Cheap flights to Durban
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Quick summary
Country
South Africa
Continent
Africa
Airport
DUR
Currency
South African rand (ZAR)
Time zone
UTC+2 (SAST), no daylight saving
Deals already spotted to Durban
Real flight examples detected by SniperAir, with their reference price.
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Airport and getting into town
A recent airport about 35 km north of the city
King Shaka International (DUR)
King Shaka International Airport is at La Mercy, north of Durban, and opened on 1 May 2010, according to Wikipedia (DE). Wikivoyage (EN, DE, FR) puts it 35 km from the city, between Umhlanga and Ballito; another Wikivoyage (EN) passage says 40 km and Wikipedia (DE) about 30 km, so expect thirty to forty kilometres. A motorway runs straight to the city and shuttles drop passengers in town, per Wikivoyage (FR). Wikivoyage (EN) mentions an hourly shuttle beside the taxi rank and warns that taxis can cost far more; we quote no fares. The old Durban airport south of the city is closed, says Wikivoyage (EN). The airport offers domestic flights and some international routes, such as Dubai, Doha and Istanbul, per Wikipedia (EN).
Approximate distances, per Wikivoyage (EN, FR, DE) and Wikipedia (DE). Transport services change, so check them before you go. We do not quote fares.
Durban, Zulu eThekwini, is South Africa's third most populous city after Johannesburg and Cape Town and the largest city in KwaZulu-Natal, per Wikipedia (EN, DE). It lies on the Indian Ocean and has the largest port in sub-Saharan Africa, according to Wikipedia (EN, DE).
Vasco da Gama sighted this coast on 25 December 1497 and named it Natal, Portuguese for Christmas, per Wikipedia (FR, EN). The settlement took its present name in 1835 after Sir Benjamin D'Urban, governor of the Cape Colony. Wikipedia (DE) calls it a much-visited holiday centre thanks to its beaches and subtropical climate.
Landmarks
The Golden Mile, Moses Mabhida Stadium, Umhlanga and the harbour
Durban is first of all a waterside city. The places below are described from the sources; the photographs show the beachfront, the stadium, a northern beach and the harbour.
The Golden Mile
The Golden Mile is the nickname for the beaches near downtown along the Indian Ocean, known for surfing, wide sandy beaches and occasional shark attacks, per Wikivoyage (EN). Wikivoyage (DE) says the beachfront runs from the mouth of the Mgeni river to the harbour entrance, split into 12 sections. Around Christmas the beaches get very crowded, per Wikivoyage (EN).
The beachfront piers
The beachfront gathers bars and restaurants, per Wikipedia (DE), and uShaka Beach has a pier with free access, says Wikivoyage (DE). Wikivoyage (EN) mentions rickshaws on the beachfront, for fun rather than transport. The Natal Sharks Board maintains the shark nets that protect swimmers, per Wikivoyage (DE).
Moses Mabhida Stadium
Moses Mabhida Stadium, built for the 2010 football World Cup, is the city's new landmark, per Wikivoyage (EN). A steel arch rises above it, and the Skycar cable car or a staircase reaches the top, with views over downtown and the Berea ridge, per Wikivoyage (EN, DE) and Wikipedia (ES). Sources give different capacities, so we publish none.
Umhlanga Rocks
North of Durban, Umhlanga is one of the most sought-after beach destinations in South Africa, per Wikivoyage (EN), popular with local and international visitors for its beaches, shops and summer and winter festivals. King Shaka airport lies between Umhlanga and Ballito.
The harbour and the bay
Durban is the busiest port city in sub-Saharan Africa, per Wikipedia (EN). The harbour, established in 1840, grew with Natal coal mining and the industry around Johannesburg, according to Wikipedia (DE); it is one of the few natural harbours between Gqeberha and Maputo. Wikipedia (ES) says it receives more than 5,000 merchant ships a year.
uShaka Marine World, Victoria Street Market and the Chatsworth temple
uShaka Marine World combines a large aquarium and a water park, per Wikivoyage (EN, DE). The Victoria Street Market in the Indian quarter gathers shops selling Asian goods and spice stalls with curry in countless blends, per Wikivoyage (DE); Wikivoyage (EN) says to haggle hard and watch for pickpockets. The Hare Krishna temple in Chatsworth, set among gardens, has a vegetarian Indian restaurant, per Wikivoyage (FR).
Museums and culture
Apartheid history, Indian labourers, art and the sea
Local history
The KwaMuhle Museum tells the history of apartheid in Durban and is free, per Wikivoyage (EN). The Durban Cultural and Document Centre covers Indian indentured labour. From 1860, thousands of labourers from British India arrived in Natal through Durban's port, per Wikipedia (DE, EN).
Science, art and law
City Hall houses the Natural Science Museum and the Durban Art Gallery with contemporary South African art, per Wikipedia (DE) and Wikivoyage (EN). The Old Court House Museum shows varied collections, including miniature cars.
