This is a question I have been asking myself quite a lot before moving here, pondering whether or not Windhoek, Namibia’s capital city, with its 450 000 inhabitants, had enough to offer to not get bored for 3 whole years. Indeed, as I explained in my article « Before departure », although many people I met back home had visited the country, not so many could tell me about the capital itself. And, as an expat, you can’t really spend all your time traveling around: you also need to have a daily life in Windhoek!

I have been living in small capital city before, for example in Reykjavik which only counts 200 000 inhabitants (not boring at all) ; or also in small cities like Sibiu in Romania, only 150 000 inhabitants (also not boring at all) ; so, to be honest, I was not really scared about moving to Windhoek. But, you know, people speaks and sometimes they have negative feedback so I thought, what if there is really nothing to do here? Spoiler alert: Windhoek – not boring at all!

So, if you’re reading this article and considering moving here, or if you just arrived and struggle to find activities, here is a small list of what the Namibian’s capital has to offer in terms of activities! I hope you will find inspiration 🙂 And don’t hesitate to share your highlights as well in the comments: there is probably much more to discover!

• The Sunday Market

Let’s start with the best: the Sunday Market at The Village! What a nice place to go to! It has everything you can ask for: local sellers with a lot of different crafts, souvenirs, food, second-hand clothes, even tarot-reading or traditional medecines… But also restaurants were you can enjoy a very good breakfast, brunch or lunch, and, last but not least, live music with local artists! Overall, just a concentration of cool stuffs in the same place with a great atmosphere. Entrance is 20 NAD. And the best of all? It’s EVERY Sunday, from 8:00 to 15:00. What are you waiting for?

• The Green Market

Another great weekly rendez-vous for the Windhoek people is the Green Market! It has a different vibe compared to the Sunday Market with more food stands, rustic style and family-friendly environment, but also no live music or restaurant. You can still have breakfast or lunch though: some stands sell food on-the-go and one NGO is usually selling some light meals and drinks in the café area, where you can also sit and enjoy the atmosphere. Entrance to the market is free (yay!). It is a really nice place to be on a Saturday morning from 7:30 to 12:30 and a great spot for local and organic products. Also highly recommended!

• The Independance Museum

The Independance Museum is definitely a landmark of the capital with its location right in the city center and its strange architecture! Apparently it was built by North Koreans which makes it a place to see in itself (I mean, we don’t have so many occasions to see North Korean architectural work!) but also obviously to learn more about Namibia’s history and its fight for independance. The museum in itself is quite big and I really appreciated the photos and paintings displayed. I would recommend though to read a bit about the historical events before going there as there are not so many written information in the museum itself. The museum is free of charge (yay again!) and opens Monday-Friday from 9:00 to 16:30 and Saturday from 10:00 to 15:00 (closed on Sundays). I have read about the possibility of having tours but haven’t found out about it yet. DO visit the restaurant on the last floor to enjoy one of the best views (and really good food!) of Windhoek!

• Heroes’ Acre

A visit to Heroes’ Acre is another must when sightseeing Windhoek. This memorial is also built by North Koreans (really good friends of the Namibians apparently) and it is quite huge: we can definitely see the communism influence in terms of grandiose monuments’ architecture. Heroes’ Acre opened in 2002 and is dedicated to the glory of the freedom fighters and all unknown soldiers of the Namibian’s struggle for independance. Located a bit outside of the city, you can visit it during business hours (which one, I couldn’t find out, but try not to go there too late or on Sundays) and have to pay 20-40 NAD (I don’t remember exactly) to visit it. No café or restaurant around (at least, not an open one!) so do bring snacks or water along 🙂

• The Namibia Craft Center

You are living in Windhoek and you are going to visit your family soon? Then you probably want to bring them presents from your new home, right? Well, don’t look any other place, the Craft Center is THE place for you: two floors of many stores selling different styles of souvenirs: wooden-craft, beads art, clothes, photographies, decorations, recycled souvenirs, traditionnal dolls… There are just so many options. Prices are fixed so you don’t have to worry about negotiating – yay! Because I’m just really bad at it! -, you can also pay by card everywhere and there is a nice restaurant on the first floor where you can relax after an exhausting shopping run. It’s even open on Sundays! What else?

• Acoustic Friday

On the last Friday of every month, also known as « Pay Day », Windhoek city center tranforms from a quiet town to a vibrant city ✨ It’s also the day to visit the FNCC, Franco-Namibian Cultural Center, one of the city’s cultural institution, for their Acoustic Friday! Discover a new local artist every month for an outdoor concert while having food or drinks from Le Roof, which is the place where you can get the best Namibian beers in town! Entrance for the concert is usually 80NAD in advance or 100 NAD at the door, but the FNCC organizes many events and exhibitions throughout the year (for free this time!) so don’t hesitate to visit when in Windhoek even when it’s not Friday!

• The Good Food Market

Another event taking place on the last Friday of the month, the Good Food Market! Here you will find various stands to start the week-end on a tasty note and explore Windhoek’s food scene! The market then slowly turns into a party as the night starts while DJs turn up the volume. Also located in The Village, entrance is quite expensive compared to other events, from 80 NAD when booking early to 150 NAD at the door, but it is definitely worth it!

• Avis Dam

Now, after the nightlife, let’s explore a little bit more the nature side of Windhoek. One of the place locals really enjoy going to on a daily basis is Avis Dam: a big dam lake where you can walk (or run for the most motivated!) around in a peaceful atmosphere, surrounded by many dogs and birdlife. Entrance is only 40 NAD and you can follow different walking paths or just relax next to the water with your book. From there, it seems that the city actually doesn’t exist, although you’re just a 5 minutes drive from the center! And if you feel hungry or thirsty after you walk, do stop at Eagles, the bar just below, for a nice rest (do refrain trying to play volleyball on the improvised field though, just saying). You deserve it.

• Yellowstone Trail

Not far from Avis Dam, the Yellowstone Trail is also a peaceful place where you can walk or bike around in the middle of the nature thinking you’re not in a capital city anymore. There you can find some activities such as archery, karate, and even an outdoor gym! They also organize events like charity runs or live concert once in a while. If you’re more into beer that into sport (welcome to my club!) you can also visit the Das Bos bar and chill while watching a rugby game. The entrance to the hiking area should be around 20 to 40 NAD as well but honestly, I forgot.

• The National Art Gallery

The National Art Gallery is located on the Windhoek’s cultural street where you will also find the National Theatre, the Franco-Namibian Cultural Center and the Namibian Arts Association. The Gallery is a welcoming and peaceful space where you will be able to discover Namibian artists in photography, painting, sculpture and all kinds of art techniques. The exhibitions change regularly. The entrance is free.

Well, dear readers, that’s it for today! I hope you found interesting information about what to do in Windhoek in this article. Please don’t hesitate once again to share your tips in the comment section and to let us know what you think of this article! Cheers and enjoy your time in Windhoek 🙂