The Scribs & Nibs: Top Ten Thing to do in Durban

If you’re planning a trip to Durban, then these are the top things to do during your trip. We spent 10 days in Durban for a work-from-home, away-from-home week. It is a 6.5-hour drive from Johannesburg or a quick 45-minute flight. It’s perfect to escape the cool winters of Joburg or Cape Town.

We stayed in Umhlanga Rocks, a suburb of Durban 15 minutes away. The area is walkable and has a mall area with shops and restaurants.

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# 1 Happy hour at the Oyster Box Hotel

Catch stunning views—and plenty of oysters (don’t worry, they’re already shucked)—at the iconic Oyster Box Hotel. Overlooking the Umhlanga Lighthouse, the balcony offers a front-row seat to one of Durban’s most picturesque spots. Call ahead to book a balcony table, where you can choose between cozy booths or open-air seating, all with an old-school club charm indoors. The hotel itself is a Durban landmark, and easily one of the city’s top experiences. And if you’re feeling fancy, book a night at the hotel—your Instagram followers will thank you

#2 On Point Waterfront

On Point Waterfront is a collection of food and drinks stalls under one roof. There are inside and outside seating options—perfect for random rain in Durban. Durban Brewing Co. operates there too!

The peri peri prawns were delish as was the pizza.

# 3 Head to the Durban Boardwalk

Walk along the Durban boardwalk: The boardwalk is a long stroll along several beaches and restaurants.

The beaches here are divided into surfing and swimming beaches. Be sure to stay in between the swimming banners on shore. Otherwise, you’ll get aggressively whistled at by the lifeguard. Some beaches along the stretch are more crowded than others. Walk along until you find one to your liking. We did not encounter any situations that made me think we would get robbed. However, we went into the water separately so that one of us was by our stuff.

Some tips for your stay:

Bring your own umbrella. There were no spots to rent umbrellas or chairs.
There are public bathrooms along the boardwalk.
You can stop here for lunch here or bring your own. Most of the restaurants are not very exciting. Instead of eating at the boardwalk, walk (or uber) to The Durban Brewing Co. for some snacks and a drink.

#4 Visit Ikes bookshop

This second-hand bookshop is excellent to wander through. There are old and new books… something for everyone. Prepare to carry several books around with you all day. I found some amazing books by South African authors that I would never have known about otherwise.

#5 Visit the Durban Botanical Gardens

Bring a book from Ikes Bookshop and spend an hour or two wandering the gardens. There is a small lake with benches. Take a seat and observe the birds.

#6 Have breakfast at Antique Cafe

This is the cutest cafe in Durban! You’ll likely be warmly greeted by the owner. Bonus if you can find the kitty lounging outside.

#7 Spend a Day at Umhlanga Rocks Beaches

Check out the lighthouse up close and walk up and down the boardwalk. The whale pier is one of the “most beautiful” piers. (Who gave it that title, I have no clue, but it’s cool!).

Some stretches of the beach look cleaner than others. The Bronze Beach has umbrellas and beach chairs for rent. It is about a 20-minute walk from the restaurants and whalebone pier… but the distance makes it less crowded than the beach by the pier.

#8 Stop at Seed Cafe

Visit Seed Cafe for a smoothie and snack in Umhlanga Rocks. Bonus if it’s near your Airbnb.

#9 Visit uShaka Marine World Aquarium

I was pleasantly surprised by the aquarium. It’s definitely on of the top things to do in Durban, and it’s fun and informative. It’s also great to visit in the rain (as we did). Check ticket prices in advance.

Look at the cute penguins and the huge turtle!

There are also dolphin shows you can catch. Check the timetable when you enter.

I saw so many interesting sea creatures while at the aquarium in Durban.

#10 Stay in a cool house

Find yourself a cool Airbnb to spend your time here. If you’re also thinking of a WFH away week, then splurge on your lodgings. Umhlanga has several Airbnbs and hotels along the water. We stayed in this Airbnb and it was totally worth it.