Where you stay in Durban shapes the trip more than in most cities, because the sights split between the beachfront, the city centre and the hills inland. Most visitors choose the beachfront, which puts the sea and the promenade at the door. A smaller group prefers Musgrave, a quieter residential area above the city. This guide matches the hotels below to those ways of staying, and adds three other bases further out.
The beachfront
The Golden Mile promenade runs along the whole waterfront, with beaches, piers, paddling pools and restaurants, and uShaka Marine World at the southern end. Staying here means you can walk to the sand in minutes and reach the Point Waterfront and uShaka by a short taxi ride. It is the right choice for first-time visitors, families and anyone who wants a beach trip. The trade-off is that the beachfront gets busy at weekends and in school holidays, and you should use taxis rather than walking far after dark.
Splurge: Suncoast Hotel & Towers
At the northern end of the beachfront, about two minutes from the promenade and a minute from the Suncoast entertainment complex, it has a free full breakfast, an outdoor pool, a spa and an Indian restaurant, with sea-view rooms and suites. Its class shows as five and above, and it is the most polished base on this list.
Resort feel: Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani
A four-class hotel of 734 rooms on Snell Parade, about five minutes from the Golden Mile, with three outdoor pools and a children's pool, a spa and four restaurants. It suits families and groups who want facilities on site, though rollaway beds and cribs are not available.
Traditional: The Edward Hotel
A four-class, 131-room hotel two minutes from the Golden Mile and about a four-minute drive from uShaka, with a pool, a spa, a brasserie and sea-view rooms. Breakfast costs extra, and some reviewers mention noise and dated facilities.
Value: Garden Court South Beach
A three-class hotel on Marine Parade, two minutes from the promenade and close to uShaka, with a pool, a restaurant and a gym. It is a sensible, modest choice when the day is spent on the sand, though few guest reviews are available.
Quiet and budget: Musgrave Avenue Guest Lodge
A guesthouse in Berea, three minutes from the Musgrave Centre and about ten minutes on foot from the Durban Botanic Gardens, with garden rooms, a self-catering loft and a villa that sleeps six. Breakfast, parking and WiFi cost extra, and it is a short drive from the beach, so plan on taxis.
Further out: Umhlanga, Florida Road and Durban North
Beverly Hills Umhlanga is a luxury hotel beside the lighthouse with a spa, a pool and free breakfast, and City Lodge Hotel Umhlanga Ridge is a simpler four-class base two minutes from Gateway Theatre of Shopping. Both put you on the quieter coast north of the city, about twenty-two minutes from the airport. Quarters Hotel sits on Florida Road in Morningside, one minute from the restaurant strip, and The Riverside Hotel in Durban North has a pool, gardens and the Beachwood Mangroves on its doorstep. Garden Court Marine Parade is a three-class beachfront alternative with indoor and outdoor pools.
Practical details that vary
Check-in is usually from two in the afternoon, and check-out is at eleven at the beachfront hotels but earlier at the guesthouse. Parking is a modest daily charge at the larger hotels, and several of them do not allow pets. Rooms with a sea view cost a little more but make the beachfront stay, so ask for one when you book.
How to choose
If you want the sea and uShaka, stay on the beachfront for the whole trip. If you prefer a quiet base, a lower price or a self-catering stay, choose Musgrave and take taxis to the coast. For day trips, ask about the pickup area when you book, since pickups cover set areas around Durban. Confirm check-in times, parking charges and breakfast terms before you book.
