Windhoek is a small but bustling city with a continental atmosphere. It is situated in a ‘basin’ flanked by the Auas Mountains to the southeast, the Eros Mountains to the northeast and the rolling hills of the Khomas Hochland to the west. The historical buildings dating back to the German colonial rule blend in with the modern architecture, where the use of bright colours gives the city a bright and lively appearance.
The city centre is characterised by a mix of German colonial structures and pastel-coloured modern buildings. Dominating the skyline is Christuskirche, the neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau-designed German Lutheran church. Other striking buildings include the parliament building, Tintenpalast; the whitewashed Alte Feste, an old fort that is now a museum; and the Cape Dutch-style railway station, which dates back to 1912.