Things to Do in Durban

Small but well-kept museum inside the City Hall, with natural history exhibits including a large whale skeleton and a stuffed elephant. The building itself is worth seeing for its Edwardian architecture.

🕐 Monday–Friday 8:30am–4pm. Closed weekends and public holidays.

💡 It's only open weekdays. Go between 2pm and 4pm when the school groups thin out. The adjacent library has free public internet terminals.

A long, clean stretch of public beach with a promenade linking Suncoast Casino to Blue Lagoon. Lifeguards are on duty most days. The water is warm but can be strong — swim between the flags.

🕐 Beach: always open. Lifeguards: 8am–6pm (seasonal).

💡 Best bet for parking is the public lot near the Blue Lagoon end (free, but fills by 10am). The casino's mall has free public toilets and a water fountain.

Africa's oldest surviving botanical garden, established in 1849. It has a large cycad collection, a peaceful Japanese garden and many old trees. Good for a quiet picnic or a morning walk.

🕐 Daily 7:30am–5:15pm.

💡 Bring your own food — the on-site café is pricey and slow. The orchid house is usually kept locked but you can ask at the gate for a key.

Iconic stadium with a 106-metre arch. Walking up the arch costs around R100–R150, but the open plaza and surrounding park are free. You can see the arch from many parts of the city without paying.

🕐 Plaza: Daily 8am–6pm. Arch climb: 9am–4pm (last entry 3pm).

💡 If you don't want to pay for the arch climb, walk to the nearby Blue Lagoon side for a free view. The sky car runs less frequently in winter (June–August).

A large aquarium and water park on the beachfront. The aquarium section costs extra, but the public walkways, outdoor areas and beach access around the complex are completely free. Good for a stroll or to watch the surf.

🕐 Public areas: Daily 8am–8pm. Aquarium and wet 'n wild: 9am–5pm.

💡 Arrive early on weekdays to find a shady bench near the pier. It gets packed with school groups after 10am.