Durban travel guide
Durban Tourism | Durban Guide
You're Going to Love Durban
With a population of 3.12 million, Durban is the largest city in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa by the number of inhabitants. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 4 days in order to fully appreciate everything Durban has to offer.
Activities & attractions in Durban
Shopping
When to visit Durban
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Durban in February, when the average temperature is 77 °F, and the highest can go up to 80.6 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is June, when it can get as cold as 53.6 °F, with an average temperature of 62.6 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in March, when precipitation is around 5.1″. In contrast, June is usually the driest month of the year in Durban, with an average rainfall of 1.2″.
How to Get to Durban
Plane
Durban is served by 2 airports: Durban Virginia (VIR) and Durban King Shaka Intl (DUR). The closest to downtown Durban is Durban Virginia, which is located 10 km from the city center. Further away is Durban King Shaka Intl, 29 km from the center of Durban. The shortest flight to Durban from the United States departs from Chicago and takes around 24h 45m.
Car
Another option to get to Durban is to pick up a car rental from Pietermaritzburg, which is about 67 km from Durban. You’ll find branches of Budget and Hertz, among others, in Pietermaritzburg.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Durban, including Citiliner, Intercity Xpress and Eagle Liner. From Johannesburg, the bus ride to Durban takes 652 km and will cost you around $32. From East London, the ticket costs about $29 for a journey of 893 km. The most popular bus station is Durban Central Station, located 1.6 km from downtown Durban. Durban Eldo Coach Office is also a commonly used station, and is 1.4 km from the city center.
Airlines serving Durban
Where to stay in Durban
From 5-star hotels such as the Endless Horizons Boutique Hotel to great affordable options like the Garden Court South Beach, Durban offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $50 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $107 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Durban, with prices from $21 to $323 per night. Point is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Durban are about 26% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.
Where to stay in popular areas of Durban
Most booked hotels in Durban
Renting a car in Durban
Renting a car in Durban costs $29 per day, on average, or $118 if you want to rent if for 4 days.
You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 7% more expensive than at Durban King Shaka Intl.
Expect to pay $4.92 per gallon in Durban (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $59.05 and $78.74. The most frequently booked car type in Durban is Compact (Toyota Urban Cruiser or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini rental cars (Class Mini Car or similar) are, on average, 73% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.