Port Elizabeth’s magnificent beaches are its best attraction. Facing the clean and protected waters of Algoa Bay, the beachfront strip begins about 2km (1.2mi) south of the city centre.
The best of Port Elizabeth's beaches include …
Unwind on this popular 200m-wide and 900m-long beach that shelves gently into the calm waters of Algoa Bay.
Although slightly marred by a backdrop of coal mounds and oil tanks at the northern end of the beach, King's offers numerous facilities including toilets, showers, lifeguards, food and drinks kiosks, restaurants, a go-kart track and mini-golf.
The beach is a base for boat trips and deep-sea fishing trawlers. To the southeast sits Humewood Beach.
Sunbathe on this small golden-sand beach and swim in mild surf – just perfect for kids wanting to boogie board to try surfing for the first time.
Humewood Beach offers a quiet alternative to King’s Beach. Fringed by a walking track and grassy parkland, this popular, family friendly beach is just a short stroll from the Bayworld Museum and Oceanarium, where you can watch dolphin and seal shows twice daily.
Facilities on this 250m-long beach include toilets, showers and lifeguards. The nearby Brookes Pavilion and Dolphin's Leap offer a wide choice of restaurants and bars with stunning ocean views.
Pick your own spot to sunbathe on this golden-sand beach that sits beneath grassy parkland with picnic tables and a children’s playground.
Go swimming in the calm waters, look out for trapped marine life in the numerous tidal pools or join locals fishing from Shark Rock Pier. A good breeze generally provides excellent conditions for windsurfing, with a good shore break for surfing.
Facilities include toilets, showers and lifeguards. Water sports include wind surfing, kite surfing, jet skiing, power boating and sailing; offshore shipwrecks and colourful coral gardens offer good scuba diving.
The nearby Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment World, Brooke's Pavilion and the Lighthouse Entertainment Centre offer a good choice of amusements, shopping, dining and gaming options.
Discover the wildest and most dramatic shoreline in the region on this unspoiled 5km-long beach that stretches around Sardinia Bay and flanks a marine reserve.
Choose to walk the beach or take to several trails that weave through the huge bush-covered sand dunes that overlook this wild beach. There are no facilities here so you will need to take your own food and drinks.
Sardinia Bay Beach is easily accessed by following the 8km-long Sacramento Trail from the village of Schoenmakerskop, which lies at the end of Marine Drive, around 15km from Hobie Beach.
Home to the perfect wave! Supertubes (as it’s commonly known) is considered one of the planet’s most epic right-hand point breaks (the best of six superb breakpoints in J-Bay).
Racing along a lava-rock reef, the wave is a high-speed run of perfection that lets you surf with a massive smile on your face.
For surfers, this is definitely the place to visit if you’re in the neighbourhood or touring the Garden Route. Surf shops are everywhere and some will rent boards. Facilities include the Billabong head office, retail outlet, factory shop and surf museums, as well as several great bars and restaurants.
The best time to surf Supertubes is from May through August; July is perfect.
The nearby Kabeljous, Seekoei and Krom river lagoons are ideal for kayaking, boardsailing and fishing.
Jeffreys Bay is located on the Eastern Cape, 75km (46mi) southwest of Port Elizabeth.
Read more about surfing Jeffreys Bay…
Latest update: Best Beaches in Port Elizabeth: 3 January, 2023
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