The Mercer Quality of Living Ranking has said it three years in a row now so it’s official; Durban is the best South African city to live in, hands down. We couldn’t agree more and here are five reasons why we love this sultry east coast city:

The Vitamin D effect

Steamy in the summer and temperate in the winter, Durbanites are always chuffed about life because they get an adequate supply of Vitamin D and then some. That’s not to say they aren’t sun-safe (pass the SPF 95, please), but we get a lot of sun which means we always feel like we’re on holiday, even when we’re not…

Life’s a beach

With two world-class promenades featuring an array of sports clubs, restaurants and coffee shops, the beachfront is where life happens. Whether you’re into surfing, SUP’ing, jogging, pushing a pram, rollerskating, or yoga, everyone is welcome.

The 9 to 5 in uMhlanga

With businesses moving north and enormous private and public investment taking place in the uMhlanga Precinct, this is a first-rate working environment where people can work and enjoy the many urban amenities on offer. Plus, you can catch a wave on your lunch break. What could be better than that? A smorgasbord of culture and cuisine Durban is the melting pot where cultures collide. From African to Indian and European, we have so many different influences and it shows in our mouthwatering street food including our most famous dishes, the bunny chow and the ubiquitous shisa nyama.

Durban is connected

We’ve got sub-Saharan Africa’s busiest harbour, excellent road networks and the King Shaka International Airport. In fact, British Airways has introduced a flight between London Heathrow and Durban, the first direct flight between the coastal city and Europe in two decades. Weekly flights begin from the end of October. Now that’s something to smile about. While these are our top five picks, there are countless other reasons why Durban is quite frankly, fabulous. Stay tuned to the Park Square, Durban’s finest business and lifestyle destination, newsletter for more news and views about what makes Durban the best city to work and live in!