South Africa

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Gqeberha

Friendly, windy Indian Ocean city

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Best time to visit: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Currency: ZAR
Time zone: UTC+2
Country: South Africa

Photo: Leo za1, CC BY-SA 3.0

Gqeberha, still widely called Port Elizabeth, is South Africa's sixth-largest city and the main seaport of the Eastern Cape, sitting on Algoa Bay along the Indian Ocean. People come for its Blue Flag beaches, 1820 Settler heritage, and easy access to malaria-free big-five game viewing at Addo and the surrounding reserves.

Largest cities

Johannesburg
Cape Town
Durban
Pretoria
Port Elizabeth

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: South Africa
Capital: Bloemfontein
Metro population: 312,392
Population of South Africa: 62M
Country area: 1,221,037 km²
Official language: South Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Tsonga, and Tswana
Currency: South African Rand (ZAR) · 1 USD ≈ 16.54 ZAR
Time zone: UTC+2
Calling code: +27
Drives on the: Left
Elevation: 91 m
Plugs: C / M / N · 230V
Emergency numbers: 10111 (police) · 10177 (ambulance) · 112 (mobile emergency)
Best time to visit: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	24°	24°	24°	21°	21°	20°	19°	19°	19°	20°	22°	23°
Low	19°	19°	19°	16°	14°	13°	11°	12°	13°	15°	16°	18°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$39
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$100
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$245

Plan a trip to Gqeberha

Top things to do

Free
Donkin Reserve and Lighthouse
Climb the 1861 lighthouse and see the pyramid memorial to Elizabeth Donkin, with the tourism office on site for maps and passes.
- Half day
- Central / Donkin Reserve
- Good for kids
≈ $1
No 7 Castle Hill Museum
The oldest surviving Settler cottage in the city, built in 1827, with period rooms and a tiny entry fee.
- Half day
- Central / Donkin Reserve
- Good for kids
- Indoors
- Closed: Sunday
Free
South End Museum
Photographs, a walk-on map and personal stories record the community forcibly removed under the Group Areas Act; entry is by donation.
- Half day
- Central / Donkin Reserve
- Good for kids
- Indoors
≈ $5
Bayworld Museum, Oceanarium and Snake Park
A combined museum, oceanarium and snake park on Marine Drive, open daily from 9am to 4.30pm and good for a rainy morning.
- Half day
- Summerstrand & Humewood beachfront
- Good for kids
- Indoors
Free
Humewood and Kings Beach
Blue Flag swimming beaches along the urban coastline, with lifeguards in season and a promenade that is pleasant for a sunset walk.
- Half day
- Summerstrand & Humewood beachfront
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
Free
Boardwalk and Marine Drive
A casino, restaurants and shops beside a small lake, an easy first-evening stop for food and a stroll.
- Half day
- Summerstrand & Humewood beachfront
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
≈ $8
Apple Express Steam Train
A narrow-gauge steam trip from Humewood Road towards Thornhill, crossing the Van Stadens River bridge, the highest narrow-gauge rail bridge in the world.
- Half day
- Walmer & airport area
- Good for kids
≈ $25
Addo Elephant National Park day trip
A malaria-free big-five park about an hour north of the city, best visited with a guided game drive or your own car and an early start.
- Full day
- Colchester & Alexandria dune fields
- Good for kids
Free
Alexandria Dune Fields
The largest coastal dune field in the southern hemisphere, reached near the villages of Colchester and Cannonville, with beach and 4x4 access.
- Full day
- Colchester & Alexandria dune fields
- Good for kids

Before you go

Entry and visas

Many visitors, including British citizens, can enter South Africa without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism or business, while other nationalities may need a visa or must apply in advance; rules depend on nationality, so check before booking. Your passport must be valid for at least 30 days beyond your departure date and have at least two blank pages, and travellers with children aged 17 and under face extra documentation requirements. From 1 July 2026 all travellers entering or leaving South Africa must submit an online traveller declaration before travelling, and yellow fever vaccination

Official website

From the airport

Chief Dawid Stuurman Airport (PLZ) is about 3 km south of the city centre and is nicknamed the "ten-minute airport" because most major areas are under ten minutes' drive away. Taxis and rental cars meet arrivals; a transfer into the centre or beachfront takes roughly 10 to 20 minutes.

Getting around

A public bus network and frequent minibus taxis cover the city, but most visitors find a rental car the easiest way to reach the beaches, Addo and outlying reserves.

Local tips

The city is windy and rain falls in scattered showers year-round, so pack a light windproof layer even in summer.
Beaches are the main draw but the sea can be rough; swim only at Blue Flag beaches where lifeguards are on duty.
Crime is a concern in some areas, so avoid walking alone after dark, keep valuables out of sight and use a licensed taxi at night.
Tipping of 10 to 15 percent is expected in restaurants, and card payment is widely accepted, though carrying some rand in cash is useful for markets and taxis.