Markets
Every other Sunday, the Amphitheatre Gardens, on Snell Promenade, are taken over by an art market. On the last Sunday of every month, this is joined by a pretty good flea market selling everything from clothes to antiques. An even better hunting ground is the Saturday Essenwood Craft Market in Essenwood Park. With plenty of shade under the trees, food and drink stands and park lawns for lazing between bouts of browsing, it can make a great day out.
If you are looking for markets week-round, head down to the city's Indian Quarter, between Grey Street north and West Street. Huge numbers of Indians were imported to work in the Natal sugar cane plantations during the colonial era and many of their descendants still live in the area. There are two permanent markets, the Victoria Market, rebuilt in 1973 in the old style after a fire, and the Oriental Bazaar. Both are bright with colour and heady with the perfume of spices and offer rich pickings for both souvenir hunters and photographers.
Fine Arts and Crafts
If you are looking for something more upscale, Durban doesn't have a huge range of commercial art galleries and craft centres but there are a few places to start looking.
The harbourfront Bat Centre has an array of lively shops selling crafts, South African music and books, as well as cafés, live music venues and exhibition spaces. The KZNSA Gallery is a membership gallery that has been going for nearly a century, with NSA has regularly changing exhibitions of local artists with a big annual exhibition. It also has an excellent shop that sells a design and craft from across the country. The African Art Centre on Florida Road is a mere baby by comparison at just over 50 years old. Since the handover of power, it has been run as a not-for-profit organisation providing support, training and sales for hundreds of local artists. You can find an extraordinary array of work from antique bead and basketwork to funky painted clogs and boots and designer jewellery, textiles and ceramics.
In general, Florida Road is a great place to browse with good range of boutiques with personality and flair and plenty of cafés and bars in which to rest aching feet and mull over your purchases.
Shopping Malls
As far as shopping malls are concerned, for most foreigners, by far the most convenient is the oldest and smallest, the city centre's Workshop, housed in a former train shed, just near the convention centre, on Aliwal St. Other options include La Lucia Mall, La Lucia; The Pavilion Shopping Centre, Westville; Gateway Theatre of Shopping, Umhlanga; Musgrave Shopping Centre, Berea.
Out of Town
In the countryside and along the coast around Durban, there are plenty of places to make a day of a shopping trip. Inland, the Valley of a 1000 Hills is home to many a small boutique, craft gallery, artist's studio, bijou gift shop and café including The Heritage mall and the 1000 Hills Craft Village. It also has stunning views and many excellent b&bs.
The city's surrounding suburbs also have around 70 discount outlet stores for companies ranging from furniture and carpets to sweetmakers and sports specialists. Some of the best known names include Adidas (sports clothing), Triumph and Playtex (lingerie), and Levi's. Check locally for up to date listings.