Where to Stay in Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) — Best Areas & Hotels
Curated by Our Guild Explorers · Updated September 2026
Port Elizabeth — officially renamed Gqeberha — anchors Nelson Mandela Bay with long, safe city beaches and a friendly, easygoing feel, and it’s the gateway to the malaria-free game reserves of the Eastern Cape and the eastern end of the Garden Route, which runs west from here toward Storms River, Knysna and Mossel Bay. Almost all visitors stay in Summerstrand, the beachfront strip along Hobie Beach and the Boardwalk. We’ve grouped the city’s most dependable stays by the way you like to travel — luxury, boutique, value, family, adults-only and pet-friendly — each with an honest note and a Book Me link that opens that exact property on Trip.com.
Luxury
Port Elizabeth’s smartest hotels sit on the Summerstrand beachfront, pairing sea views and pools with the city’s best dining and entertainment nearby.
The Boardwalk Hotel, Convention Centre & Spa
The city’s flagship five-star, overlooking Hobie Beach and attached to the lively Boardwalk entertainment complex, with elegant rooms, a spa, a pool and restaurants and a casino on the doorstep. Its beachfront position and full amenities make it the standout luxury address in town. The definitive choice when you want polish, sea views and plenty to do close by.
Book Me on Trip.com ›Radisson Blu Hotel, Port Elizabeth
A contemporary beachfront hotel on the Summerstrand seafront, with crisp modern rooms, many facing the ocean, a pool deck over the beach and a good restaurant and bar. Reliable international-brand comfort and a prime seaside setting make it a strong upscale pick. Best for travellers who want a polished, sea-facing base within walking distance of the beach.
Book Me on Trip.com ›Boutique
Smaller, characterful hotels with a personal welcome — the pick for travellers who want style and calm over a big beachfront block.
No5 Boutique Art Hotel
A stylish, art-filled boutique hotel in Summerstrand, a short walk from the beach, with individually designed rooms, a small spa and pool and a warm, personal welcome. Its intimate scale and design focus make it a refined alternative to the bigger hotels. Ideal for couples and design lovers who want character close to the seafront.
Browse Port Elizabeth hotels on Trip.com ›The Windermere
A polished boutique hotel in Humewood, close to the beachfront, with elegant, understated rooms, attentive service and a small spa. Its calm, upmarket style and handy location make it a favourite for a refined city stay. Best for travellers who want boutique comfort and quiet a few minutes from the sand and the airport.
Browse Port Elizabeth hotels on Trip.com ›Budget & Value
Reliable, well-located rooms that keep costs down — handy near the beach or the airport, with the savings left for a safari day trip.
Road Lodge Gqeberha
A no-frills budget hotel near the airport and the beachfront, listed by City Lodge under the city’s current name as the Road Lodge Gqeberha, with simple, clean, comfortable rooms and secure parking at a very low price. It keeps things basic but safe and consistent, ideal for a night either side of a flight or safari. A practical, wallet-friendly base for travellers who just need a reliable room.
Book Me on Trip.com ›Garden Court Kings Beach
A large, dependable beachfront hotel opposite Kings Beach, with straightforward comfortable rooms, many with sea views, and a pool. Its beachfront position and fair prices make it a solid Port Elizabeth staple for value-minded travellers and families. A safe, well-run choice with the beach across the road and the airport close by.
Book Me on Trip.com ›Family-friendly
Space, pools and the safe city beaches close by — Summerstrand’s gentle Hobie Beach and the Boardwalk make Port Elizabeth an easy family stop.
The Beach Hotel
A comfortable, well-run hotel directly opposite Hobie Beach and the Boardwalk, with sea-facing rooms, a pool and restaurants across the road, all a short stroll from the sand. Its unbeatable beachfront location and easy family layout make it a Summerstrand favourite. A relaxed, convenient base for a family beach holiday with plenty to do nearby.
Book Me on Trip.com ›Southern Sun The Marine
A smart beachfront hotel on Marine Drive in Summerstrand, with generous sea-view rooms, a pool and easy access to Hobie Beach and the Boardwalk. Its comfortable rooms and reliable service make it an easy pick for families and couples alike. A dependable, well-located base right on the Summerstrand seafront.
Book Me on Trip.com ›Adults-only
Dedicated adults-only hotels are rare in Port Elizabeth, an easygoing family beach city. Rather than name a property that doesn’t genuinely fit, we’d point couples to the quieter boutique stays above — or browse the current adults-only options live on Trip.com.
Browse adults-only & couples’ hotels in Port Elizabeth ›Pet-friendly
Pet policies at Port Elizabeth’s beachfront hotels vary and change often, so rather than name one we can’t currently verify as reliably pet-welcoming, use the live Trip.com filter to find dog-friendly stays and confirm the pet policy, size limits and any fee directly on the booking page.
Browse pet-friendly hotels in Port Elizabeth ›Common questions about where to stay in Port Elizabeth
Why does the city have two names?
The city was officially renamed Gqeberha in February 2021, taking the Xhosa name of the Baakens River. Port Elizabeth remains in wide everyday use, and both names appear on signs, timetables and booking sites, so you will see them used interchangeably. Locals often simply say PE.
Should I stay in Summerstrand or Humewood?
Summerstrand is the main beachfront suburb, home to the Boardwalk complex, Hobie Beach and most of the smarter hotels, and it is the easy choice for a seaside stay. Humewood sits just to the north, closer to Kings Beach and the harbour, with a mix of guesthouses and hotels and a slightly shorter run into the city centre. Both are on the same stretch of Algoa Bay coast and only minutes apart.
Is this a good base for Addo Elephant National Park and the Garden Route?
Yes, and that is why many visitors come. Addo Elephant National Park lies roughly an hour inland to the north and is malaria-free, which makes it a popular family safari. The city also sits at the eastern end of the Garden Route, so it works well as either the start or the finish of a drive along the coast towards Knysna and Mossel Bay.
Is the sea good for swimming?
Algoa Bay is sheltered and the water is noticeably warmer than Cape Town’s Atlantic coast, which is one of the reasons the beaches here are so well used. Hobie Beach and Kings Beach have lifeguards in season and calm conditions most days. As anywhere on this coast, check the day’s flags and swim in the patrolled area.
Don’t see your perfect fit?
Browse every Port Elizabeth hotel with live prices and availability on Trip.com. Booking through our links supports Destinations Guild at no extra cost to you.