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Windhoek Travel Guide: Where to Stay and What to Do

Pace: balanced Historic Cultural Arid Relaxed
Ideal trip length
2–4 days
Busiest
Jul-Oct

Updated September 2026

Windhoek

About Windhoek

Windhoek is known for its German-influenced architecture and Namibian cultural heritage, set amid the arid landscapes of central Namibia.

Christ Church, the Independence Memorial Museum and Tintenpalast frame the City Centre, while Katutura Township tours offer a closer look at local culture. Daan Viljoen Game Reserve and the National Botanical Garden bring wildlife and dry-country plants into the city’s orbit.

Two to four days suits the main sights, with the City Centre providing the simplest base. The relaxed streets also lead to Kapana, biltong and oryx steak.

Where to stay

Hotels in Windhoek

Book direct on our own Windhoek hotel pages — no booking fee.

Stay like a local in Windhoek

Places to stay in Windhoek

Best for

Ranked by verified guest score, then stars. Based on 414 of 491 hotels with verified data.

Best for families

Family rooms listed · 39 hotels qualify

  1. Haus Schwerinsburg Guest House9.6/10 · 137 reviews · 4-star
  2. EXQUISITE PRIVATE LUXURY SUITE WITH KING BED at BOKMAKIERIE VILLAS9.5/10 · 198 reviews · 4-star
  3. House on Olof Palme9.3/10 · 72 reviews · 4-star
  4. The Weinberg Windhoek9.2/10 · 422 reviews · 5-star
  5. Olive Grove Guesthouse9.1/10 · 254 reviews · 4-star

Best for drivers

Free parking · 68 hotels qualify

  1. ENCHANTING SELF-CATERING VILLA with QUEEN BED AT BOKMAKIERIE VILLAS9.6/10 · 50 reviews · 4-star
  2. SapphireA@549.2/10 · 57 reviews · 4-star
  3. SapphireB@549.2/10 · 55 reviews · 4-star
  4. Our Habitas Namibia9.2/10 · 100 reviews
  5. Bryan's View9.1/10 · 161 reviews · 4-star

Best for a pool

Swimming pool listed · 59 hotels qualify

  1. Maison Ambre Guesthouse9.1/10 · 129 reviews · 4-star
  2. The Windhoek Luxury Suites9.0/10 · 279 reviews · 4-star
  3. Deluxe Residence - Windhoek9.0/10 · 189 reviews · 4-star
  4. Urban Camp9.0/10 · 350 reviews
  5. Hotel Thule9.0/10 · 257 reviews

Windhoek at a glance

Check-in / check-out
2:00 PM / 10:00 AM
Free parking
351 of 361 hotels (97%)
Pool
185 of 414 hotels
Climate
Arid
Languages
English, Afrikaans, German and Oshiwambo
Local currency
NAD (NAD)
Local time
(GMT+2)
Ideal trip length
2–4 days
Cost level
3 of 5 · our research
Suggested area to stay
City Centre
Tap water
Bottled water recommended
Tipping
Expected for good service

History, culture and food in Windhoek

History

95 · Outstanding

Culture

90 · Outstanding

Food

90 · Outstanding

Family 60 · Moderate

Our own 0–100 ratings for this one destination. They describe a city; they are not a league table of cities.

Food to try

Kapana Oryx Steak Potjiekos Biltong

Hotel facts in Windhoek

Based on 414 of 491 hotels with verified data.

Hotels that listHotelsShare
Free parkingof hotels with verified parking351 of 36197%
Swimming pool185 of 41445%
24-hour front desk71 of 41417%
Facilities for disabled guests41 of 41410%
Family rooms74 of 41418%
Breakfast availablefree or paid depends on the rate4 of 4141%
Kitchen or kitchenette30 of 4147%
Airport shuttle4 free137 of 41433%

Pools and room sizes by star rating

StarsPoolStandard room
3-star57 of 14325 m²usually 19 m²–37 m² · 41 hotels
4-star55 of 8425 m²usually 20 m²–35 m² · 30 hotels
5-star6 of 1235 m²usually 20 m²–39 m² · 8 hotels

When to visit Windhoek

How good each month is here, on this destination's own scale. It compares months within this city, never one city against another.

