£498+ Cheap flights to Port Elizabeth

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.