Ask about the Nelson Mandela Bay Pass before you pay
- Port Elizabeth, South Africa
- Posted on
- 1 photo
Photo: Leo za1 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
About this tip
Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism lists a smartcard pass that gives free or discounted entry to dozens of attractions, from museums and brewery tours to marine safaris and Route 67. It can pay off if you plan several paid activities in two or three days. Ask at the Donkin Reserve visitor information centre whether the pass is still sold, which attractions it covers now and how long it stays valid before you buy.
Where
Ask about the Nelson Mandela Bay Pass before you payDonkin Visitor Information Centre, Donkin Reserve lighthouse, Central
Open in Google Maps(opens in a new tab)More Tips & Traps in Port Elizabeth
13 posts from Local Friends and travelers who know the city.SH TipSleepSleep in a Victorian manor at Hacklewood Hill
Port Elizabeth, South AfricaHacklewood Hill Country House in leafy Walmer is a Victorian manor built in 1898, described by its owners as one of the few remaining in the city. It has eight en-suite rooms, a garden with birdlife, croquet and a pool, so it suits travellers who want an old-house stay over a beachfront hotel. It is a suburban base…
PM TipEventsPlan a Sunday for the monthly Art in the Park market
Port Elizabeth, South AfricaArt in the Park is a monthly Sunday market in St George's Park, next to the art museum, with craft, art, food, bric-a-brac and live music. Listings give morning hours, and stalls tend to pack up around lunchtime, so arrive early. If bad weather cancels it, the market has been moved to the following Sunday. Check the…
CP TipMusic & NightlifeCatch a live gig at The Music Kitchen in Newton Park
Port Elizabeth, South AfricaThe Music Kitchen is a live-music venue, restaurant and bar in Newton Park that has hosted themed nights, tribute acts and the Four Winds Music Club, a night for original South African music. It has indoor and open-air areas with bonfires and holds about 200 guests. Check its events page or social channels for the…
BB TipShopBrowse the weekend beachfront flea market at King's Beach
Port Elizabeth, South AfricaOn weekends, and especially Sundays, traders set up along the King's Beach promenade selling African curios, crafts and clothing. Walk the whole line before buying, ask who made each piece, and haggle politely, which is normal with beach curios. Go in the morning when it is cooler and quieter, and carry small notes so…
FF TipPhotography & ViewsFrame the harbour and bay from Fort Frederick
Port Elizabeth, South AfricaFort Frederick, built in 1799 on a hilltop above the Baakens River mouth, is free to enter and gives a quiet view over the harbour and Algoa Bay, with old cannons pointing at the water. Aim for morning or late afternoon for softer light. Look for the powder magazine and the ruined blockhouse as foreground, and check…
DM TrapArt & CultureDo not plan a visit to the closed Red Location Museum
Port Elizabeth, South AfricaMany guides still list the Red Location Museum in New Brighton, but it has been closed since 2013 after community protests over housing, and local press in September 2026 described the building as derelict. Do not make the trip expecting to walk in. For apartheid-era history, ask the Donkin Reserve visitor centre…
TipArt & CultureSee rotating Eastern Cape art at the Art Museum
Port Elizabeth, South AfricaThe Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum sits at the entrance to St George's Park and shows Eastern Cape art alongside British, printmaking and Oriental works. Space is limited, so the permanent collection rotates and temporary shows change through the year, which makes a repeat visit worthwhile. Check the museum's…
FD TrapMiscellaneousFinish beachfront walks and rides before dark
Port Elizabeth, South AfricaParts of the Humewood and Summerstrand beachfront and the paths down to the beach park were reported unlit in mid-2026 because of broken lights. Do your walk, run or cycle in daylight, in a pair or group, and head back before dusk. Official tourism safety advice is to avoid dark, isolated areas and to carry cameras in…
Know Port Elizabeth well?
Share a tip, or warn travelers about a trap. It only takes a few minutes.