Namibia · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Namibia
These are the places worth your time in Namibia, from Windhoek's museums and markets to Swakopmund's dunes, Walvis Bay's lagoon, Sossusvlei, Etosha's waterholes and Damaraland's rock art. Classics sit beside quiet corners few travellers ever see, so every kind of visitor finds something to love.
Places to Visit in Windhoek
Restaurants
- Joe's Beerhouse (Klein Windhoek)
A rambling, quirky institution for game meat platters, Namibian beer and big group dinners. - Leo's at the Castle (Heinitzburg Hotel)
Fine dining in a hilltop castle with sunset views over the city. - The Stellenbosch Wine Bar and Bistro (Klein Windhoek)
A stylish courtyard bistro with a long wine list and polished modern cooking. - Single Quarters Market (Katutura)
The best place to try kapana, beef grilled by the strip with chilli salt, among locals. - Am Weinberg (Klein Windhoek)
Relaxed fine dining in a restored historic house with terrace views. - Garnish (Windhoek West)
Popular Indian restaurant with generous curries that suit families and groups.
Cafés
- Slowtown Coffee Roasters (Windhoek)
Local roaster serving properly good coffee and light breakfasts. - Craft Café (Old Breweries Craft Centre)
Healthy lunches and cakes above the Namibia Craft Centre.
Bars and Nightlife
- Windhoek Country Club (Southern Windhoek)
Resort with casino, restaurants and live shows, easy for a varied evening.
Things to Do
- Christuskirche (Robert Mugabe Avenue)
Windhoek's landmark sandstone Lutheran church, built in the early 1900s. - Independence Memorial Museum (City Centre)
A clear, powerful telling of colonial rule, genocide and the road to independence. - Alte Feste and Tintenpalast Gardens (City Centre)
The old German fort and the parliament gardens make an easy historic walk. - Katutura township walking or cycling tour (Katutura)
Local guides show the markets, music and history of Windhoek's largest township. - Heroes' Acre (South of Windhoek)
A striking national memorial to those who died in the liberation struggle.
Nature and Outdoors
- Daan Viljoen Game Park (West of Windhoek)
Hilly bush with walking trails among zebra, kudu and wildebeest, close to town. - Avis Dam (Eastern Windhoek)
Easy walking and birding trails around the city's old reservoir. - Naankuse Wildlife Sanctuary (Near Hosea Kutako Airport)
Conservation focused sanctuary visits with rescued wildlife and research stories. - Windhoek Botanic Garden (City Centre)
A quiet hillside garden of Namibian plants including aloes and desert succulents.
Shopping and Markets
- Namibia Craft Centre (Old Breweries, Tal Street)
Dozens of stalls selling baskets, jewellery, textiles and art from across the country. - Post Street Mall curio market (City Centre)
Street sellers with wooden carvings and crafts beside the Gibeon meteorites display. - Grove Mall (Kleine Kuppe)
The largest modern mall, handy for supplies, SIM cards and outdoor gear. - Penduka (Goreangab Dam)
A women's craft project making textiles and embroidery by the lake.
Arts and Culture
- National Art Gallery of Namibia (Robert Mugabe Avenue)
The country's main collection of Namibian painting and sculpture. - National Theatre of Namibia (Robert Mugabe Avenue)
Plays, dance and concerts by Namibian companies. - Franco French Namibian Cultural Centre (City Centre)
Film nights, exhibitions and live music in a cultural hub.
Events
- Windhoek Karneval (Windhoek)
The city's long running German style carnival with parades and music, usually in autumn. - Windhoek Oktoberfest (Windhoek)
A beer festival with German food and music, usually in October.
Stays
- Hotel Heinitzburg (Heinitzburg Street)
A boutique hotel in a historic hilltop castle with city views. - The Olive Exclusive (Klein Windhoek)
A design led boutique hotel with large suites and a fine restaurant. - Chameleon Backpackers (City Centre)
Friendly, central backpackers with a pool and good trip advice. - Windhoek Country Club Resort (Southern Windhoek)
A large resort hotel with pools and entertainment for families.
Places to Visit in Swakopmund
Restaurants
- The Tug (Beside the jetty)
Seafood in a converted tugboat, a coastal classic for sunset dinners. - Jetty 1905 (Swakopmund Jetty)
Dining at the end of the historic jetty with waves beneath you. - Kücki's Pub (Tobias Hainyeko Street)
A long running, cheerful spot for seafood, game and beer. - Napolitana (City Centre)
Reliable pizza and pasta that suits families and budgets. - Brewer and Butcher (Swakopmund)
Craft beer brewed on site with good steaks and burgers. - Fish Deli (City Centre)
Small, busy fish restaurant loved by locals for fresh simple seafood.
Cafés
- Village Café (Sam Nujoma Avenue)
Colourful, quirky café for big breakfasts and coffee. - Café Anton (Schweizerhaus Hotel)
A traditional German style café known for cakes and strudel.
Bars and Nightlife
- Swakopmund Brauhaus (Brauhaus Arcade)
German style beer hall serving local beers and hearty plates. - Ocean Cellar (Strand Hotel)
Seafood and wine bar in the Strand Hotel, right on the beach.
