Port Elizabeth City Tour: History, Art & Lighthouse

Six landmarks and a 66-foot lighthouse in a morning through Port Elizabeth

A guided city tour of Port Elizabeth takes in six key landmarks (Donkin Reserve, Cape Recife lighthouse, Fort Frederick, City Hall, Wozani Art Gallery and the Athenaeum) over two to three hours with a professional guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, and entry to the lighthouse included. The lighthouse climb at Donkin Reserve is optional. Children from age five are welcome, and the pace suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Port Elizabeth city highlights tour

• Visit Cape Recife Lighthouse
• Explore Donkin Reserve
• Optional lighthouse climb
• Tour Fort Frederick
• See the Athenaeum cultural center
• Visit Port Elizabeth City Hall
• Explore Wozani Art Gallery

The experience

You get picked up at your accommodation and travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with a professional English-speaking guide who knows the city's colonial and cultural layers. The tour moves through Port Elizabeth's center and waterfront, stopping at each site long enough to understand what you're looking at, not rushing through a checklist. Bottled water is included throughout.

Cape Recife lighthouse is the physical anchor: built in 1851, it stands 66 feet tall with its white and red stripes visible from the water, and you can climb it if you want to. Donkin Reserve, established in 1820 to honor Sir Rufane Donkin, is where that lighthouse sits. Fort Frederick, built in 1799 to defend the early British settlement, shows the military side of the city's past. City Hall (1862), Wozani Art Gallery and the Athenaeum round out the stops, each one a piece of how Port Elizabeth developed as a cultural and commercial hub. Your guide provides the context that ties them together.

The tour ends with drop-off back at your hotel. Two to three hours means you can fit this into a morning or afternoon without losing the rest of your day, and it works whether you're new to the city or filling a gap between other plans.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• bottled water.
• lighthouse entry at Donkin Reserve.

Options for this experience

2 options

City tour of Port ElizabethUp to 10 people · Guide in English · 09:00 and 13:00includes pickup

Solo Traveller SupplementUp to 1 people · Guide in English · 09:00 and 13:00Solo traveller supplement, with pickup included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 13:00

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (5 to 17 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Urban Africa Tours

Is this one for you?Book the standard option if you're exploring Port Elizabeth for the first time or have a few hours between other plans. The two- to three-hour window fits a morning or afternoon slot without eating your whole day. If you're traveling solo, the solo traveller supplement adjusts the price for single occupancy.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 17 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I climb the Cape Recife lighthouse on this tour?

Yes, climbing the lighthouse at Donkin Reserve is included in the tour, though it's optional. You can skip it and stay at ground level if you prefer.

What is Fort Frederick and why is it on the tour?

Fort Frederick is a historic fortress built in 1799 by Colonel John Graham to protect the British settlement. It's a key landmark showing Port Elizabeth's military colonial history.

Does the tour include lunch or meals?

The tour includes bottled water but not lunch. You'll need to arrange a meal separately if you want one during or after the tour.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes a professional guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, an air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, and entry to the lighthouse at Donkin Reserve.