£419+ Cheap flights to Port Elizabeth

Port Elizabeth overview

Known as “The Friendly City” or “The Windy City”, Port Elizabeth occupies a 10-mile (16 km) stretch along Algoa Bay. It was founded in 1820 to house British settlers (the Campanile Memorial was built in 1923 to commemorate this landing; there’s a climb of 204 steps to the Observation Room, which offers magnificent views of the harbour and surrounding area below) and is now part of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, along with Uitenhage and Despatch.

Lying on the south-east coast of the East Cape province and fringed by beautiful beaches, Port Elizabeth offers a wealth of options for travellers who like to raise their adrenaline levels. Cycling, quad biking and 4×4 trails are all great things to do on land. Off shore, there’s surfing and kite surfing, kayaking, wreck diving, shark diving and deep-sea fishing.

A flight to Port Elizabeth will also give you access to the Garden Route and the Sunshine Coast, which is to the west of the city, and Frontier Country and over two million acres of game reserve, which are to the east.

Port Elizabeth is the gateway to the Eastern Cape with all its fantastic parks and reserves. Go on a guided game drive of Addo-Schotia; this area is home to the densest populations of antelope, lion and elephant in South Africa. There’s whale and dolphin watching near St Croix Island and, 18 miles (30 km) outside of Port Elizabeth, the Lion Park. If you’re up for it, there’s skydiving and bungy jumping off Bloukrans Bridge too!

If all that physical activity gets too much, visit the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum at St George’s Park, the South African Air Force Museum (situated on the southern side of Port Elizabeth Airport) and the Red Location Museum. Red Location is one of the oldest settled Black Townships of the city, getting its name from the rusted, corrugated iron barrack buildings. The museum tells the story of historical struggle in South Africa.

Port Elizabeth climate

Pretty much perfect, summer temperatures in Port Elizabeth range from 16 to 25 degrees. Winter temperatures hover between 9 and 22 degrees. One of Port Elizabeth’s nicknames is the “Windy City” and this refers to the frequency, rather than the strength, of the wind. The wind makes Port Elizabeth a fantastic destination for surfing.

Getting around Port Elizabeth

PE is easy to navigate, whether in a car or on foot. There’s a public bus system but the main form of transport is the minibus taxi.

Getting from the Airport to the City

Travellers who take a flight to Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) will find it conveniently situated just 3 miles (5 km) from the city centre, which can be easily and quickly accessed by taxi. There’s good bus and metered taxi services to the centre of Port Elizabeth. Many hotel chains and accommodation providers will run airport shuttles for their guests.

What is good to know if travelling to Port Elizabeth?

• St Croix Island, 12 miles (20km) from Port Elizabeth’s harbour, is a popular scuba-diving site. Penguins and cormorants thrive there, as fishing is prohibited. To get the best possible visibility, go diving in the winter months. Visibility is between 8 and 15 metres. 
• Port Elizabeth has heaps of surfing beaches but a short distance outside the city is Jeffrey’s Bay, which is the host town for major surfing competitions. 
• Hobie Beach is a popular place for sunbathing and swimming. Anglers cast their lines from Shark Rock Pier. 
• Don’t forget to have a look at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. It was built for the 2010 World Cup and is one of the few stadia in the world to have a lakeside location. 
• The Apple Express steam train is very popular with visitors. Take a trip from Port Elizabeth to Thornhill. There are stunning views from the bridge, the world’s highest narrow-gauge bridge.

At just 3km (2 miles) from the central business district, Port Elizabeth Airport is sometimes called the “ten-minute airport” because of its close proximity to just about everything. It’s a very small, slick and functional airport that doesn’t offer much by way of shopping and dining, but will get you through customs and baggage claim quickly and efficiently.

Known fondly as “the Friendly City”, Port Elizabeth is a popular spot with tourists who come for the beautiful beaches and game parks in the surrounding area. The city is also a major port town and manufacturing centre, and an important transport hub in the region. What it lacks in blockbuster attractions, it makes up for in the warmth of the local people and laid-back atmosphere – rather like its airport.