Things to Do
- Living Desert Tours (Dunes south of town)
Guides track the tiny creatures of the dunes, from chameleons to sidewinder adders. - Sandboarding in the dunes (Dune 7 area)
Lie down or stand up boarding on huge coastal dunes, great fun for all ages. - Quad biking in the dunes (Swakop River dunes)
Guided quad trips across the dunes south of the Swakop River. - Scenic flight over the Namib (Swakopmund Airfield)
Fly over dunes, shipwrecks and Sossusvlei for a once in a lifetime view. - National Marine Aquarium (Strand Street)
Walk through tunnel tanks of Atlantic sea life and sharks. - Skydiving over the dunes (Swakopmund Airfield)
Tandem jumps where the desert meets the ocean.
Nature and Outdoors
- Moon Landscape and Welwitschia Drive (East of Swakopmund)
Eroded valleys and welwitschia plants that live for over a thousand years. - Swakop River Valley (South of town)
Quiet walks and birding among dunes and tamarisk trees. - Cape Cross Seal Reserve (North of Swakopmund)
One of the world's largest Cape fur seal colonies, noisy and unforgettable. - Swakopmund Mole and beach (City Centre)
Walk the seafront and lighthouse area with fish and chips.
Shopping and Markets
- Kristall Galerie (Tobias Hainyeko Street)
Home to a giant quartz crystal cluster and a gemstone shop. - Swakopmund street craft market (Near the lighthouse)
Herero and Himba crafts and carvings sold beside the sea.
Arts and Culture
- Swakopmund Museum (Near the lighthouse)
Natural history, cultures and colonial history of the coast. - Woermann House (Bismarck Street)
An ornate German era building with a tower and art gallery. - Mondesa township tour (Mondesa)
Meet local families and taste home cooking on a guided township visit.
Stays
- Strand Hotel Swakopmund (The Mole)
A large beachfront hotel with sea views and several restaurants. - Swakopmund Hotel (Old Railway Station)
A hotel set in the restored colonial railway station. - Desert Sky Backpackers (City Centre)
Friendly, budget friendly base near the sea.
Places to Visit in Walvis Bay
Things to Do
- Pelican Point dolphin and seal cruise (Walvis Bay Waterfront)
Seals climb aboard and dolphins ride the bow on lagoon cruises with oysters. - Sandwich Harbour four by four tour (South of Walvis Bay)
Huge dunes plunge straight into the Atlantic on this tide dependent drive. - Kayaking with seals at Pelican Point (Pelican Point)
Paddle among curious Cape fur seals in calm morning water. - Dune 7 (East of Walvis Bay)
One of the tallest dunes on the coast, a sweaty climb with big views.
Nature and Outdoors
- Walvis Bay Lagoon (Esplanade)
Thousands of flamingos feed along the promenade for much of the year.
Restaurants
- The Raft (Lagoon Esplanade)
A restaurant on stilts over the lagoon, perfect for sunset and flamingos. - Anchors at the Jetty (Walvis Bay Waterfront)
Seafood by the water, popular before and after cruises.
Shopping and Markets
- Walvis Bay Waterfront crafts (Waterfront)
Small craft sellers beside the cruise jetties.
Stays
- Pelican Bay Hotel (Lagoon)
A comfortable hotel facing the lagoon and flamingos.
Places to Visit in Sossusvlei
Nature and Outdoors
- Deadvlei (Namib Naukluft National Park)
Black camel thorn trees on white clay under red dunes, best at sunrise. - Dune 45 (Sossusvlei Road)
The classic and easier sunrise dune climb. - Big Daddy Dune (Above Deadvlei)
A tough climb with a long, fun run down into Deadvlei. - Sesriem Canyon (Near Sesriem Gate)
A narrow, shady gorge carved by the Tsauchab River. - Elim Dune (Near Sesriem Gate)
A quieter dune close to the gate for sunset. - NamibRand Nature Reserve (South of Sesriem)
A private reserve and International Dark Sky Reserve with superb stargazing. - Naukluft hiking trails (Naukluft Mountains)
Tough mountain trails with pools, zebra and silence.
Things to Do
- Hot air balloon over the Namib (Sesriem area)
Float above the dunes at dawn with a champagne breakfast. - Duwisib Castle (South of Maltahöhe)
An unlikely stone castle built by a German baron in the desert. - Tropic of Capricorn sign (C14 near Solitaire)
The classic road trip photo stop on the way to the coast.
Cafés
- Moose McGregor's Desert Bakery (Solitaire)
A famous roadside bakery known for apple crumble.
Restaurants
- Sossus Oasis (Sesriem)
Fuel, supplies and simple meals at the park gateway.
Shopping and Markets
- Solitaire General Dealer (Solitaire)
A tiny desert settlement with old cars and a general store.
