Swakopmund is Namibia's second largest city, where old and new combine to create a charming, romantic destination. 

Approaching through the vast Namib Desert, the striking German architecture of many of the city’s buildings is sometimes hidden by the fog against the backdrop of the icy Atlantic Ocean. 

The country's top holiday resort, Swakopmund is fast becoming Namibia’s adventure capital.

The locals share a diverse mix of backgrounds and there is no shortage of fascinating nightlife, ranging from theatre, music and cultural events to casinos, restaurants, and bars. 

As with Windhoek, Swakopmund is a pristinely clean city due to the pride of its citizens. 

Worth seeing in Swakopmund: the Marine memorial; the Swakopmund Jail, which rather humourously resembles a Bavarian villa and is often mistaken by visitors as a hotel; Woermann House, which gives panoramic views of the desert and sea; the Railway Station building – now a luxury 75-room hotel with cinema, bar, casino and restaurant; the Swakopmund Lighthouse and the harbour breakwater known as The Mole. 

Worth doing in Swakopmund: surfing, fishing off the beach, lazing on the beach, and taking guided boat trips in search of seals and dolphins, visiting the Swakopmund Aquarium, the local brewery and Rossing Uranium Mine. 

Just outside Swakopmund in a massive sand dune area designated for fun activities, you can enjoy sand boarding, skiing, quad biking, camel rides and off road driving.

Only 30 km south of Swakopmund is Walvis Bay, where you can go on a dolphin tour or a little further to the incredible wetland for birds known as Sandwich Harbour. 

Excellent weather all year round on Swakopmund’s coast – cooled in the summer months by the Benguela current, sea breezes and misty fog. 

Best time to visit – advisable to note the Namibian and South African school holidays as Swakopmund is a popular spot. South African holidays are mainly December, January, early April and July.