11 Best Hotels in Durban, South Africa

We had several wonderful trips in South Africa, this large iconic country that is full of nature and wildlife. We visited different cities, but Durban, the third most populous city there, won our hearts. Durban is a coastal city, so we can easily find hotels overlooking the waters with breathtaking views. We found different options, and here we are recommending the best hotels in Durban, South Africa. These hotels are located in various areas of the city, so we got all of you covered. If you’re planning for a South Africa trip, Durban should be on your list.

And if you don’t know where to stay there, no worries, we did the research and visited the hotels to make sure they’re worth recommending. Choosing the right accommodation can make the trip more enjoyable or mess everything up. Thus, don’t book your Durban flight tickets unless you go through these hotels first.

The Royal Hotel by Coastlands Hotels & Resorts

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A few steps away from the beach is The Royal Hotel by Coastlands Hotels & Resorts. Its tall building offers a wonderful view of the beach. We insisted on having a high-floor room so we got the chance to enjoy this view every morning. We didn’t miss the pool on the top floor, which also offered a similar view. For a full experience, give the spa a try as well. Relaxing and watching the boats in the harbor moving here and there was a different feeling.

Inside our room, we had many amenities but nothing special to note. It was a good value for money. In other words, we didn’t pay that much, and everything was clean and well-prepared for us. Further, the staff were super helpful offering much information and notes about where to go and how to make the best out of our vacation. The last thing we enjoyed here was the breakfast; it was amazing and tasty.

Pavilion Hotel Durban

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Pavilion Hotel Durban South Africa is a famous hotel here in Durban. We had to stay here to see the quality of the facilities and services. First of all, the location was perfect for us. We traveled around 20 minutes or more from the airport to the hotel. This is no time compared to other locations we had to go to during our trip. Moreover, the hotel is a few minutes walk from the beach. We didn’t even need our bikes to reach the nearest shore. We now know why it’s so famous among visitors here.

While the location is very important, we have other criteria to check. One of them is the room we would be staying and sleeping in during our trip. We were three people sharing a room, thus, we wanted a spacious one to place our luggage and move freely. Luckily, the rooms here are wide, as well as the bathroom. We believe that the rooms have been recently renovated, they now look classier and more comfortable, we will surely come here again

Radisson Blu Hotel

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Most luxurious. Radisson Blu Hotel is a full package. We got everything we needed by booking a room in this hotel. It wasn’t very cheap but not too expensive for what was offered. From the very beginning, we were treated in a very friendly and professional way. They offered a taxi service to take us from the airport and the same thing when we were leaving. When we arrived, we had complimentary cookies while we were waiting for our room to be ready. It didn’t take much time to get our sea view premium room prepared.

Speaking of the rooms, the hotel has more than 200 different rooms, and some of them have wonderful views of the sea. Although we paid more for this room, we didn’t want to miss that view. To reach the closest beach, either Umhlanga or Bronze, we walked for a couple of minutes. We can clearly say that this is a waterfront hotel. Also, it has an outdoor pool with a small pool bar where we can refresh our taste buds after our daily laps in the pool. If you’re interested in such a luxurious experience, check their official website first to see how close the hotel is to most of the popular attractions.

ONOMO Hotel Durban

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People here at ONOMO Hotel Durban did everything they could do to make sure that we were happy and comfortable during our stay. When we emailed them to confirm the booking, they asked if we needed an airport pick-up. We had our rented car that day, so we didn’t need to pay extra money to reach the hotel. We were also lucky that the hotel’s parking was free of charge. Based on the plans we had, we wanted to spend the first day by the beach. The nearest one was less than half a kilometer, so we didn’t need the car that day.

On the next day, we spent the morning by the pool. It was a nice outdoor pool with some lounge chairs around to enjoy deep sunbathe. We were also looking forward to sore our muscles. Hence, the fitness center (also free of charge) was the perfect next spot. What made our stay so unique was the breakfast. It was beyond amazing, and we could choose between English, Irish, or continental breakfast.

“The environment here is very friendly. Whether it’s the outdoor swimming pool, the terrace, the restaurant, or the bar. We enjoyed every part of this Durban best accommodation.”