Stays
- Sossus Dune Lodge (Inside Sesriem Gate)
Namibia Wildlife Resorts lodge inside the gate for early dune access. - Sesriem Campsite (Inside Sesriem Gate)
Campsite with early park access under huge skies. - Wolwedans (NamibRand Nature Reserve)
Remote, elegant desert camps in a private reserve. - Desert Homestead (Sossusvlei area)
A farm lodge with horse rides among the mountains. - Little Kulala (Kulala Wilderness Reserve)
Luxury desert camp with rooftop sleep outs under the stars.
Places to Visit in Etosha National Park
Nature and Outdoors
- Okaukuejo Waterhole (Okaukuejo Camp)
Floodlit waterhole famous for rhino and elephants after dark. - Etosha Pan Lookout (Near Halali)
Drive a short way onto the vast salt pan itself. - Moringa Waterhole (Halali Camp)
A floodlit waterhole against a rocky hill, good for night viewing. - Okondeka Waterhole (North of Okaukuejo)
Often visited by lions on the edge of the pan. - Chudop Waterhole (Near Namutoni)
Busy dry season waterhole for elephants and giraffe. - Goas Waterhole (Near Halali)
A reliable dry season waterhole for big herds. - Rietfontein Waterhole (Between Okaukuejo and Halali)
A large spring that draws elephants in the heat of the day. - Western Etosha via Galton Gate (Western Etosha)
The quieter west of the park, with fewer vehicles.
Arts and Culture
- Fort Namutoni (Namutoni Camp)
A whitewashed German fort, now part of the eastern rest camp.
Things to Do
- Guided game drive from the lodges (Outside Andersson Gate)
Sunrise and night drives with guides who know the waterholes. - Hoba Meteorite (Near Grootfontein)
The largest known meteorite on earth, sitting where it fell. - Otjikoto Lake (Near Tsumeb)
A deep sinkhole lake with a curious wartime history.
Restaurants
- Okaukuejo Restaurant (Okaukuejo Camp)
Simple buffet meals close to the waterhole.
Shopping and Markets
- Outjo Bakery (Outjo)
A popular stop for pies and breads on the way to Etosha.
Stays
- Okaukuejo Resort (Inside Etosha)
Namibia Wildlife Resorts camp beside the famous floodlit waterhole. - Halali Resort (Inside Etosha)
Central camp with a pool and the Moringa waterhole. - Onguma The Fort (Onguma Reserve)
A striking lodge looking over a waterhole near the eastern gate. - Etosha Safari Camp (Near Andersson Gate)
Fun, colourful camp with a shebeen style bar. - Dolomite Camp (Western Etosha)
Chalets on a rocky ridge in the quiet west of the park. - Namutoni Resort (Inside Etosha)
A camp built around the old fort in the east.
Places to Visit in Damaraland
Arts and Culture
- Twyfelfontein rock engravings (Twyfelfontein)
Thousands of ancient engravings, including the Lion Man, on a UNESCO site. - Damara Living Museum (Near Twyfelfontein)
Damara people demonstrate traditional crafts, songs and skills. - White Lady rock painting (Brandberg)
A famous rock painting reached by a guided walk up a gorge.
Nature and Outdoors
- Spitzkoppe (Erongo)
Granite peaks, rock arches and San paintings rising from the plains. - Organ Pipes (Near Twyfelfontein)
A gully of tall basalt columns. - Burnt Mountain (Near Twyfelfontein)
A hillside of blackened, multicoloured rock. - Petrified Forest (West of Khorixas)
Fossilised tree trunks millions of years old, with welwitschia. - Vingerklip (Ugab Valley)
A tall rock finger above a striking valley. - Brandberg (Uis area)
Namibia's highest mountain, glowing red at sunset.
Things to Do
- Desert elephant tracking (Huab and Aba Huab riverbeds)
Guided drives to find elephants that live along the dry rivers. - Rhino tracking at Desert Rhino Camp (Palmwag Concession)
Track black rhino on foot with community rangers.
Shopping and Markets
- Uis craft stalls (Uis)
Crafts and semi precious stones sold by local sellers.
Stays
- Mowani Mountain Camp (Twyfelfontein)
Domed rooms among granite boulders. - Twyfelfontein Country Lodge (Twyfelfontein)
A lodge built into the rocks near the engravings. - Spitzkoppe Campsite (Spitzkoppe)
Community run camping among the granite domes. - Madisa Camp (Near Twyfelfontein)
A rustic campsite among boulders. - Camp Kipwe (Twyfelfontein)
Stylish rooms tucked between rocks. - Palmwag Lodge (Palmwag)
A gateway to the remote north west by a palm lined river. - Vingerklip Lodge (Ugab Valley)
A lodge with views over the valley and its rock towers. - Grootberg Lodge (Grootberg Plateau)
A community owned lodge on a cliff edge.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- Xwama Cultural Village Restaurant (Katutura, Windhoek)
Traditional Namibian dishes such as mopane worms and oshifima in a relaxed courtyard. - Independence Memorial Museum Café (City Centre, Windhoek)
Top floor café with the best panoramic view over central Windhoek. - Namibia Breweries tour (Northern Industrial Area, Windhoek)
See how Windhoek Lager is brewed under the German purity law, when tours are running. - Walvis Bay Salt Works (South of town, Walvis Bay)
Pink salt pans that draw waders and flamingos.