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City guide

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. 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.

Type City

Why go

  • City in South Africa.
  • Served by Virginia Airport (VIR).

History

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. 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.

Airports

King Shaka International Airport (DUR) 29 km to the centre
Durban, NL, ZA — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 6 airlines (South African Airways, British Airways, Comair, Mango…) · direct flights to 13 destinations incl. Cape Town, Johannesburg, Dubai, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 6 airlines, 13 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) 63 km to the centre
Pietermaritzburg, NL, ZA — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 1 airline (South African Airways) · direct flights to 1 destination incl. Johannesburg (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 1 direct destination
  • South African Airways SA (AR8, Dash 8-400, ER3, J41) · 1 route: Johannesburg*

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor
Virginia Airport (VIR) 10 km to the centre
Durban, NL, ZA — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Indoor | Outdoor
New Hanover Airport 73 km to the centre
New Hanover, NL, ZA
Outdoor
Howick Airport 84 km to the centre
Howick, NL, ZA
Outdoor
Greytown Airport 91 km to the centre
Greytown, NL, ZA
Outdoor

Getting there by ferry

Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal
Ferry terminal · 4.3 km from the centre
Outdoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping →
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
October – March

The warmer, longer-day half of the southern-hemisphere year.

Shoulder season
April – May, September

Milder and quieter, with better value.

Worth avoiding
June – August

The southern winter — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Virginia Airport (VIR); 12 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: DUR has direct flights to 13 destinations on 6 airlines (incl. Cape Town, Johannesburg, Dubai, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein…). By water: 1 ferry terminal within 20 km (nearest: Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal, 4.3 km).

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Durban. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Coaches & shuttles

Intercity coach

Private aviation

On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.

Charter, FBO · Managed fleet · Charter and FBOs at Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Charter, management · Large-cabin & VIP airliners · Geneva-based operator known for large-cabin and VIP airliner charters.
Charter, management, FBO, MRO · Managed fleet worldwide · General Dynamics company: charter, completions and FBOs in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US.

Tours & experiences

Walking Tour