WOW Travel

Protea Hotel by Marriott

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Protea Hotel by Marriott met our expectations as this wasn’t the first time staying in one of Marriott’s hotels. We expected good and quality services, and we got what we asked for. This time, we booked a family room as we wanted more space for four people. The family room was so wide, accommodating four or maybe five people with no problems. On the contrary, the hotel’s pool was small, but this wasn’t a big problem for us as we were more interested in the sea and beaches.

The hotel’s on-site restaurant offers mouthwatering buffet breakfast only, so we had to find some good places to eat during the rest of the day. Needless to say, at this location, we could find hundreds of options. We walked to the beach every day, and we had our gear in our beach bags, so a short walking distance was of great importance to us. We have several lists of the top-rated beach umbrellas, clamps for beach umbrellas, and portable safes for the beach that might interest you.

Aha Gateway Hotel

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Located in Umhlanga, Aha Gateway Hotel has one of the best locations among hotels in Durban, South Africa. We love this area a lot as we can move and go here and there until midnight with no issues. The area is full of life, and transportation there is so easy. The hotel has an internal connection to the Gateway Mall. This means we didn’t have to go far or even leave our place to do some shopping and get our basic needs. This mall is one of the most famous ones here in Durban.

Furthermore, the hotel has a great on-site restaurant and cafe named Fig Tree Cafe. We used to have breakfast there every day, and sometimes we were there for lunch. The breakfast they serve is English, with some other special options for special diets. The staff there was so nice, and they were willing to cook us special food when we asked for Gluten-free options. In the afternoon, we enjoyed the rooftop pool and the bar that also served very refreshing drinks.

Holiday Inn Express

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Holiday Inn Express is a very cozy hotel we were glad to stay in for a couple of nights. The hotel has the basic amenities that were in very good condition. We browsed the different rooms before booking, and finally, we chose a double room with a sea view. Our room had acceptable empty spaces for luggage, a very clean shower and bathroom, a comfortable working desk, and plush beds. We wanted a balcony to enjoy the sea view at night. The hotel has this option, but there were no vacant balcony rooms when we were booking.

The breakfast there was the typical continental breakfast we usually had in famous hotels. The eggs, bacon, pastries, and everything else were fresh every morning. Further, there was a nice option for busy visitors to grab their easy-to-hold breakfast items as takeaway. Coffee is also available in this grab-and-go section. We could eat mouthwatering steak at the Butcher Block restaurant or find other restaurants around for lunch. The area is already full of restaurants and coffee shops.

Belaire Suites Hotel

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Best location. We know that the location is something very subjective, and not all people will agree on the best location. In the end, it depends on where you’re planning to go every day and how far you’re from your points of interest. However, Belaire Suites Hotel has the best location from our point of view, and we’re sure you’ll agree with us. We were a walking distance from Durban station, so wherever we wanted to go, we could easily take the train. Moreover, the Durban North beach was directly in front of us. We enjoyed a great day of sunbathing by the sea every day.

The hotel is a beachfront one, so we were able to see the wonderful view of the sky hugging the sea from our room. Best of all, the rooftop restaurant where we had our breakfast every day had a magnificent panoramic view of the ocean. When it was time to leave, we packed our luggage and asked for the airport shuttle service the hotel offered. It was at an extra charge, but we reached the airport with peace of mind and on time. We plan to come here again just to enjoy the good location and the helpful and professional staff working there.

Bayside Hotel & Self Catering

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Best rates. This time we had to save money as we had too many plans and things to do here in Durban. Thus, we wanted to choose the best accommodation in Durban, South Africa, at the best price. Bayside Hotel & Self Catering was our choice to save money while staying in a clean and inviting hotel. As the name suggests, the hotel offers a self-catering option where guests can prepare their own food in their rooms. Yet, this wasn’t the only option there; we could choose either a self-catering room or a standard room. The difference is that the self-catering room had a microwave, refrigerator, cook, etc.

