Museums and galleries in Durban

Museums & Art Galleries

Durban’s cultural landscape is showcased through its diverse museums and galleries. Explore Zulu heritage at the Phansi and Pinetown Museums, or delve into colonial history at the Old House and Bergtheil Museums. The Natal Maritime Museum highlights the city's port legacy with steam engines and vintage vessels. Contemporary art thrives in industrial spaces like ArtSpace Durban and the community-focused BAT Centre. From the specialized building industry exhibits at Wardkiss Museum to the 19th-century medical history at Addington Hospital, these sites offer a comprehensive look at the region's ethnic and industrial evolution.

Museums & Art Galleries — Map

A

Phansi Museum

Seated in a beautiful Victorian house, this museum hosts a great collection of African, mainly Zulu art.

B

Old House Museum

In this house, you can see how rich families of Durban used to live in the past. There is mainly period furniture displayed.

C

Natal Maritime Museum

Steam engines, old boats and photographs - you can see all that in this museum which is located near the port.

D

Old Court House Museum

One of the oldest buildings in central Durban hosts a museum where artefacts and photos from Durban's history are displayed.

E

Addington Hospital

The hospital was built by the British in 1879 and after 100 years of its existence, a museum was opened in it.

F

Bergtheil Museum

In this museum, the life of German settlers is elaborated on. The building itself is quite interesting and there is a lot of furniture…

G

Pinetown Museum

Focusing on local history, this museum displays artefacts of Zulu culture, but also of the European settlers.

H

ArtSpace Durban

Located in an old warehouse, this company presents urban works of African artists in an interactive form.

I

Wardkiss Museum

A small museum which displays equipment used in building industry. A nice place for all technomaniacs!

J

Bartle Arts Trust Centre

A community centre which offers various art exhibitions and performances. There is also a shop where you can buy souvenirs.

K

Mashu Museum of Ethnology

In this museum, you can see a cross-section of African culture. Artefacts from many ethnicities are displayed here.

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