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Durban
City in South Africa

Durban

Durban is the third-most populous city in South Africa, after Johannesburg and Cape Town, and the largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal.

Plan a trip to Durban→From Johannesburg

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. North of the harbour and city centre lies the mouth of the Umgeni River; the flat city centre rises to the hills of the Berea on the west; and to the south, running along the coast, is the Bluff.

Get in

Getting to Durban

  1. 01
    King Shaka International Airport
  2. 02
    Durban

    The sprawling central railway station, about 1 km north of the city centre.

See

Worth seeing

  1. 01
    Durban Botanical Gardens
  2. 02
    Moses Mabhida Stadium

    The new landmark of Durban, built for the football World Cup 2010.

  3. 03
    City Hall

    There is an art gallery and outdated science museum inside, and a public library.

  4. 04
    Mahatma Gandhi Settlement

    Tours available.

  5. 05
    Durban North Japanese Gardens
  6. 06
    Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve

    This is a good place to see some zebras and gazelle and get away from it all within the city limits, but you have to book ahead to see the gallery and castle on site.

Eat

Where to 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.

  1. 01
    California Dreaming

    Drinks and food on the beach (The Golden Mile).

  2. 02
    Circus Circus Beach Cafe

    Another beachy dining scene, even though it sounds like something else.

How locals move

Getting around Durban the local way

  • Get inNo large scale commercial flights are scheduled from this airport but you can charter a plane from companies to and from this airport.
  • Get aroundThe ones that can be recommended for the Durban and surrounds are: There are also group taxis, referred to as "combi taxis" (or "minibus taxis"), that are impossible to miss as (in Durban) they're brightly decorated and always have music pumping.
  • Get aroundMinibus taxis are very common and less expensive than metered taxis.
  • Get aroundStrictly speaking, they are minibuses that take people to and from work, they stick to set routes and they are generally not suitable for tourists unfamiliar with the area they are going to; when in doubt stick to metered taxis or buses.
  • Get aroundThere are minibus taxis plying same routes as Mynah buses, they are more frequent and faster than buses.
  • Get aroundRickshaw rides are offered to tourists along the beach front, for amusement rather than getting around.
  • Get aroundWatch out for the many ups and downs in the ride; the tipping back of the rickshaw cause the contents of your pockets to fall out, into the coffers of the drivers!

From Wikivoyage: Durban, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.

Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see file page), Wikimedia Commons.