24 Hours in Windhoek

Written by Sarah Chapman

Windhoek is the capital of Namibia and the largest city of this Southern African country. It has much to offer including historical sites, beautiful parks, art galleries, and more. We recommend spending more than one day in Windhoek as there is so much to see and do. However, if you only have 24 hours to spare, we’ve compiled a list of must-see activities to experience while staying in this vibrant city.

Take a stroll through Parliament Gardens

Located between the Tintenpalast (Namibia’s parliament buildings) and Christuskirche is the small but beautifully maintained Parliament Gardens. It’s a great place to take a stroll, especially under the purple Jacaranda trees, when they are in bloom. Take a picnic with you if you have time to stop at the shops, and enjoy a lazy lunch relaxing on the sprawling green lawns. Namibia is known as one of the cleanest cities in Africa, and this is especially evident in this beautiful park. The gardens also feature Namibia’s first post-independence monument, a bronze-cast statue of the Herero chief, Hosea Kutako.

Pay a visit to Christ Church (Christuskirche)

This historic landmark located on a traffic island in the heart of the city is not something that is easily missed and is featured in most images of the city. The Lutheran church, which is a mixture of neo-Romanesque, Art Nouveau, and Gothic revival architectural influences is certainly a unique sight to behold. The sandstone used in the construction of the church was mined near the Avis dam and the marble portico was imported from Italy, while the roof details and clock came from Germany. Church services are all conducted in German at 10:00 on Sundays and guided tours can be requested via info@namibweb.com.

Buy souvenirs at the Namibia Craft Centre

If you’re looking for some gifts and souvenirs to take back with you, the Namibia Craft Centre is one of the best places to pick up handmade crafts and curios in the city. There are over 40 stalls where you can find anything from jewellery to pottery, scarves, beautiful woven baskets, and everything in between. The retail space features crafts made by local people, who hail from different ethnic groups in Namibia. If your shopping spree has worked up an appetite, the Craft Cafe serves delicious cakes and baked goods.

Check out Windhoek’s art scene

However, if you’re not in the retail mood and feel like admiring some exhibits, Windhoek has a large selection of art galleries to choose from. The permanent collection at the National Art Gallery of Namibia features some of Namibia’s most talented artists, including John Muafangejo. Another great place for cultural vultures to get their art fix is the Franco Namibian Cultural Centre. This centre not only pays homage to French culture but also celebrates Namibian culture through its art, as well as movies and events. The centre doesn’t hold a permanent display of works, although there are often interesting exhibitions and projects hosted throughout the facility that explore important issues like gender-based violence.

Learn about Namibia’s history at the National Museum

Namibia has a rich vibrant history that includes its colonial past, as well as the culture of its indigenous people and the land on which everything took place. The National Museum includes 2 locations which each focus on different aspects of Namibia’s history. Alte Fest, located in a fortress in downtown Windhoek, focuses on Namibia’s colonial history and showcases a range of artefacts of everyday colonial life including wagons and domestic items. While Owela Museum, located near the National Art Gallery of Namibia, documents the history of its indigenous people through dwelling replicas and other interesting details of their lives. Owela Museum also contains displays of fossils, meteorites, and minerals. The name Owela comes from the name of a traditional African game played with pebbles, which can still be seen played by people outside the museum. 

Enjoy a Windhoek sunset

If you have the evening to spare in Windhoek, we recommend enjoying one of the city’s beautiful sunsets. A great location to watch the sun go down is the Sky Bar at the Hilton Hotel. This chic social hotspot features a large wooden deck and a swimming pool, which is particularly inviting in Namibia’s hotter months. The Garden Terrace at Hotel Heinitzburg also offers spectacular views over the city, perfect for watching the sunset with a glass of wine from their private cellar in hand. The hotel was built in 1914 and is located in one of three castles in Windhoek. How cool?

Grab a pint or two at Namibia Breweries Limited

Namibia is a nation that’s known for its beer. Namibia Breweries Limited is where the iconic Windhoek lager is produced, as well as various other beer varieties and ciders. The brewery only brews beer according to the Reinheitsgebot or “German beer purity law”, a tradition that it has proudly upheld since 1516. You can also enjoy an informative brewery tour, where you can learn all about how each beer is made. You’ll see that nothing is wasted in this process as even the spent grain is used as animal feed.

Experience Windhoek’s Nightlife

Windhoek has its fair share of activities for night owls. For live music lovers, there’s the Boiler Room, located at Warehouse Theatre, which hosts open mic nights, karaoke nights, and live music from local bands. Joe’s Beerhouse, a rustic pub and restaurant is also popular amongst the locals for its laid-back atmosphere, chilled tunes, and Namibian beer. As you enter Joe’s, you’ll enter a walkway surrounded by walls covered in animal horns and various nick-nacks like old carriage wheels and other metal objects that add to the rough-and-ready vibe of the place. 

For wine lovers, there’s also Stellenbosch Wine Bar and Bistro, which has a chic courtyard that overlooks the beautiful Namibian bush. They are known for their steaks but they offer vegetarian options as well. They have a large selection of wine to choose from, especially from the Stellenbosch wine region in South Africa. 

These are our favourite things to do in Windhoek! Have another one you want to share with us? DM us on Instagram!