Getting Around Windhoek
Windhoek is the capital and largest city of Namibia, sitting on the Khomas Highland plateau in the geographical centre of the country. It is the country's administrative, commercial, and cultural hub, and most visitors find it a compact, manageable city to explore. That said, getting around works differently from many other capitals: there is no scheduled public transport network, and the car is king. This guide covers the practical options, from walking and taxis to reaching the city from its international airport.
How Tourists Move Around the City
Windhoek has no scheduled public transport. In practice, visitors get around in one of four ways: on foot within the centre, by shared or radio taxi, by ride-hailing app, or by rental car. Because most hotels and hostels are close to the city centre, walking covers a lot of ground during the day, while taxis and hired cars handle everything else.
Rail, Metro and Trams
There is no metro or tram network in Windhoek, and no commuter rail service for getting around town. Rail in Namibia is intercity only: TransNamib, through its StarLine passenger service, runs trains from Windhoek to a few destinations in the country, with routes toward Otjiwarongo and Tsumeb, Gobabis, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, and Keetmanshoop. These are not dedicated passenger trains but special coaches hooked onto the back of freight trains, so they are a slow way to travel and stop frequently to hook and unhook wagons. Trains generally depart in the late afternoon or early evening, when the ticket office is already closed, and you cannot buy a ticket on board or even enter the platform without one. Schedules run only a few times per week depending on destination and season. Tickets are cheap, even in business class, and the passenger coaches are comfortable with airline-style seating, though air-conditioning, video entertainment, and vending machines are not often operational. Most trains travel at night, so bring a sleeping bag against the cold. For visitors who want a rail experience rather than basic transport, the Desert Express is a luxury tourist train that traverses Namibia regularly, taking passengers to destinations such as Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, and Etosha National Park, with buses used to move visitors from stations to the sights.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Windhoek has no scheduled city bus network, and public transport in Namibia generally is scarce. What does exist is intercity and cross-border coach service, useful if you are arriving from or leaving for neighbouring countries. Intercape runs buses to and from Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa and Livingstone in Zambia. Insight Luxury Coaches runs a bus twice a week from Windhoek to Livingstone, Zambia. Baileys Reo Liner runs a bus three times a week from Windhoek to Cape Town. AT&T Monnakgotla Transport runs a bus twice a week from Windhoek to Gaborone, Botswana. Book at least a few days in advance to be sure of a seat.
Minibus taxis are the mainstay of long-distance travel for people without a car. Minibuses run from everywhere in Namibia, and through some combination of routes you can always find your way to Windhoek. Within the city, the Engen petrol station north of downtown (Rhino Park) is the rank for southern and western destinations such as Mariental, Swakopmund, and Keetmanshoop, while northern destinations such as Otjiwarongo, Oshakati, and Rundu leave from the Hakahana Service Station in Katutura. It is often easier to arrange for a minibus to collect you directly, and you can check opposite SAA on Independence Avenue to do so.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are the workhorse of Windhoek transport. There are two kinds. Shared taxis have no fixed routes: everybody in the taxi is driven to their destination in whatever order the driver thinks best. They display their registration number prominently, a letter plus up to three digits, and drivers looking for passengers will hoot. To catch one, point your hand in the direction you want to travel, tell the driver your destination when he stops, and be prepared for him to refuse if it is not on his route. Fares are standard for destinations on or near the route, with out-of-the-way trips charged double; after midnight every trip costs double, and people recognisable as tourists will generally not travel for the normal fee. If the driver says nothing about the price, pay the standard fare. Shared taxis primarily run between the townships and the main industrial and commercial areas, so they can be hard to find in upmarket suburbs at night, though during the day domestic workers take them there. The vehicles are generally in poor condition and the driving is famously aggressive.
If that does not appeal, radio taxis are on-demand and do not pick up other passengers while driving you. Most must be pre-booked by telephone and will collect you wherever you are; they also tend to gather at popular restaurants and nightspots. Agree the price before you get in, as most will ask for a considerably higher fare than a shared taxi to go anywhere around Windhoek. Radio taxis can also take you out of the city and to the airport. Companies include Windhoek City Cab, Shuttle Namibia, and Lima Transfers.
Internet-based ride-hailing is available, and the most popular service is Yango. Be aware that many Yango taxis are illegal: public transport in Namibia requires a special driving licence, a minimum driver's age, and a taxi licence for the car, and Yango taxis rarely meet all three requirements. If you don't mind that, they are a good choice at night, when roaming the streets looking for a taxi can be dangerous and frustrating. Prices within Windhoek start from around N$30 upwards, depending on how many drivers are idle.
Walkability
Walking is genuinely practical in central Windhoek. Most hotels and hostels are close to the city centre, so you can easily walk to most shops, restaurants, clubs, and sights. The catch is safety after dark: it is not safe to walk at night, so plan to use a taxi or a car for evening trips.
Driving and Car Hire
Traffic in Windhoek generally flows freely and driving is generally well ordered. Parking garages are located in the shopping centres, and some street parking is available too. A number of car rental agencies operate in the city and at the airport, including Okavango Car Hire, Adozu Car Hire, African Car Hire, Avis, Budget, and Imperial, with city and airport branches for several of the majors. If you plan to explore beyond the capital, a rental car gives you the most flexibility.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Windhoek has two airports. Eros Airport sits south of the city centre and is used by smaller craft; it is the busiest airport in Namibia by takeoffs and landings and is the base for most of the country's charter operators. Hosea Kutako International Airport, east of the city, is where you will almost certainly arrive if you are flying into Namibia from abroad. It is a relatively small airport with a handful of gates and no aerobridges. Airside there are a few souvenir shops and a bistro with fairly average food in a large common waiting hall for all flights; landside there is a nice cafe outside departures with good coffee, burgers, and toasties at reasonable prices. Queues for security and immigration can still be long in both directions, and if you arrive with an e-visa, make sure you join the correct line, as signage can be misleading.
The airport is a fair distance out of town, so give yourself plenty of time to reach the city centre. The road between the city and the airport is tarred, but there are no services along it; fuel is available at the airport and in the city, with not much between. If you are driving yourself, watch for baboons and other wildlife. Car hire is available at the airport with all the majors.
For getting into town without a car, there is an official taxi booth landside in arrivals. A taxi to the city will drop you at your doorstep, and if you are travelling in a group you can negotiate a bulk price. For a similar price you can probably book a transfer through your hotel to be met at arrivals. Radio taxis can also take you to the airport. Note that travelling between the international and domestic airports takes about half a day once you account for customs, passport control, road time, and another check-in, and luggage will not be routed from one airport to another, so plan connections accordingly.