Durban Beachfront Holidays - Durban Metro, KwaZulu Natal
Click here for Durban Beachfront Accommodation
There's a saying that "when you're tired of Durban, you're tired of life!". Durban Beachfront is the ultimate holiday destination for millions of South Africans, also extremely popular with foreign visitors - be they business executives, delegates to the nearby Durban International Conference Centre (ICC), touring sports teams or simply holiday makers wanting to enjoy the wonderful sub-tropical Durban weather. Durban Beachfront's world famous Durban Golden Mile with its bathing and surfing beaches, fishing piers, paddling pools, kiddies rides, cable cars, colourful rickshaws, flea markets and many Durban restaurants is actually much longer than a mile, and just a few steps west brings you to Durban Central with its interesting mix of Victorian, Georgian and modern architecture. Completing the picture, the scenic small crafts' harbour fringed with eateries, ranging from Afro bistros to oyster bars abuts the Durban Beachfront.
With its excellent bathing, surfing and world-class pedestrian promenade, Durban Beachfront extends to the fabulous Durban Suncoast Casino to the north. Set amongst towering palm trees and nestled against the Durban Beachfront along Durban's Golden Mile, Suncoast Casino has 12 restaurants and fast food outlets, kid's entertainment, cinemas, sundeck, boardwalk and a dance bar, making it the premier entertainment destination for the whole family.
Popular Durban Beaches:
Durban North Beach - ideal for surfing, body boarding, paddle skiing, skateboarding, swimming and sun bathing.
Durban South Beach - known as the Durban Beachfront's 'swimmers paradise'
Durban Bay of Plenty - surfers rate this Durban beach as the best place to surf, offering both left and right hand waves.
Durban Dairy Beach - host to the world-renowned Mr Price Pro Surfing Championships.
Durban Addington Beach - rated a 'Blue Flag' Durban beach, with professional lifeguards ensuring that it's safe to surf, swim and scuba dive.
What to do and see on Durban Beachfront:
Durban Amphitheatre Flea Market - offers a wide variety of stalls to browse, while the kids play on the jumping castle.
uShaka Marine World - a 'must-see' Durban Beachfront attraction featuring a dolphinarium and the famous Wet 'n Wild World.
Durban Beachfront Mini Town - miniature models of some of Durban's most interesting buildings, rail network and harbour.
Durban Beachfront Fun World - amusement park and cableway offering excellent views of Durban city.
Durban Wilson’s Wharf - right on Durban Harbour, choose a restaurant and sit and watch the yachts and tankers come into port.
Durban Ricksha Bus - sit on the top deck with the sun in your face and take a tour of Durban Beachfront.
Durban Undersea Club - go scuba dive a wreck off Durban Beachfront Vetch’s Pier.
Where to eat on Durban Beachfront:
Afro’s Chicken on the Durban Beachfront promenade offers simply the most delicious chicken in either hot (chili) or koel is (lemony).
Wahooz - grab a beer at this Hawaiian style, Durban Beachfront restaurant with a fun 'laid back' vibe.
Moya Restaurant - set on the end of a Durban Beachfront pier, you haven't lived until you've experienced the Woza Weekend Buffet!
Joe Cools - the 'coolest' place to be on the Durban Beachfront for that weekend dance party, or just lazily sipping cocktails overlooking the sea.
Visit neighbouring towns within a 10km radius of Durban Beachfront:
Durban Point Waterfront - 2.9km from Durban Beachfront
Greyville, Durban - 4.8km from Durban Beachfront
Berea, Durban - 4.9km from Durban Beachfront
Essenwood, Durban - 5km from Durban Beachfront
Morningside, Durban - 5.6km from Durban Beachfront
Botanic Gardens, Durban - 5.8km from Durban Beachfront
Musgrave, Durban - 6km from Durban Beachfront
Handy tips when visiting Durban Beachfront:
Drive to the Durban Beachfront via the N2 north, N2 south or N3 and follow the signs. If you are flying in, King Shaka International Airport lies 20 minutes north of Durban Beachfront. The best way to get around and experience the Durban Beachfront is on foot, chartered tour bus or taxi.
The best time to visit the Durban Beachfront is anytime! Summer can be hot, so don't forget the hat and sunscreen, and Durban winters are mild enough to take a quick dip on Durban Beachfront, and only lightly cover up at night.
Where to stay - Durban Beachfront offers a huge selection of accommodation, mainly in Durban Self Catering Apartments, or Durban Hotels.
Of course, like any big city, it is best to be cautious on the Durban Beachfront at night.
Durban is sometimes also referred to as Durbs or DBN.
Guests' trip to Durban City Centre :
"Our group of 6 arrived for a 10 day stay, looking for self catering accommodation in Durban beachfront area. Choosing the right accommodation in the right suburbs of Durban needed some local input.
We decided to stay in a self catering flat on the beachfront of Durban central. This is called the Golden Mile and consisted mainly of self catering apartments and hotels. There are also some nice Durban hotels one or two streets back off the beachfront, but I'd say that front row beachfront hotels is the way to go.
We had much fun on the Durban beachfront. We visited the Durban Aquarium in Ushaka and spent tons of time surfing and deep sea fishing. Speaking of Ushaka, the restaurants were great, shopping was great and we spent most of the day in the water slides and pools. There are plenty of self catering flats in the Ushaka vicinity.
We chatted to some of the Durban locals and they confirmed that there was very little guest house accommodation on the beachfront. Most of the Bed and Breakfast accommodation is on the Berea, which is only a few kilometers out of town. The Durban CBD is exactly that.........no self catering accommodation or Guest Houses here. Only shopping and offices - very little for action-seeking tourists.
The Durban City centre seemed a little scruffy and was apparently not the place to be after dark.
The Victoria Street Market was worth a visit as well as the old "Grey Street" shops which were all Indian owned and had some cheap goodies.
From our beachfront self catering apartment, we had glorious sea views and did a bit of cycling along the beautifully paved promenade. The actual beachfront area is kept pretty tidy (not sure about peak holiday season though).
Durban Country Club golf club is just down the road, and so is Windsor Park, the municipal golf course.
Will try to send photos soon.
Andrew
Durban Accommodation
Looking for Durban accommodation on the beachfront was almost a disaster.
Luckily we checked into The Tropicana Hotel on the Durban Beachfront because anything one street back or more looked "suspect".
The Tropicana Hotel was great, but next time we'll try one of the self catering Durban beachfront flats, which would have worked out much cheaper.
Durban seems to be more jacked up since the Soccer World Cup and the beachfront facilities are much cleaner....well done Durban
Last year we stayed in a Durban Berea Guest house - too far from the sea.
Andrew and Alta