Durban itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Durban, day by day: Moses Mabhida Stadium, North Beach and uShaka Marine World first, then Mitchell Park Zoo, the Botanic Gardens and Pigeon Valley. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Durban in 1 day
Day 1
Moses Mabhida Stadium
Stadium built for the 2010 World Cup, with a large arch over the pitch that visitors can climb or ride up for city views.
North Beach
One of the main beaches along Durban's Golden Mile, patrolled by lifeguards and popular for swimming and surfing.
uShaka Marine World
Marine theme park on the Durban beachfront with a large aquarium, animal shows, a water park and a beach.
Durban in 2 days
Day 1
Moses Mabhida Stadium
Stadium built for the 2010 World Cup, with a large arch over the pitch that visitors can climb or ride up for city views.
North Beach
One of the main beaches along Durban's Golden Mile, patrolled by lifeguards and popular for swimming and surfing.
uShaka Marine World
Marine theme park on the Durban beachfront with a large aquarium, animal shows, a water park and a beach.
Day 2
Mitchell Park Zoo
Small zoo and park in the Morningside suburb, with animal enclosures, play areas and shady gardens.
Durban Botanic Gardens
The oldest surviving botanical garden in Africa, founded in 1849, with orchids, cycads, ponds and a tea garden.
Pigeon Valley
Small forest nature reserve in the Glenwood suburb, with short trails and birdlife close to the city centre.
Watch: Durban
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Durban
Durban has a warm subtropical climate all year. Summer from December to February is hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms, while winter from June to August is dry with mild, sunny days that suit beaches and walking. The Durban July horse race takes place in early July, and December and January are the busiest holiday months on the beachfront.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Durban on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Durban on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Durban on GetYourGuide
- From the airport: a private transfer in Durban with Kiwitaxi
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for South Africa from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Durban
- The beaches along the Golden Mile are patrolled by lifeguards; swim only between the flags and keep valuables out of sight.
- uShaka Marine World has separate sections for the aquarium and the water park, so allow most of a day if you want both.
- The arch of Moses Mabhida Stadium can be climbed on foot or ridden by cable car; wind or weather can close it, so check on the day.
- Moses Mabhida Stadium has event days with road closures and crowds; check the calendar before planning that area.
- Ride-hailing apps and taxis are the usual way to move between sights; ask your hotel which areas are fine to walk, especially after dark.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Durban Botanic Gardens: Purves, M., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mitchell Park Zoo: Dennis Sylvester Hurd, CC BY 2.0
- Moses Mabhida Stadium: Arne Müseler, CC-BY-SA-3.0
- North Beach: Dr-ziego, CC0
- Pigeon Valley: Norman Johnson, who releases it under the terms below. JMK ( talk ) 17:54, 15 June 2011 (UTC), CC BY-SA 3.0
- uShaka Marine World: Amada44, CC BY 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
