Central Business District (CBD)

Daytime-only destination for shopping and crafts. Fine during working hours, empties out fast after 5pm and gets unsafe. Go during the day, leave before sunset.

The CBD is where business happens during daylight - office buildings, government ministries, banks, shops around Independence Avenue. 8am to 5pm the streets are busy with office workers, street vendors, and shoppers at the Craft Market. The Namibia Craft Centre in the Old Breweries Complex has 50+ stalls of handmade goods. During business hours it feels relatively safe with crowds around, though watch for pickpockets in busy spots. The problem is what happens after 5pm. Workers go home, vendors pack up, and within an hour the streets are empty and sketchy. Property owners have been pushing the city to fix this - there's a 17 million Namibian dollar project approved for better streetlights and pedestrian areas, but it's not there yet. Don't walk around here after dark. Even Saturdays, it empties out after lunch. Use the CBD for daytime activities - Craft Market shopping, checking out The Brewers Market (formerly Warehouse Theatre), lunch at Craft Cafe. Then get back to Klein Windhoek or wherever you're staying before sunset. Don't stay in the CBD.