Durban's six-kilometre beachfront promenade, the heart of the city's outdoor life. A warm-water swim, a surf, a sunrise run or a Zulu rickshaw ride, with uShaka at one end and the Moses Mabhida arch at the other.
The Golden Mile is Durban outdoors. It’s the city’s beachfront, a paved promenade that runs about six kilometres along the warm Indian Ocean, from the uShaka marine park in the south to the Suncoast complex and the Moses Mabhida stadium in the north.
It’s where Durban comes to move. At sunrise the promenade fills with runners, swimmers, anglers and surfers; through the day there are paddling pools, piers, sand artists and the beaded Zulu rickshaw pullers who have worked the seafront for generations. The swimming beaches are lifeguarded and shark-netted, and the sea is warm enough to swim in every month of the year.
It’s free, central and easy: the People Mover bus runs its length, and uShaka, the stadium and the Suncoast casino bookend it. Like any city beachfront it’s best by day, when it’s busy and patrolled. After dark, keep to the lit, busy stretches and your valuables out of sight.
Walk it, swim it or ride it — the promenade packs a lot into a few kilometres.
The paved promenade runs about 6 km from uShaka in the south to Suncoast and the Moses Mabhida stadium in the north, past piers, paddling pools and beaches. It's at its best at sunrise, when locals run, swim and fish along it.
The swimming beaches are lifeguarded and shark-netted, the water is warm every month of the year, and the breaks off the piers draw surfers. For something only Durban does, ride a beaded Zulu rickshaw along the front.
The light over the Indian Ocean is best early, the air is cool, and the promenade is full of locals running, swimming and fishing before the heat.
Stick to the lifeguarded, shark-netted swimming beaches and respect the currents and the flags. The warm water makes it easy to stay in too long.
The beaded rickshaw pullers are a Durban institution. Agree the price and whether photos are included before you set off.
The Mile is busy and patrolled by day. At night, keep to the lit, busy stretches, leave valuables at the hotel and use a taxi or Uber.
The uShaka marine park and water slides sit at the south end of the promenade, an easy add-on for a family day.
Finish at the Suncoast complex or ride the Moses Mabhida SkyCar for the view back down the beachfront.
Make a day of the beachfront with a booking through our trusted partners — the same price as booking direct.
Africa's largest marine park, at the south end of the Mile: a big aquarium built into a mock shipwreck, water slides and a beach.
Book on GetYourGuide →A short cruise off the beachfront and around Africa's busiest harbour, for dolphins and the skyline from the water.
See cruises →A guided loop of the beachfront and the city, from the Golden Mile to the Indian quarter and Moses Mabhida.
See city tours →Beachfront hotels and aparthotels right on the promenade, from budget to comfortable mid-range.
Find a stay →We may earn a commission when you book through our partner links — at no extra cost to you.
The Golden Mile is the start of Durban. See everything else the warm-water city has to offer.
