Windhoek walking tour & city guide

The city centre

Christ Church, a Lutheran church from 1910 built in neo-Gothic style from local sandstone, is the city's symbol. Next to it, the Independence Memorial Museum, a modern gold-coloured building, tells the story of Namibia's struggle for independence, achieved in 1990, and has a café with views over the city. The Tintenpalast, the parliament building, stands in gardens nearby.

Independence Avenue, the main street, has shops, the Zoo Park and a few colonial facades, while the Namibia Craft Centre sells baskets, textiles and carvings from all over the country.

A classic walk

Start at Christ Church, visit the Independence Memorial Museum for the view, then walk through the Parliament Gardens and down to Independence Avenue. Finish at the Namibia Craft Centre and the Post Street Mall, where a display of meteorite fragments from the Gibeon shower stands in the open air.

Good to know

Windhoek is dry and sunny most of the year. May to October is the best season, with mild days and cold nights in winter. Most visitors use the city as a starting point for road trips to Sossusvlei, Swakopmund and Etosha. Shops close early on Saturdays and most are closed on Sundays.