Hansa Hotel Swakopmund

I was spending five months in South Africa working on a book and was in the mood for something different over a long weekend. FlyNamibia/Westair had surprisingly cheap flights from Cape Town to Walvis Bay, and I had heard about a wild little German coastal city easily reachable by van from the airport there. Swakopmund turned out to be even smaller than it looked on Google maps, but the Hansa Hotel was smack dab in the center. It also bills itself as Namibia's oldest hotel, and the place has a fascinating historical vibe. My second-floor room in the main building (it is a sprawling place that takes up a whole block) was comfortable and beautiful . The bar and restaurant were atmospheric. Everything in this quirky, interesting town is a short walk away, including the beach and jetty. Like the Hansa, many of the buildings are architectural/historical gems, and the small museum is informative about the area's tragic colonial past.

The hotel is understandably a prime stopover for German tour groups. When they are arriving or leaving (or descending on the bar after an excursion), they crush all in their path. At the same time, they do add a certain bustling, festive atmosphere to the locale. I found that by coming to the buffet breakfast (which is very nice) either right when it opened or during the last hour of service allowed me to avoid most of the aggressive hordes. (When busy, it was like the locust scene in "Days of Heaven".) I would also go to the bar early and would always find a seat.

A traditional, well-run hotel. We had a suite (the Senator’s Suite) which was huge and made us feel like VIPs! The staff were all fantastic, nothing was too much trouble. We ate in the restaurant every night, the food was excellent. I recommend trying the Hansa coffee! The hotel is in the centre of town, so very convenient. Hansa Hotel was our favourite accommodation whilst in Namibia! We would definitely stay again. Highly recommended.

Everything perfect!

Beautiful hotel, very clean, friendly staff and excellent service. The hotel is in the middle of town, you can walk everywhere. The room exceeded all expectations and had a lovely balcony overlooking the streets. Everything was clean and all the staff everywhere greeted with a smile. The manager was really knowledgeable about the area and activities and no request was too big. They have gone above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and looked after. I cannot recommend them more. There was a big breakfast selection in the beautiful restaurant. Although we didn't have dinner there, I'm sure it would live up to the expectation.

Tiny things - the one tv channel didn't work and the bathroom is a bit outdated but that is to be expected of an old hotel. Don't be fooled though, it still has all the spectacular interior and glamour you would expect.

we booked the apartment which was in the back of the hotel but we actually really enjoyed the value for what we got. we stayed 1 night here after Etosha and before Sesriem. the apartment is HUGE, very quiet, comfortable and clean, AC and heater (it can get cold here since city is coastal), and the apartment has all of the amenities for cooking if you want. Nearby are restaurants and shops that are very walkable. we should have stayed another night in Swakopmund and would have been happy staying here.

nothing great value small thing is there are only about 10 parking spots in front. we found one but there are other commenters about parking.

Lovely attention to detail, marvellous food, stunning bed linen, excellent reception staff. great restaurant, super history and lovely photos of Old Swakop on the walls. Central for shopping and walking on the beach Will be back.

Wine was pricey, food piping hot but expensive. Lots of German tourists wearing socks with sandals and blocking doorways.

The style of the hotel was really nice. Old school charm. The room was tastefully decorated and very clean. The secure parking was a bonus so we didn’t have to worry about the car during our stay

Breakfast was good but lacked options for cooked breakfast. The staff at breakfast could have been more attentive

Location and the traditional atmosphere. Food good and rooms excellent. Enclosed garden area for quiet moments. Would definitely stay on next visit.

No lift and steep stairs. More tables needed in garden.

Lorraine from the recepcion was super nice, helped us with a problem with our SIM card and made a reservation for us at Altstadt restaurant, making sure we had a spot since it was very busy. Private parking available. Very well located right in the city center, walking distance from supermaket, beach, restaurants and shops. Hotel has a colonial charming vibe. Room was very spacious and clean. Good breakfast buffet.

A bit of street noise and some loud people walking on the corridors. Bathroom a bit small.

We celebrated my 60th birthday at the hotel. The staff went the extra mile accommodating us with special requests as e.g. organized beautiful flowers. we were not rushed at breakfast and could talk to family and friends. I can really recommend the hotel!

we had winter blankets in January ( summer). We used the air-conditioning which we would not have done otherwise.

1) its got a nice ambience as an old fashioned, well established hotel that is popular with tour groups and businessmen. 2) great location in the centre of town. 3) good breakfast. 4) the lady at reception got my Namibian SIM card working.

1) no TV in the hotel. 2) the hotel lounge was reserved for a conference when we were there (implying that regular guests were less important).