5 things to do in Durban for under R200

There’s no better way to experience Durban’s famous beachfront than on two wheels. Hire a bike and cruise along the promenade, taking in the sea views and some of the city’s best-known beachfront landmarks along the way.

For bike, kart or surfboard hire, head to Xpression on the Beach, located at 17 Erskine Terrace at Addington Beach, above Surf Riders Café. The shop is right on the beachfront, so you can collect your hire and head straight out onto the promenade. Xpression also offers a range of beach equipment and activities, including bicycles, pedal karts, skateboards, surfboards, SUPs and bodyboards.

The process is simple: pop into the shop, choose what you want to hire and how long you’d like to use it for, then head out onto the promenade. You don’t need to plan an elaborate excursion – it’s an easy way to spend an hour exploring Durban’s Golden Mile at your own pace.

A bike costs R120 per hour, while a kart is R150 per hour. If you’d rather get on the water, surfboards are available to hire for R200 per hour.

The promenade is largely flat, making it an easy route for a leisurely cycle. You can ride along the beachfront, stop for photographs or a coffee, and turn around whenever you’re ready. If you have more time, continue along the promenade and take in the views towards Moses Mabhida Stadium and the Blue Lagoon.

Cost: R120 per bike per hour
Kart: R150 per hour
Surfboard: R200 per hour
Where: Xpression on the Beach, 17 Erskine Terrace, Addington Beach, Durban
Hours: 7.30 am–4 pm daily
Contact: 031 001 1052 / 074 601 9906
Good to know: Xpression is above Surf Riders Café, and you can hire your equipment from the shop before heading onto the promenade.

You don’t need to splash out on a full day at uShaka Marine World to get into the water. The Snorkel Lagoon experience gives you 30 minutes to take in the coral and gleaming fish beneath the surface.

The experience costs R155 and is available from Wednesday to Friday between 9 am and 5 pm.

It’s a good option if you’re looking for something a little more adventurous than simply wandering around the beachfront, and you’ll get to experience uShaka’s marine life from a completely different perspective.

Prefer to stay dry? The Shipwreck Aquarium is another option for under R200, with entry at R126 per person for the basic underground viewing galleries.

Snorkel Lagoon: R155
Duration: 30 minutes
Times: Wednesday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm
Shipwreck Aquarium: R126

For an even closer encounter with marine life, try uShaka Marine World’s Ray Feed.

The experience gives you the chance to get into the water and get up close to spotted eagle rays. At R177 per person, it comes in comfortably under the R200 budget while offering an experience you’re unlikely to forget.

The Ray Feed takes place on Tuesdays, Thursdays to Sundays during peak season, and Thursdays to Sundays during off-peak season, with the feeding session at 1.30 pm.

Cost: R177 per person
When: Tuesday, Thursday to Sunday during peak season; Thursday to Sunday during off-peak season
Time: 1.30 pm

Take a trip around a city that’s small enough to see in one outing at Mini Town.

The Durban attraction has been entertaining visitors since 1969 and recreates a typical South African coastal city at a scale of 1:24. It isn’t a miniature version of Durban itself, although several Durban landmarks feature alongside buildings inspired by cities around South Africa.

There’s plenty of detail to discover, from miniature buildings and roads to the harbour, railway and other working elements. The harbour alone holds 212 000 litres of water, while the railway runs on a 32-volt DC power system.

Admission is just R40 for adults and R30 for children, making this one of the most affordable outings on the list.

It’s particularly good for families, but there’s also something nostalgic about revisiting an attraction that has been part of Durban’s beachfront for more than five decades.

Cost: R40 adults; R30 children
Admission: 9.30 am to 4 pm
Where: Durban beachfront

See a lot of Durban in one outing without spending a lot on transport. The Ricksha Bus offers a three-hour sightseeing tour around some of the city’s best-known landmarks and neighbourhoods.

The double-decker bus takes in places including Victoria Street Market, Francis Farewell Square, Durban’s beachfront, Berea, Florida Road, Mitchell Park, Morningside, the Cube viewpoint, Wilson’s Wharf and Durban city centre.

There are two tours a day, departing from North Beach at 9 am and 1 pm, giving you plenty of time to fit a city tour into your day. It’s particularly useful if you’re visiting Durban and want to get your bearings, but locals may also discover a few places they’ve never properly explored.

At R100 for an adult ticket, the Ricksha Bus is one of the easiest ways to see a large part of the city without spending a fortune.

Cost: R100 adults
Duration: Three hours
Departure: 1 KE Masinga Road, Bay of Plenty, North Beach
Times: 9 am and 1 pm

More things to do for under R200

If you’ve already ticked these off your list, there are still more affordable options around Durban. uShaka Marine World’s Shipwreck Aquarium costs R126 per person, while the city’s beachfront promenade offers plenty of space to walk, run or simply enjoy the ocean views for free.

The best part? You can combine several of these experiences into one budget-friendly Durban day out without coming close to breaking the R200 mark per activity.