Swakopmund Hotels

Swakopmund Hotels

With its pastel-hued townhouses, Lutheran churches, and occasionally chilly beach fogs, Swakopmund is reminiscent of a Baltic seaside resort, and it attracts German tourists in their droves. But this is Namibia’s top holiday destination – flanked on one side by the country’s famed deserts and by the southern Atlantic Ocean on the other. It’s a hotspot for high-adrenaline activities, so whether you want to go sandboarding on giant dunes, or deep-sea shark diving, you’ll be in for a truly wild ride.

Things to see

Striking examples of German colonial architecture dominate the small central core of the town. The Hohenzollernhaus is a multi-storied, ornate building, resplendent in pale yellow. Woerman Haus is a flamboyant timber-framed edifice, presiding over Bismarck Street. Today, its wood-panelled rooms contain an art gallery and a public library. A great family activity is a visit to the National Marine Aquarium. Its stars include sharks and giant stingrays, and it’s worth hanging around at 3pm to see the fish being fed by divers. If you love all things shiny, then a visit to the Kristall Galerie is a must. This unusual museum exhibits gemstones on a truly mammoth scale – there’s a piece of quartz 3 metres tall, and you can wander through the shimmering crystal caves for an immersive experience. If you’re hankering after adventure, head off into the Namib Desert, where the orange sands provide a natural playground for adventure sports.

Hotels in Swakopmund

From high-concept, luxury villas to bright and cheery guesthouses, Swakopmund hotels offer phenomenal value for money. Paired with the high levels of year-round tourism, reaching a peak in December and January, rooms get snapped up quickly, so make sure you book well in advance to secure a great deal. The luxury hotels in Swakopmund boast a choice of apartment and fully-catered accommodation, for example, Strand Hotel Swakopmund, furnished beautifully, with individual touches. Some rooms come with private balconies overlooking the sea. Mod cons include flat-screen TVs and free WiFi. The larger hotels have their own restaurants, while the smaller guesthouses offer breakfast, often cooked-to-order.

Where to stay

For a Swakopmund beach break, choose one of the resort hotels right on the beach, for instance, Hotel Zum Kaiser. You’re likely to bag a room with a sea view, and once you’ve ridden out the morning fog, it’s quite a spectacular scene. The beach area is within easy walking distance of the city centre. If you want to soak up the Bavarian atmosphere and explore Swakopmund’s cultural attractions, then stay in the historic centre. Beyond the museums, you’re also within easy reach of the beach and desert. For a romantic getaway, head north to one of the boutique guesthouses on the edge of the desert.

How to get to Swakopmund

The closest international airport is located in Walvis Bay, about 45 kilometres south of Swakopmund. There are regular flights from Namibia’s capital, Windhoek, and from Johannesburg in South Africa. It’s also a straightforward drive from Windhoek, which takes about 4 hours, or you can hop on a bus. There are modern, air-conditioned coaches as well as overloaded, but very cheap, minivans which regularly run between Windhoek and Swakopmund. The town centre is easily walkable, which is lucky as there’s no public transport and taxis can be hard to get hold of, especially at weekends. Organised tours provide trips into the desert.