Swakopmund
Visited in March 2019
At a glance
- Country
- Namibia
- Region
- German South-West Africa
- Population
- 75,921
- Best time to go
- All year
- Main airport
- None — nearest is Walvis Bay (WVB)
- Coordinates
- 22.68°S, 14.53°E
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Overview
Swakopmund is where the Namib Desert runs straight into the cold Atlantic. Its tidy streets of German colonial buildings, cafés and palm-lined promenades feel almost European, especially when the sea fog rolls in.
It is Namibia's adventure capital, with sandboarding, quad biking, skydiving and desert tours on the doorstep, and it is a welcome stop for cool air and good seafood after days on dusty roads.
Things to see
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Photo: Daniel Kraft, CC BY-SA 3.0 Swakopmund Jetty
A long pier stretching into the surf, with a restaurant at the end and views back to the town.
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Photo: Walter Gulielminetti ( Waguletti ( talk )), CC BY-SA 3.0 Woermannhaus
A grand colonial trading house with a tower you can climb for views over the rooftops and dunes.
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Photo: SqueakyMarmot / Mike from Vancouver, Canada, CC BY 2.0 Swakopmund Lighthouse
A red-and-white lighthouse overlooking the beach, near the state house and the small museum.
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Photo: Frans-Banja Mulder, CC BY 3.0 Kristall Galerie
A gallery built around a huge quartz crystal cluster, with gemstone displays.
Tickets and tours
Things to do
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Photo: Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC, Public domain Living Desert tour
Guides reveal the chameleons, geckos and sidewinder snakes that survive in the dunes just outside town.
Find tours -
Photo: Steven J. Weber, Public domain Sandboarding and quad biking
Ride down the steep dunes on your belly or a board, or explore them on a quad bike.
Find tours -
Photo: betty x1138 from NYC, USA, CC BY 2.0 Cape Cross seal colony
Thousands of Cape fur seals crowd the rocks at this noisy, pungent colony up the coast.
Find tours -
Photo: Thomas Schoch, CC BY-SA 3.0 Moon Landscape and Welwitschia Drive
A self-drive route inland past eroded valleys to see welwitschia, a strange plant that can live for centuries.
Where to stay
Town centre
Walkable to restaurants, the jetty and the beach; ideal for most visitors.
Hotels in Town centreVineta
A quieter residential area north of the centre, with guesthouses near the sea.
Hotels in VinetaLong Beach
Holiday homes between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, good for families with a car.
Hotels in Long Beach
Getting around
The centre is compact and easy on foot. You will need a car or tour operator for the desert and coast.
Walvis Bay airport is about 40 minutes' drive away; Windhoek is around four hours by road, with shuttles running daily.
When to go
The coast is mild year-round, often foggy in the morning. December and January are busy with Namibian holidaymakers, and the desert interior is hottest from November to March.
Plan your trip to Swakopmund
- HotelsBooking.com
- Tours and ticketsGetYourGuide
- FlightsKiwi.com
- Attraction ticketsTiqets
- Airport parking, lounges and transfersHoliday Extras
- Car hireAuto Europe
- Mobile data (eSIM)AiraloCode DAN9406 for money off
- GuidebooksAmazon
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Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.