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Since we wanted to save money, we chose this self-catering room. The equipment worked great, and we could prepare some cereals, omelets, and other easy-to-cook hot dishes every day. Apart from food, we loved that the hotel was so clean and tidy. The housekeeping did their job pretty well every day. They were keen on our ease and comfort; we loved how they treated us so much. The hotel is nothing less than more expensive hotels, so we believe we made a very good bargain to stay here.

Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani

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Best services. Waking up every day to the ocean view is the best thing we had here at Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani Hotel. If you decide that you want to book a room here, make sure it’s a sea view or at least a partial sea view room. This is a view you don’t want to miss. Aside from the view, we were served the best here. The hotel is full of luxurious facilities and things to enjoy our time. We also had delicious English and continental breakfast dishes here.

One of the things we missed in most other hotels was the pool. Although most hotels do have pools here, we had three pools. There were indoor and outdoor options, so we could try something different each day. The pool overlooking the ocean was the best. Further, the spa was beyond our expectations. We were so relaxed and content during the spa session here. The hotel offers shuttle services as well, so we didn’t worry about reaching the airport on time. Everything here was made to make us feel safe and happy.

Blue Waters Hotel

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Blue Waters Hotel offers a spectacular view of the Indian Ocean like no other hotel here. This was one of the nearest hotels to the beach we stayed in before. We advise you to check their official website first to see the view from the hotel and the rooms so you know what we are talking about. Speaking of the rooms, ours was so clean and calming. Its simple furniture didn’t take up much space but was still comfortable for us to place our staff wherever we wanted.
We had breakfast, lunch, snacks, and drinks here inside the hotel. There are different restaurants and cafes to serve everything. The Blue Dolphin bar, for example, serves delicious pizzas, whereas the Florida Lounge has delights and snacks every day. We loved that the pool here was heated. It was a bit chill when we were there, so we weren’t ready to swim in the pool unless it was heated. On top of all, the area where the hotel was located was perfect for cycling, jogging, and doing all the outdoor activities we wanted.

Our Verdict!

Are you looking for the best location? Or maybe the best rates, services, etc.? Instead of figuring out this by yourself, we have this short list of options for the best accommodation in Durban, South Africa, based on some criteria. Here you go.

• Most luxurious: Radisson Blu Hotel
• Best location: Belaire Suites Hotel
• Best rates: Bayside Hotel & Self Catering
• Best services: Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani

Where to Stay in Durban, South Africa?

Durban isn’t that small city where we could stay anywhere and feel like we were close to everything. Thus, we had to go through the map first and explore different areas to see what works best for us. The first area we love is Umhlanga. This coastal suburb has many hotels overlooking magnificent scenery. It has many shopping centers, restaurants, and everything tourists might need. This area is a bit busy, but it’s perfect for tourists like us. There are different activities we could enjoy there, on top of them all are the beach and water activities. The only problem here is that the rates are a bit high, but we think this area is worth it.

Durban North is another area we believe is less expensive than Umhlanga but still has beachfront hotels. The best thing about staying here is that we are close to the city center and close to clubs, bars, and coffee shops in Umhlanga. At the same time, we could enjoy the shores in a quieter area.

Next, we recommend Stamford Hill, which overlooks the beach too. This is where Pavilion Hotel Durban South Africa is located. Also, the famous Moses Mabhida Stadium is here, where we can attend soccer and cricket matches. There are many things to do in this area, whether it’s about enjoying the sun and beaches or enjoying nightlife, shops, and cinemas.

Why is Durban so famous in South Africa?

Durban is famous among South Africans as it’s the third most populous city in the country. On the other side, tourists love Durban for its sandy beaches and vibrant life. It also has museums and other tourist spots in addition to the many outdoor activities that visitors can enjoy all the year.

Which city is better to visit in winter, Cape Town or Durban?

Both cities have long shores and amazing beaches and water. However, Durban is warmer most of the time, so people tend to prefer Durban in Winter. Both cities have cool nightlife and lots of malls, shops, and adventures to do. If you’re interested in Cape Town, you can check out our list of the best hotels in Cape Town.

What is the nearest airport to Durban?

King Shaka International Airport in KwaZulu-Natal is the closest International Airport to Durban. There are daily flights from and to Durban in this airport, so tourists can come from anywhere in the world and visit Durban easily.