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Swakopmund

Swakopmund, known as Swakop, is in the Erongo region of Namibia. It is the country's biggest coastal town and a resort for Namibians on holiday. The city's German origins are quite pronounced in beautiful old German colonial buildings throughout the city, making an even starker contrast for this town sitting at the edge of the Namib Desert. Swakopmund is like a German North Sea town with an African flair (or vice versa).

See
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Do
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Eat
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Drink
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15 places match

  1. See

    Altes Gefängnis

    Built in 1909, it still functions as a prison. However, it's built in the same style as much as the rest of downtown (much prettier than a modern prison) and has been a national historic landmark since 1973.

  2. See

    Barracks

    Kaserne

    Built in 1903 as housing for the troops of the engineer corps who constructed much of the early infrastructure. The lobby is decorated with German coats of arms. Nowadays the building functions as a youth hostel.

  3. See

    Haus Hohenzollern

    An Art Nouveau building constructed in 1906 as a luxurious hotel, today it is an apartment building.

  4. See

    Kristall Galerie

    Crystal Gallery

    The world's largest quartz crystal and many other gems and minerals are on display. The gallery also has two shops where you can buy some crystals as souvenirs.

    Mon-Sat 09:00-17:00N$20

  5. See

    Lighthouse

    The 25.6m-high lighthouse is one of the most visible buildings in the city.

  6. See

    Lutheran Church

    Built by the Germans in 1912, this Evangelical-Lutheran church is another building which looks like it has been transplanted from somewhere in Germany.

  7. See

    Martin Luther Steam Engine

    A road locomotive abandoned in the desert just outside Swakopmund. Imported in 1896 to pull freight in the region, replacing oxens, it wasn't even able to travel the way from the port of Walvis Bay to Swakopmund, where it was supposed to be based, before breaking down in the desert. It was left there and soon became an odd attraction. It has been renovated a couple of times, and a protective building was built around it.

  8. See

    Old railway station and casino

    Built in the Wilhelminian style in 1902 as a railway station for the new line to Windhoek, it nowadays hosts the Swakopmund Hotel, exhibition centre and casino.

  9. See

    State House

    Kaiserliches Bezirksgericht

    Built as a courthouse in 1902, nowadays it is the Swakopmund residence of the Namibian president.

  10. See

    Swakopmund Jetty

    Jutting 300 m out in the Atlantic Ocean. Originally it was smaller and built out of wood. Later on, the current concrete jetty was built, but after WWI it fell into disuse. Renovated in 2005, it is a popular attraction, especially for viewing the sunset.

  11. See

    Swakopmund Museum

    The largest private museum in the country, founded in 1951. It showcases the cultural and natural history of the region from prehistoric time to the colonial period. Included among the exhibits is a reconstructed 19th-century chemist shop, a dentist's practice and an old household.

    Closed · opens 10 am tomorrowN$30 adults, N$10 children

  12. See

    The Marine Monument

    Memorial to the German soldiers who died during the campaign against the Herero People between 1904-07.

  13. See

    The National Marine Aquarium of Namibia

    Rays, turtles, sharks and other marine life can be seen here. There is a daily feeding at 15:00.

    Tue-Sun 10:00-16:00N$30

  14. See

    Woermannhaus

    A German half-timbered house in the colors of the desert with a 25m high tower and arcaded inner yard. Built by the German trading company Woermann in 1905 as their headquarters for German Southwest Africa. In 1972 the building was declared a national historic landmark and nowadays it functions as a public library.