The sea and culture
The Port Natal Maritime Museum lets you walk through tugboats and a naval ship, per Wikivoyage (EN). The BAT Centre, a former harbour warehouse turned arts centre, is a music and art venue, per Wikipedia (DE). We do not quote ticket prices: hours and fees change.
Food and drink
Durban curry, bunny chow and the tables of Florida Road
Curry and bunny chow
Durban has one of the largest Indian populations outside India, so a Durban curry, from mild to very hot, is a popular dish, per Wikivoyage (EN). Bunny chow, a hollowed quarter loaf filled with curry, is a speciality born in the city, per Wikivoyage (EN, DE). Wikivoyage (DE) suggests trying it at snack stands in the Indian quarter of the centre.
Where to go out
Wikivoyage (EN, DE) calls Florida Road the happening street, with restaurants, bars and boutiques. Beach cafés along the Golden Mile are another option.
Spices
Stalls in the Victoria Street Market sell curry powders in many blends, per Wikivoyage (DE).
Getting around
Booked taxis, People Mover buses and beach rickshaws
Buses
People Mover buses run from 6 am to 11 pm every 15 minutes in the centre and along the beach route to uShaka Marine World, per Wikivoyage (EN). Mynah buses serve the Berea suburbs. Wikivoyage (DE) notes that public buses run rarely and stops often lack timetables.
Taxis
Metered taxis are common and reliable but do not cruise the streets: they must be booked by phone, per Wikivoyage (EN, DE). Minibus taxis are widely used by locals but uncomfortable, says Wikivoyage (DE).
Trains and caution
Metrorail commuter trains have had safety issues, per Wikivoyage (EN). Wikivoyage (DE) advises against shopping after dark or being alone in secluded places.
Day trips
The Drakensberg lies inland in KwaZulu-Natal, per Wikipedia (DE); Wikivoyage (EN) also mentions helicopter tours of the coast and game reserves.
Budget and precautions
Moderate prices to confirm, and sensible precautions
Price level
Wikivoyage (DE) finds curries in Indian restaurants good value. We do not quote figures, because we could not confirm them across two independent open sources.
Currency and payment
The currency is the South African rand. Wikivoyage (EN) says Victoria Street Market is a place to haggle and to watch for pickpockets.
Flights
SniperAir monitors prices to DUR and compares them with the route's history, but it does not sell or book tickets. You can also watch Cape Town (CPT) or Johannesburg (JNB) to compare.
Safety
For entry rules and safety, check your own government's official advice. Wikivoyage (DE) urges caution in the evening and in secluded spots.
When to go
A subtropical climate: hot humid summers, mild dry winters
Summer (December to February)
Hot and humid, and the rainy season: Wikipedia (EN, DE) describe very hot, humid summers, with an average temperature around 24 °C per Wikipedia (EN). The sea is warmest in February, at 24.6 °C per Wikipedia (DE).
Autumn (March to May)
Rain eases gradually, the warmth stays pleasant and beaches are quieter than over the year-end holidays.
Winter (June to August)
Mild, relatively dry and frost-free, per Wikipedia (EN, DE). The sea is coolest in August, at 19.25 °C per Wikipedia (DE).
Spring (September to November)
Weather warms and the summer rains return gradually. Wikipedia (DE) notes that the warm Agulhas Current heats the coastal water.
Wikipedia (EN) gives about 1,009 mm of rain a year, Wikipedia (DE) about 1,000 mm, mostly in summer. Wikipedia (ES) mentions average temperatures of 16 to 25 °C across the year. We give only orders of magnitude.
By length of stay
What to do in Durban depending on how long you stay
The essentials
The Golden Mile, Moses Mabhida Stadium and a bunny chow in the Indian quarter.
Sea and markets
uShaka Marine World, Victoria Street Market, Umhlanga and the Botanical Gardens.
Coast and mountains
The Chatsworth temple, an excursion into inland KwaZulu-Natal or the Drakensberg.
In pictures
Durban in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Durban
How do I get from Durban airport to the centre?
King Shaka airport is about 35 km north of the city, per Wikivoyage. A motorway and shuttles reach the centre; you can also book a taxi.
When is the best time to visit Durban?
All year: hot humid summers and mild dry winters. The sea is warmest in February.
Is Durban expensive?
Curries are described as good value, but we publish no figures because we could not confirm them on two sources.
How long should I stay in Durban?
Two to four days for the seafront, markets and museums.
How do I get around Durban?
By People Mover bus in the centre and along the beach, by taxi booked by phone, or by car.
What should I eat in Durban?
Durban curry and bunny chow, a hollowed quarter loaf filled with curry.
How much does a flight to Durban usually cost?
The price depends mainly on your departure city, the time of year and how far ahead you book. The "opportunities" section above shows real examples of prices SniperAir has already detected to this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Durban drops below my budget?
Create an alert profile with your departure airport, Durban as the destination and your maximum budget. You are notified automatically as soon as a matching price is detected.
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