponds, picnic areas, Japanese monuments, and statues. It is popular among Durban points of interest for cherry blossoms and bamboo gardens. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to explore this garden.
4. Addington Beach
This beautiful Durban beach is known for beach sports, water sports, recreational activities, leisure, dining, clubbing, and more. The beach is one of the top places of interest in Durban for swimming, surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and surfing. You can easily spend a couple of hours relaxing and enjoying at this beach.
5. Boat Cruise Tour
As you can explore the jungles of Africa in a jeep, you can explore the Indian Ocean in a boat. You can book a variety of boat rides to explore the ocean including sailing boats, yachts, cruise boats, speed boats, and so on. You can also take a boat ride for scuba diving, ocean swimming, and spot marine animals like dolphins, whales, and sharks. It is one of the most fun activities in Durban. You will need 2 to 3 hours for this experience.
I suggest you should try a 30-minute Boat Cruise Tour in Durban.
6. Gondola Ride
If you don’t want to go too far from the city for a boat ride, you can enjoy rocking on a Gondola boat ride. This experience is especially popular among couples and honeymoon tourists. The ride takes you along the waterfront areas and also includes a few Durban points of interest. You need about an hour for this experience.
I suggest if you are a couple and want to spend some romantic moments with your partner then either you can go for a Day Time Gondola Ride or you can go for a Night Time Gondola Ride.
If you are looking for more experiences in Durban, check out the sections below. We have built an exhaustive list of attractions and activities that you can enjoy in and around the city.
Things to do in Durban
Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Durban
- Kwa Muhle Museum
- Durban Natural Science Museum
- KwaZulu Natal Society of the Arts
- Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple
- Durban City Hall
- Durban Art Gallery
- Phansi Museum
- Port Natal Maritime Museum
- The Bergtheil Museum Westville
- Old House Museum
- Elizabeth Gordon Gallery
- Campbell Collections
- African Art Center
- The Old Fort
- Emmanuel Cathedral
- Hare Krishna Temple
- Cato Manor Heritage Center
- Clairwood Shree Shiva Soobramonior Temple
- Umkhumbane Museum
- Durban Hindu Temple
- Sri Vishnu Temple
- Natural Science Museum & Research Center
- MOTH Museum of Militaria
- Umbilo Shree Ambalavaanar Alayam Temple
- Durban Cultural and Documentation Center
- Cave Rock Monument
- Local History Museum
- St. Paul’s Anglican Church
- Mahatma Gandhi Settlement
- Old Courthouse Museum
- Historical Compensation Sugar Mill
Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Durban
- Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserves
- Paradise Valley Nature Reserve
- Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve
- Bluff Nature Reserve
- Palmiet Nature Reserve
- New Germany Nature Reserve
- Burman Bush Nature Reserve
- Pigeon Valley Nature Reserve
- Virginia Bush Nature Reserve
- Roosfontein Nature Reserve
- Msinsi Nature Reserve
- Bayhead Natural Heritage Site
- Silverglen Nature Reserve
- Crocodile Creek
- CrocWorld
- Lake Eland Game Reserve
- Ventures by Sweetdale
- Oribi Vulture Viewing Hide
Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Durban
- uShaka Marine World
- uShaka Sea World
- Durban Botanic Garden
- Suncoast Casino
- Umgeni Bird Park
- Mitchel Park Zoo
- Minitown
- uShaka Wet n’ Wild
- Durban Funworld
- Zulu Moon Gondolas Ride
- Japanese Gardens
- The Bat Center
- Bluff National Park Golf Club
- uShaka Chimp & Zee
- Beachwood Course
- Jameson Park
- uShaka Dangerous Creatures Park
- People’s Park
- Country Club Beach
- Durban Ice Arena
- Sea Animals Encounters Island
- Float Wellness SA
- Gugu Dlamini Park
- Blue Wilderness
- Calypso Dive & Adventure Center
- Greyville Race Course
- Sibaya Casino
- Skydive Durban
- Surf Artificial Waves
- The Playhouse Company
Shopping in Durban
- I Heart Market
- Golden Hours Family Market
- Markets of Warwick
- Gateway Theater of Shopping
- Victoria Street Market
- The Pavilion Shopping Center
- African Arts Center
- BAT Center
- uShaka Village Walk
- The Workshop Shopping Center
- Windermere Shopping Center
- Chatsworth Center
- Oxford Village Shopping Center
- La Lucia Mall
- Southway Mall
- The Indian Quarter
Beaches & Islands in Durban
- Golden Mile Beach
- Addington Beach
- Wedge Beach
- Snake Park Beach
- Ansteys Beach
- Durban Beachfront Promenade
- Suncoast Beach
- Blue Lagoon Beach
- Glenashley Beach
- Beachwood Beach
- New Pier Beach
- Garvies Beach
- Bay of Plenty Beach
- uShaka Beach
Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventures in Durban
- Wildlife Safari
- Surfing
- Hiking
- Trekking
- Off-Roading
- Boat Cruise
- Scuba Diving
- Kayaking
- Swimming
- Snorkeling
- Camping
- Nature Trails
- Bird-Watching
- Kite-Surfing
- Water Sports
- Segway Tour
- Walking Tours
- Bicycle Tours
- Swim with Sharks Experience
- Skydiving
Sightseeing in Durban
- Florida Road
- Farewell Square
- KwaZulu Cruise Terminal
- Rovos Rail
- North Beach Pier
- New Pier
- Berea Ridge
- Durban Harbour
- Wilson’s Wharf
Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Durban
- Empire Steak
- 9th Avenue Waterside
- House of Curries
- Afro’s Chicken
- Vapor Cafe
- Big Easy Wine Bar & Grill
- CaneCutters Restaurant
- Havana Grill
- Daily Dosage
- Surf Riders Food Shack
- Butcher Block
- CaneCutters Umhlanga
- Butcher Boys Grill
- Cafe 1999
- Jack Salmon Fish House
- Skyline Coffee Roaster
- Impulse by the Sea
- Delfi
- Old Town Italy
- My Diners
- The Curry Os Point
- Beluga
- Hollywood Bets
- Dukkah
- The Grill Room
Where to Stay in Durban?
Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range, and Budget Hotels in Durban. You can check the below-listed hotels for your perfect stay in Durban.
Luxurious Hotels
- Rain Farm Game and Lodge
- Endless Horizons Boutique Hotel
- The Bentley Westville
- Suncoast Towers
- Ocean Vista Boutique Guest House
- Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani
- The Palace All-Suite
- Villa Le View
- African Peninsula Guest House
- Point Waterfront Apartments
- Avondale Boutique Hotel
- Radisson Blu Hotel, Durban Umhlanga
Mid-Range Hotels
- Garden Court Marine Parade
- City Lodge Hotel Durban
- Coweys Corner
- The Benjamin
- Blue Waters Hotel
- ONOMO Hotel Durban
- Centre Court B&B
- Westville Bed & Breakfast
- Valley Lodge
- Garden Court South Beach
- The Saint James on Venice Boutique Hotel
- Madeline Grove Bed & Breakfast
Budget Hotels
- ATKV Natalia
- Boma Lodge
- Acorn B&B
- Oliveroom B&B
- Smith’s Cottage
- The Brother’s Guest House
- Riverside de Charmoy Estate Guest House
- Carrington Guest House
- Road Lodge Durban
- Coastlands Musgrave Hotel
- Roseland House
- The Riverside Hotel
Custom Tours Package in Durban
How to Reach Durban?
By Air
Durban is served by King Shaka International Airport, which sits 40 km outside the city. You can get direct flights to visit Durban from Johannesburg, Harare, Cape Town, Dubai, London, Doha, and Istanbul. The airport is connected with places to visit in Durban by cabs and buses.
By Road
You can get direct trains to reach Durban from Johannesburg and Pietermaritzburg. The bus network is quite widespread and it connects the city to various places in South Africa.
If you are planning for Durban travel by road, you should head for routes 2 or 3.
By Water
There are several Indian Ocean cruises that dock at the city’s port and include Durban sightseeing in their itinerary.
Image Reference
- Durban Botanic Gardens – Alf Igel / Flickr
- Victoria Street Market – flowcomm / Flickr
- Golden Mile – George Bayliss / Flickr
- Moses Mabhida Stadium – Clive Reid / Flickr
- Umgeni River Bird Park – Clive Reid / Flickr
- Port Natal Maritime Museum – Bob Adams / Flickr
- Durban Natural Science Museum – Chris Eason / Flickr
- Durban Art Gallery – Karen / Flickr
- Old Court House Museum –
- Kwa Muhle Museum – Shubert Ciencia / Flickr
- The Old Fort – Clive Reid / Flickr
- North Beach – Bernard DUPONT / Flickr
- Paradise Valley Nature Reserve – Smurfatefrog / Wikimedia Commons
- Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve –
- Phezulu Safari Park – David Pirmann / Flickr
- Valley of a Thousand Hills – Paul Williams / Flickr
- uShaka Marine World – South African Tourism / Flickr
- Ushaka Wet ‘n Wild – South African Tourism / Flickr
- Ushaka Beach – ethekwinigirl / Flickr
- Mitchell Park and Jameson Park – Chris Bloom / Flickr
- Phansi Museum – ign11 / Flickr
- Japanese Gardens –
- Addington Beach – Chris Bloom / Flickr
- Boat Cruise Tour –
- Gondola Ride –
The post Cool 25 Attractions to See and Things to Do in Durban, South Africa appeared first on Wide World Trips.