Namibia's Swakopmund
Help Me PlanTop Attractions in Swakopmund
In this seemingly stark environment, leisure seekers will find many different activities—there’s something to suit most interests.
Welwitschia Drive
The Welwitschia self-drive route explores unique desert life, notably the ancient Welwitschia mirabilis and extensive lichen fields. Numbered beacons guide a four-hour loop across the plains near the Kuiseb River.
Sandwich Harbor
One of the region’s most spectacular day trips: towering dunes meet the Atlantic at a Ramsar-listed wetland near Walvis Bay, renowned for prolific birdlife and cinematic scenery.
Cape Cross
Cape Cross lies on a small Atlantic headland and hosts one of the world’s largest Cape fur seal colonies—numbers can peak around the breeding season.
Swakopmund Travel Overview
The interior of Namibia bakes in summer, making the coast a popular December escape with cool mornings and evenings. Swakopmund offers easy access to beaches, dunes, and lagoon systems, all close to town.
The town is served by Swakopmund Airport and sits on the B2 road and Trans-Namib Railway linking Windhoek and Walvis Bay. Historic landmarks include the Altes Gefängnis (1909, Heinrich Bause) and the Woermannhaus (1906) with its tower, now a public library.
Recommended Accommodation
Swakopmund offers a choice of accommodations ranging from guest houses and hotels to lodges in the surrounding desert.
Hansa Hotel
Hansa Hotel, with its German character, is the oldest hotel in Namibia and offers a comfortable stay in the country’s most popular coastal town.
Swakopmund Hotel
The Swakopmund Hotel blends with the restored 1901 railway station, which anchors the property’s public areas.
Experiences to be Savored in Swakopmund
Experiences in Swakopmund blend the town’s German colonial time warp with the nearby lagoons and bays. Expect something genuinely different in this remote coastal outpost.
Architecture
The town preserves numerous buildings dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, giving Swakopmund a distinctive old-world feel.
Swakopmund Brauhaus
When you enter the Brauhaus Bar & Restaurant, you step into a nostalgic setting. Enjoy a Hansa, Tafel, or Windhoek lager, or try classics like Wiener schnitzel, Eisbein, or regional game.
Flamingo Festivities
A short drive to Walvis Bay offers seasonal spectacles of greater and lesser flamingos at the lagoon, where vast numbers of migrant birds gather.Best Private Tours & Safari Packages
From the Fish River Canyon in the south to Etosha National Park in the north, this private tour includes a visit to Swakopmund.
This guided private tour combines Swakopmund with other highlights in northern Namibia.
Book a vacation package that explores the Skeleton Coast—remote, raw, and unforgettable.
Swakopmund Vacation Options and Travel Tips
Many of African Sky’s longer Namibia itineraries include Swakopmund. We can also tailor-make a package to include this distinctive coastal town.
