South Beach

Durban

South Beach featuring a sunset, surfing and surf
South Beach
South Beach featuring a sunset, landscape views and tropical scenes
South Beach which includes a sandy beach and tropical scenes
South Beach showing a sunset, landscape views and general coastal views
Part of Durban’s wonderful Golden Mile, this sandy beach has safe swimming and a surf museum, an amusement park, a waterpark and an aquarium.

Sun worshippers, swimmers and surfers flock to Durban’s lively and picturesque South Beach. Swim in the mild waters of the Indian Ocean, learn about Durban’s surfing heritage and have fun at marine and amusement parks. South Beach stretches from the Port of Durban to North Beach. It’s the southernmost area of the Golden Mile, a lively beachfront district that spreads along Durban’s Indian Ocean coastline.

South Beach’s golden sand is perfect for relaxing in Durban’s year-round sunshine and playing sports such as volleyball and soccer. Lifeguards patrol the beach and erect beacons to indicate the safe swimming areas. There are also shark nets, which provide extra safety for bathers. Learn to surf on the beach’s small waves, ideal for beginners. A surf school at the center of the beach offers lessons with experienced instructors.

Enjoy a walk along the lively waterfront esplanade. Spend an afternoon riding the fairground attractions, waterslides and aerial gondola at Fun World. General admission is free, while individual rides have fees. Visit the Time-Warp Surf Museum to discover the history of surfing in Durban. Check out the photography displays, newspaper clippings and radio interviews that retell the stories of local surfing heroes.

Stroll out along the wooden pier near the southern end of the beach. Look back at the sweeping views along the Golden Mile and spot surfers riding the waves.

A major highlight of South Beach is uShaka Marine World, a combined aquarium, waterpark and shopping village. Ride river rapids, a lazy river and one of Africa’s tallest waterslides. Watch acrobatic dolphin performances, ray feedings and seal shows. Dive with sharks and get close to lizards, snakes and tarantulas. Enjoy some shopping at the open-air mall.

South Beach is about a 10-minute drive or a 30-minute walk from downtown Durban. Public buses will take you to various points along the Golden Mile. Look for on-street parking or use the large parking lot at uShaka Marine World.


Popular places to visit

Things to do


Top hotels in South Beach

Bayside Hotel Pine Street
Bayside Hotel Pine Street
3.5 out of 5
14 PINE STREET, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
The price is €23 per night from 14 Mar to 15 Mar
€23
includes taxes & fees
14 Mar - 15 Mar
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in Durban. Enjoy free WiFi, parking (surcharge), and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions uShaka Marine World and Durban Beach ...
7/10 Good! (54 reviews)
"Ight"

Reviewed on 22 Feb 2025

Bayside Hotel Pine Street
Bayside Hotel 116
Bayside Hotel 116
3 out of 5
116 West street, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
The price is €31 per night from 17 Mar to 18 Mar
€31
includes taxes & fees
17 Mar - 18 Mar
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Durban. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions uShaka Marine World and Durban Beach are located ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (24 reviews)
"Amazing stay. Stuff is very friendly and kind, rooms are very clean, easy check in and checkout process. Restaurant has great food too."

Reviewed on 3 May 2024

Bayside Hotel 116
Durban Spa
Durban Spa
3 out of 5
57 Oliver Tambo Parade, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
Stay at this 3-star spa apartment in Durban. Enjoy 2 indoor pools, a full-service spa, and parking (surcharge). Popular attractions uShaka Marine World and Durban ...
7.4/10 Good! (14 reviews)
"They don't read check out instructions when booking with other websites. My check out is 10 am but they wanted me to leave the room at 9 am. Cockroaches were all over our apartment."

Reviewed on 3 Mar 2025

Durban Spa
Bayside Hotel 100
Bayside Hotel 100
3 out of 5
100 West street, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
The price is €24 per night from 25 Mar to 26 Mar
€24
includes taxes & fees
25 Mar - 26 Mar
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Durban. Enjoy free WiFi, parking (surcharge), and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions uShaka Marine World and Durban Beach ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (68 reviews)
"It was not gods from the arrival my name was not appearing on their system I had to wait for them to call the manager it was just a long wait. Then the rooms were full we had to be moved to another hotel and room was not good at all for a cluster phobic people, alcohol cap in the room, we had to ..."

Reviewed on 20 Feb 2025

Bayside Hotel 100
The Edward Hotel
The Edward Hotel
4 out of 5
149 O.R. Tambo Parade, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
Stay at this 4-star beach hotel in Durban. Enjoy free WiFi, a beach locale, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
7.8/10 Good! (221 reviews)
Edward Hotel
"It was absolutely fantastic. Beautiful clean and neat Delicious breakfast. Staff are extremely friendly and really very helpful. Musa was great. Can definitely recommend staying there."

Reviewed on 10 Feb 2025

The Edward Hotel
Metro Express
Metro Express
2.5 out of 5
33 Sylvester Ntuli Rd, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
Stay at this hotel in Durban. Enjoy free parking, a 24-hour front desk, and daily housekeeping. Popular attractions uShaka Marine World and Durban Beach are ...
4.2/10 (11 reviews)
Pathetic
"Arrived to check-in but was not allowed to as there was miscommunication between App and the Hotel. Had to then pay the property direct for accommodation as I could not be helped by agents"

Reviewed on 30 Nov 2024

Metro Express
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around South Beach

Durban featuring heritage architecture and a mosque

Durban Central Business District

3.5/5(3 area reviews)

Travellers come to Durban Central Business District for its abundant dining options, and you can see top attractions like Workshop Mall and Durban City Hall while you're in town.

Durban Central Business District
North Beach which includes a sandy beach and a sunset

North Beach

3.5/5(4 area reviews)

North Beach is a destination visitors seek out for its beaches, abundant dining options and seaside views. You might want to check out attractions like Blue Lagoon or Golden Mile while you're exploring the neighbourhood.

North Beach
uShaka Marine World showing signage and rides as well as a large group of people

Durban Point

3/5(2 area reviews)

While visiting Durban Point, you might make a stop by sights like uShaka Marine World and Harbour.

Durban Point
North Beach showing a city, a hotel and a coastal town

Durban Beachfront

4/5(2 area reviews)

Durban Beachfront is a destination visitors seek out for its beaches, abundant dining options and seaside views. You might want to check out attractions like Blue Lagoon or Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World while you're exploring the neighbourhood.

Durban Beachfront
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Windermere

Windermere is noteworthy for its cafes, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Florida Road and African Art Centre.

Windermere
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Essenwood

Visitors to Essenwood like its beaches and restaurants, and Killie Campbell Africana Library is a sight worth a stop.

Essenwood

South Beach

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