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The bows of two hand-painted Senegalese fishing pirogues hauled onto a Dakar beach, their hulls covered in bold geometric motifs, eyes and lettering
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DakarTravel Guide

Senegal5 stories

Perched on Africa's westernmost peninsula, Senegal's capital mixes Atlantic surf, mbalax rhythms, monumental art, and the profound history of Gorée Island.

Is Dakar right for you?

When to come

Dry season, November to May

Around 31°C by day in October, 25°C in April — recorded at the local weather station.

What it costs

Mid-range. Comfortable without planning around money, expensive if you stop counting.

What we've planned, and who for

We publish a multi-day route for this one.

Dakar is inWarm in January
When to go
January: around 26 degrees by day, 19 at night, 1 millimetres of rain, dry. We recommend this month.
February: around 25 degrees by day, 18 at night, 0 millimetres of rain, dry. We recommend this month.
March: around 25 degrees by day, 18 at night, 0 millimetres of rain, dry. We recommend this month.
April: around 25 degrees by day, 19 at night, 0 millimetres of rain, dry. We recommend this month.
May: around 26 degrees by day, 21 at night, 0 millimetres of rain, dry. We recommend this month.
June: around 29 degrees by day, 24 at night, 7 millimetres of rain, dry and hot.
July: around 30 degrees by day, 25 at night, 53 millimetres of rain, some rain.
August: around 31 degrees by day, 25 at night, 166 millimetres of rain, very wet.
September: around 31 degrees by day, 25 at night, 138 millimetres of rain, wet.
October: around 31 degrees by day, 26 at night, 26 millimetres of rain, dry and hot.
November: around 30 degrees by day, 24 at night, 0 millimetres of rain, dry and hot. We recommend this month.
December: around 28 degrees by day, 21 at night, 0 millimetres of rain, dry. We recommend this month.
Cold to hot, by dayDry to wetWhen we would go

Dry season, November to May

Average daily highs, recorded at Dakar (1991-2020 normals).

Where this comes from

NOAA NCEI (via Wikipedia 'Dakar') — Article carries two boxes; used the newer 1991-2020 NOAA NCEI normals rather than the 1961-1990 DWD box.

Budget level

Mid-range

Typical cost profile for visitors

Combine it with

Nothing else we cover is within a comfortable hop — this one is a trip of its own.

Plan itWhere to stay in Dakarad · Booking.comTours and tickets
On the map

Finding Dakar

Open in Google Maps Larger map
The stories

Reading Dakar

The bronze figures of the African Renaissance Monument towering over a long ceremonial staircase on the Mamelles hills of Dakar
01
Destinations

Should Dakar Be Your Next Big Trip? A First-Timer's Briefing

A four-night briefing on Senegal's Atlantic capital: when to come, where to base yourself, how to do Goree properly, and what it actually costs.

Senegal · 14 min
Plates of Senegalese thieboudienne - red rice with fish, carrot, cassava and aubergine
02
Food

Dakar's Cheap Eats That Punch Far Above Their Price

Dakar's low-cost kitchens - lunch counters, coal grills and market stalls - mapped by neighbourhood, price and hour, with the timing that decides whether you eat well.

Senegal · 10 min
The white twin minarets of the Mosquee de la Divinite standing at the foot of the red Ouakam cliffs in Dakar, with the Atlantic breaking on the shore beside it
03
Hidden Gems

Beyond the Plateau: The Dakar Neighborhoods Most Visitors Miss

The Plateau and Goree are only half of Dakar; the other half is a chain of Lebou fishing quarters strung along the coast, and this is how to spend two days in them.

Senegal · 11 min
Painted wooden pirogues drawn up on the orange sand of the beach at Goree, with swimmers in the shallows and the island's stone jetty and a palm behind
04
The List

Dakar, Ranked: The 7 Unmissable Experiences

Gorée's haunting history, a colossal bronze monument, pink-hued lakes, island surf breaks, and the best fish rice on earth — Dakar's essentials, in order.

Senegal · 2 min
The African Renaissance Monument silhouetted above Dakar's rooftops at sunset
05
Itineraries

Dakar Takes Four Days, and Only in One Direction

The Cap-Vert peninsula is twenty kilometres of city that changes character every few kilometres, and the fastest way to waste a trip here is to keep crossing back over it.

Senegal · 10 min
Our picks

What we'd do in Dakar

See and do

Eat and drink

Before you go

Practical essentials for Senegal

Money

West African CFA franc (XOF)

Language

French is the official language but Wolof is the everyday lingua franca, spoken by about 80% of the population; English is not widely spoken.

Power

Type C/D/E/K, 230V 50Hz

Getting around

Dakar has an all-electric BRT line and the TER commuter railway alongside shared taxis and car rapides, and the city is emphatically cash-first — cards work only in the Plateau and Almadies.

Tipping

Larger hotels and restaurants usually add a 10-15% service charge, in which case nothing more is expected; taxi drivers are not normally tipped.

Tap water

Tap water is not considered safe to drink; use bottled or filtered water.

Driving

Right-hand side; an International Driving Permit carried with your home licence is expected of short-term visitors.

Emergency

17 police, 18 fire, 1515 ambulance

Country-level guidance, checked against official sources. Currency, fares and entry rules change — confirm anything time-critical before you travel.

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