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Windhoek is often treated as little more than the starting point for a trip around Namibia. Most travellers fly in, pick up a rental car or join a tour and head straight for the desert, national parks and dramatic landscapes the country is famous for.
And, to be fair, if you’re visiting Windhoek purely as a tourist, you probably don’t need very long here.
The main sights can easily be explored in a day or two, but after spending more time in the city, we found there was another side to Windhoek. There are some interesting historical sights, surprisingly good restaurants, relaxed places for drinks and several areas that are easy to settle into.
So, is Windhoek worth visiting? Yes, but how long you should stay depends very much on how you’re travelling.
Where to Stay in Windhoek
Chameleon Backpackers
We stayed at Chameleon Backpackers, a long-running hostel and guesthouse close to central Windhoek. It’s also the base for Chameleon Safaris, who we travelled with on our 9-day group tour around Namibia.
Despite being a backpackers, it was surprisingly quiet and relaxed, which made it easy to get some work done or simply have some downtime during the day. At the same time, it was a very social place. There was usually someone around to chat to, and Chameleon regularly organised dinners, quiz nights and other activities. It struck a good balance between having some atmosphere without feeling like a party hostel.
There’s also a shared kitchen, which is particularly useful if you’re staying for more than a couple of nights and don’t want to eat out for every meal.
Chameleon also offers a free walking tour of Windhoek, giving you an easy introduction to the city and its history. If you’re joining one of their Namibia tours, staying here is particularly convenient as everything starts from the same place.
There’s a good range of accommodation available, including dorms, several categories of private rooms, family rooms and even tents, making Chameleon an option for different budgets and travel styles.
Other areas to stay in Windhoek
Although we enjoyed Chameleon Backpackers, if we returned to Windhoek for a longer stay, particularly while working remotely, we’d probably choose Klein Windhoek.
Another area we’d consider is around The Village. We really liked the atmosphere here, with several restaurants, cafés and places for drinks clustered together.
If you’re only spending a night or two in Windhoek before joining a safari, somewhere central like Chameleon is very convenient.
Things to Do in Windhoek
You don’t need a huge checklist for Windhoek. Most of the central sights are relatively close together and can easily be combined into one day.
Take a Free Walking Tour
If you’re staying at Chameleon Backpackers, their free walking tour is an easy way to get your bearings.
The tour takes you through central Windhoek and introduces some of the city’s main landmarks and history. It’s particularly useful at the beginning of your stay, as you can return to anything you want to explore in more detail afterwards.
Visit Christ Church
Sitting prominently above the city centre, Christ Church, or Christuskirche, is probably Windhoek’s most recognisable building.
The Lutheran church dates back to the German colonial period, and its distinctive architecture makes it stand out immediately from the more modern buildings surrounding it.
It’s also conveniently located close to several of Windhoek’s other main sights, so it’s easy to include while exploring the centre on foot.
Walk Around Parliament Gardens and Tintenpalast
Close to Christ Church you’ll find the Parliament Gardens and Tintenpalast, home to Namibia’s parliament.
The gardens provide a greener contrast to the surrounding streets and are another easy stop while exploring central Windhoek.
Explore Windhoek’s Independence Monuments
Around the Independence Memorial Museum you’ll find several monuments connected to Namibia’s colonial history, struggle for independence and those who lost their lives under colonial rule.
It’s worth spending some time walking around this area rather than simply heading straight into the museum.
Namibia has a complex and often brutal history, and learning some of that story in Windhoek gives you important context before travelling further around the country.
Browse the Markets
If you’re looking for Namibian crafts and souvenirs, there are a couple of places worth checking out in central Windhoek.
The Namibia Craft Centre brings together a large number of local crafts under one roof, with everything from jewellery and textiles to carvings, baskets and other handmade products.
We also visited the Craft Market on Independence Avenue, where you’ll find stalls selling souvenirs and crafts in a more traditional outdoor market setting.
Both are easy to include while exploring central Windhoek, particularly if you’re looking to pick up something from Namibia before continuing your trip.
Visit the Independence Memorial Museum
One of the most distinctive buildings on Windhoek’s skyline is the Independence Memorial Museum.
The museum focuses on Namibia’s anti-colonial resistance and struggle for independence, making it one of the more important places to visit if you want to understand the country’s recent history.
The building itself also has an unusual backstory. It was constructed by North Korea’s Mansudae Overseas Projects, which has been responsible for monumental architecture and statues in several African countries.
Have Sunset Drinks Above Windhoek
At the top of the Independence Memorial Museum you’ll find a restaurant with panoramic views across Windhoek.
We came here for drinks around sunset, and it’s a great place to see the city from above.
You get a particularly good view across to Christ Church and the surrounding city centre, while the hills around Windhoek stretch out into the distance.
If you only have one day in Windhoek, we’d time your sightseeing so that you end up here towards sunset.
Where to Eat in Windhoek
We were actually more impressed by Windhoek’s restaurant scene than its list of tourist attractions. There are several areas where restaurants and bars are clustered together, making it easy to head somewhere for the evening and decide where you want to eat once you arrive.
Joe’s Beerhouse
If there’s one restaurant almost everyone seems to know in Windhoek, it’s Joe’s Beerhouse.
The sprawling restaurant is packed with Namibian memorabilia and has an atmosphere that makes dinner feel like part meal, part experience.