Best months: June, July and August Busiest: Jul-Oct
  1. Jan
    30

    Hot, wet

  2. Feb
    30

    Hot, wet

  3. Mar
    33

    Warm, wet ends

  4. Apr
    46

    Mild, dry starts

  5. May
    44

    Cool, dry

  6. Jun
    56

    Pleasant weather (avg high 21°C)

  7. Jul
    56

    Pleasant weather (avg high 21°C)

  8. Aug
    56

    Pleasant weather (avg high 24°C)

  9. Sep
    48

    Windhoek Agricultural and Industrial Show

  10. Oct
    33

    Hot, dry

  11. Nov
    31

    Hot, first rains

  12. Dec
    31

    Hot, wet starts

Things to do in Windhoek

8 places worth your time, grouped by when they are at their best.

Best in the morning

3 places

Katutura Township Tour

Katutura 3 hours

Outdoors Good for children

Daan Viljoen Game Reserve

West of Windhoek 4 hours

Outdoors Good for children

National Botanical Garden

City Centre 1.5 hours

Outdoors Good for children

Best in the evening

1 place

Joe's Beerhouse

Eros 2 hours

Indoors Good for children

Any time of day

4 places

Christ Church

City Centre 30 min

Indoors Good for children

Independence Memorial Museum

City Centre 2 hours

Indoors Good for children

Tintenpalast (Parliament Gardens)

City Centre 1 hour

Outdoors Good for children

Namibia Craft Centre

City Centre 1.5 hours

Indoors Good for children

Windhoek itineraries, day by day

View all itineraries
3 Days in Windhoek — First-Timer Highlights
First-timer highlights

3 Days in Windhoek — First-Timer Highlights

3 days12 stops

Discover the vibrant heart of Namibia, from colonial charm to modern culture.

Things to book

Tours and activities in Windhoek

Guided tours, day trips and tickets to book alongside your stay.

Before you go to Windhoek

Our own ratings and notes on eating out, signature experiences, who the city suits and planning ahead.

Eating out

Kapana 95 · Outstanding
Oryx Steak 87 · Outstanding
Potjiekos 78 · Very good
Biltong 70 · Good

Signature experiences

Christ Church 95 · Outstanding
Independence Memorial Museum 91 · Outstanding
Tintenpalast (Parliament Gardens) 88 · Outstanding
Namibia Craft Centre 84 · Very good
Katutura Township Tour 81 · Very good
Joe's Beerhouse 77 · Very good
Daan Viljoen Game Reserve 74 · Good
National Botanical Garden 70 · Good

Who it suits

Solo 95 · Outstanding
Couples 89 · Outstanding
Friends 83 · Very good
Adventure 76 · Very good
Budget 70 · Good

Planning tips

Use reputable taxi services or ride-sharing apps. 95 · Outstanding
Stay hydrated, especially during warmer months. 83 · Very good
Be aware of your surroundings, particularly at night. 70 · Good

Ratings and recommendations are curated from local travel data.

Getaways from Windhoek

Places people from Windhoek travel to, from our own travel research.

Frequently asked questions about Windhoek

How many places to stay are there in Windhoek?

There are 490+ hotels, apartments and other places to stay in Windhoek. They include 41 hotels and 300+ apartments.

When is the peak season in Windhoek?

The peak season in Windhoek is Jul-Oct.

Which area is a good base in Windhoek?

The travel guide suggests staying in City Centre when visiting Windhoek.

Are there tours and activities in Windhoek?

Yes, 140+ tours and activities are listed in Windhoek.

How many hotels in Windhoek have free parking?

351 of the 361 hotels in Windhoek with verified parking details list free parking (97%). 3 charge for parking.

What is the usual check-in time at hotels in Windhoek?

2:00 PM at 221 of the 388 hotels with a verified check-in time. The next most common time is 3:00 PM (101 hotels).

What time is check-out at hotels in Windhoek?

10:00 AM at 247 of 396 hotels with a verified check-out time; 11:00 AM at 114.

How many hotels in Windhoek have a pool?

185 of 414 hotels with verified data list a swimming pool.