HarareCapital
Zimbabwe · Country profile
Harare is the green capital of Zimbabwe, a city of wide jacaranda-lined avenues and colonial-era buildings that grew from the fortunes of the early settlement of the country into the political and the commercial heart of the modern republic. It is a city of the grass-roots energy, the vibrant bookshops, the art galleries and the craft markets that keep the spirit of the nation alive through the long challenges of its economy, and its parks and gardens and its neat suburban streets retain an unexpected calm. The historic centre, the kopje of the city and the great market of the townships frame the essential visits, while the game parks and the ruins of the country lie within a short drive of the capital. Proud, resilient and quietly beautiful, Harare is the essential introduction to the whole of Zimbabwe.
About Harare
Harare is the capital of Zimbabwe. The city's documented population is around 1,490,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL) and English is spoken; the dialling code is +263.
The Green Capital and the Gardens of the Highlands
Harare is a spacious, leafy capital where the colonial-era city centre, the art galleries, the bookshops and the craft markets form the classic days of the visit. The national gallery of the country, the kopje viewpoints and the gardens of the city centre fill the first mornings, while the markets of the townships and the craft villages give the authentic, welcome face of the daily life. The game parks of the nearby plains, from the lion parks to the reserves of the elephant country, and the ruins and the great falls of the wider country start from the capital’s roads and airport. The city is safe in the daytime, calm and easy to navigate, and its friendly resilience is immediately apparent.
The Dry Winter Sun, the Highveld Rains and the Bookshops of the Centre
The high altitude of the capital gives mild temperatures with the dry, sunny winter from the autumn to the spring and the warm, wetter summer of the months around the year-end, the classic green season of the country. The United States dollar is the currency, the English the language of the streets with the Shona and the Ndebele of the regions, and the drivers and the taxi apps of the city cover the distances of the spread capital. The gallery, the markets and the nearby game reserves of the surroundings fill the shorter stay, and the longer visit opens the ruins of the great Zimbabwe and the falls of the north. The layered clothing of the high-altitude evenings completes the sensible list of the visit.
The Gallery, the Kopje Views and the Mbare Market of the Town
The national gallery of the capital, with its celebrated collection of the stone sculpture of the Shona artists of the country, ranks among the finest museums of the continent, and the parks and the gardens of the centre give the city its leafy, restful character. The kopje hill, the site of the first settlement of the colonial town, offers the viewpoints over the grid of the capital, while the board game of the buyers and the craft markets of the city, above all the market of the Msasa and the craft village of the suburbs, hold the artisan trade of the nation. The bookshops of the world, the street stalls of the weekend and the easy game parks of the surrounding plains complete the picture of the proud, green heart of Zimbabwe.
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- Country
- Zimbabwe
- Population
- 1,490,000
- Capital
- Harare
- Region
- Africa
- Currency
- Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL)
- Languages
- English
- Calling code
- +263
- Country code
- ZW
Entry requirements for Zimbabwe
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Zimbabwe for tourism.
Frequently asked questions
Is Harare the capital of Zimbabwe?
Yes — Harare is the capital of Zimbabwe.
What currency do I need in Harare?
The local currency is the Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL). Languages spoken in Zimbabwe include English.
What is the dialling code for Zimbabwe?
The international dialling code for Zimbabwe is +263.
Do I need a visa to visit Zimbabwe?
It depends on your passport. For the origins we track, the current tourism visa status is Morocco (e-visa). Check the entry requirements tool for your own nationality.
Flying out of Harare? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.