One of the big reasons to come here is the opportunity to try different types of game meat. We tried several during our time in Namibia, but the surprise for us at Joe’s was giraffe. We had no idea what to expect, but absolutely loved it.
If you’re curious about trying game meat while travelling in Namibia, Joe’s is an easy place to start.
The Village
We really liked The Village, a relaxed café and restaurant in Windhoek with a lovely outdoor setting. It’s a good spot for breakfast, lunch, coffee or drinks, and also somewhere you can comfortably sit with a laptop and get some work done.
They occasionally host markets and other events too, and there are several other restaurants and places for drinks within the same complex and nearby.
We came back here several times during our stay and really liked the atmosphere, whether we were stopping for something to eat, getting some work done or heading out in the evening.
The Stellenbosch Wine Bar & Bistro
Another place we enjoyed was The Stellenbosch Wine Bar & Bistro.
It’s a good option if you want something a little more polished, with a strong focus on meat, wine and South African-influenced food.
It’s also in Klein Windhoek, the part of the city we’d probably choose as our base if we returned for a longer stay.
Butcher Block Namibia
Butcher Block Namibia is another good option, particularly if you’re looking for steak and grilled meat.
There are several other restaurants and places for drinks around this area too, so you don’t necessarily need to decide exactly where you’re eating before you arrive.
Using Windhoek as a Base for Exploring Namibia
Windhoek is the starting point for many trips around Namibia, whether you’re joining an organised tour or picking up a rental car and travelling independently.
We chose a 9-day group tour with Chameleon Safaris, travelling from Windhoek through some of Namibia’s most spectacular landscapes before eventually returning to the capital. Travelling as part of a small group meant we didn’t need to worry about driving the huge distances ourselves or organising accommodation and activities along the way.
We’ve written a full guide to the experience, including the route, accommodation, camping and what travelling Namibia with Chameleon was actually like.
READ MORE: HOW TO TRAVEL IN NAMIBIA: OUR 9-DAY ADVENTURE WITH CHAMELEON SAFARIS
If you’d rather travel independently, we’ve also explored Namibia on a self-drive trip. You can read everything we learned about renting a 4×4, driving conditions, fuel, camping and planning your route in our Namibia Self Drive Guide.
Windhoek is also a practical place to return to between different parts of a longer trip.
There are large supermarkets, restaurants, accommodation at different price points and all the everyday services you might need before heading somewhere more remote.
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Getting Around Windhoek
How you get around Windhoek depends quite a lot on where you’re staying and what you’re planning to do. During the day, we felt comfortable walking around the central parts of Windhoek and areas such as Klein Windhoek and around The Village.
For shorter journeys within these areas, walking is perfectly practical. The bigger issue is distance. Windhoek is fairly spread out, and places that don’t look particularly far apart on a map can turn into quite a long walk.
For longer journeys, we used InDrive. You enter your destination and the amount you’re willing to pay, and drivers can then accept the ride. It worked well for us, although we sometimes had to wait a while for a car.
The main tourist sights in central Windhoek are much easier to explore on foot. Christ Church, Parliament Gardens, the Independence Memorial Museum and several of the city’s monuments are all relatively close together.
After dark, we’d generally choose InDrive rather than walking longer distances, particularly when returning from restaurants or bars.
Is Windhoek Good for Digital Nomads?
While we wouldn’t spend a week in Windhoek purely for sightseeing, we found it a surprisingly good place to stop and work for a while.
It has the practical things we need when travelling long-term: good internet, supermarkets, restaurants, cafés and relatively easy transport. There are also enough places to go for dinner or drinks in the evening without the city feeling overwhelmingly busy.
Chameleon Backpackers worked well for us. It was quiet during the day, but still social, with dinners, quiz nights and other activities if we felt like joining in. Having a shared kitchen was another bonus when staying longer.
Windhoek isn’t somewhere we’d travel to specifically as a digital nomad destination, but if you’re already travelling through Namibia and need a comfortable place to stop, work and reset for a week or two, it works very well.
Is Windhoek Safe?
We felt comfortable walking around central Windhoek, Klein Windhoek and The Village during the day.
After dark, we generally used InDrive rather than walking between different parts of the city, particularly when heading back from restaurants or bars.
As elsewhere, we’d recommend being aware of your surroundings, keeping valuables discreet and asking your accommodation for current local advice.
How Many Days Do You Need in Windhoek?
For sightseeing, one or two days is plenty.
One full day gives you time to explore the centre, see Christ Church and the Independence Memorial Museum, browse the markets and finish with sunset drinks overlooking the city.
With two days, you can take things more slowly, join the walking tour and spend more time exploring Windhoek’s restaurants and neighbourhoods.
If you’re using Windhoek as a base, working remotely or simply taking a break during a longer Namibia trip, staying longer makes much more sense.
Is Windhoek Worth Visiting?
We think Windhoek is worth a stop, even if it isn’t the main reason you’re travelling to Namibia.
Give yourself a day or two rather than heading straight from the airport into the rest of the country. Explore the centre, learn a little about Namibia’s history, have a sunset drink overlooking the city and make time for dinner at Joe’s Beerhouse.
For us, though, Windhoek’s appeal went beyond its sights. We enjoyed the restaurants, the slower pace and having somewhere comfortable to stop between travels.
We’d happily come back.
