A Complete Guide to Windhoek
Written by Daryll Williams
Namibia’s historical capital city carries a charming mix of German architecture and modern skyscrapers, city slickness, and African rhythms. Located smack bang in the middle of the country, it’s a perfect stopover point for travellers no matter where they find themselves on their Namibian adventure.
Location
Windhoek is at Namibia's centre in more ways than one: apart from being the country's political hub, it also happens to sit in its geographical heart, making the city an easy stopover on the way to Namibia's spectacular natural attractions. Some of those include the Namib-Naukluft National Park, featuring striking Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, Etosha National Park with free-roaming indigenous animals, and the endless stretch of the striking Skeleton Coast.
How to get there
Getting to Windhoek is easy as it’s so well connected. Most travellers find it best to fly into Hosea Kutako International Airport, about 45 minutes east of the city centre.
Best time to go
We recommend visiting Windhoek during the driest months of the year – around June, July, and August. During this period you can expect clear sunny days with cooler temperatures, especially at night. Take an extra jumper just in case! This time of year is also best for wildlife viewing, especially at Daan Viljoen Park just outside Windhoek, as animals concentrate around scarce water sources.
What to do
Main attractions
Christuskirche
Windhoek's Christuskirche (Christ Church) is the city's unofficial symbol, a photogenic 1907 German Lutheran church built from quartz sandstone with white trimmings that overlooks the city. The church mixes neo-gothic and art nouveau architectural styles and is a great starting point for Windhoek wanderings.
Joe’s Beerhouse
Two things you can expect to consume mountains of in Namibia are game meat and beer. Any local will tell you that Joe's Beerhouse is the best joint in town for both of these things. Visit this boisterous open-air restaurant decorated with ropes, raw wood, kudu skulls and lanterns, where you'll drink craft beers and eat things you never imagined you would – think oryx carpaccio, zebra steaks and crocodile fillets.
The National Botanical Garden of Namibia
A 12-hectare nature reserve tucked away behind the Christuskirche, the National Botanical Garden of Namibia exclusively houses Namibian flora. Follow self-guided hiking trails, passing bottle trees and quiver trees, many species of wildflowers and native birds en route. The gardens also have a ‘desert house’, with rare and endangered succulents and desert plants.
The Craft Centre
This hive of tourist shopping contains a heap of small and large shops with a range of African arts and crafts on offer. There are few places in Windhoek where you can find such a great combination of food, and entertainment as at the Old Breweries Complex in the centre of town.
Check out 24 Hours in Windhoek for a list of must-see activities to do when only have 1 day to spend here.
Wildlife & Safari
Travellers use Windhoek as a launchpad for exploring Namibia's wilderness, as well as the sand dunes of Sossusvlei, the desert-adapted elephants of Damaraland and the moody Skeleton Coast. If you're just stopping over in Windhoek, though, visit the Daan Viljoen Game Park, a 20-minute drive from the city, to see kudus, zebras, springbucks, and more.
Accommodation
Basic
two wooden bunkbed and one double bed in a room with two pictures of lions
one double bed in a room with a door to the balcony and a chair
one wooden single bed and one wooden double bed with blue pillows and towels on them
Mid-level
one bedroom with bed, chair, a mirror and pictures on the wall
a bright bedroom with a white double bed and towels with flowers on it
one bed with a red wall and a red bedside table with 2 black pillows
Fancy
luxurious room with plenty of wooden furniture as bed, bedside tables, mirror and working test
living room with dark wooden table and chair and a balcony where two women sit on chairs and spwak and sea in the background
a luxury hut with balcony and a hanging chair and stones of the namib in the background
Although the rest of the country tends to tower over Windhoek in terms of renown, the city is the best place to experience a snippet of nightlife, a dollop of modern bustle, and a pocketful of world-class amenities and creature comforts. So what are you waiting for? Book a perfect African getaway with Viatu.