Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia, is one of the most appealing capitals in Africa. Rolling hills, acacia trees and dramatic highland ridges surround this small city, which is clean, safe and well-organised. You can see its colonial legacy in the many German eateries and shops. You’ll almost certainly need at least one overnight stop here but there's a good range of Windhoek hotels and guesthouses to choose from.
Windhoek is a curious mix of Africa and Europe. On the one hand, street vendors sell all manner of goods. On the other, it offers plenty of pavement cafes, wide streets and good quality shops. An afternoon of browsing the friendly street markets yields an insight into the cultural diversity of Namibia.
The other attraction of Windhoek is enjoying the rather quirky colonial German architecture. It is a small city so you can easily explore it on foot. Its Germanic roots are much in evidence. Christuskirche, the Tintenpalast and the three castles of Schwerinburg, Sanderburg and Heinitzburg, now a five star Windhoek hotel, exemplify late 19th High Germanic architecture.
TIP: There are some quite exciting new places to stay near Windhoek such as Habitas Namibia and Omanda, as well as Okapuka Country Lodge which is an hour to the north. These all allow you relax at the end (or start of your Namibian holiday) in style.
Check out some of our suggested Windhoek hotels and accommodation below.
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