white concrete building near body of water during daytime

Dakar

Dakar is Senegal's capital on the Atlantic coast, known for Gorée Island, its markets and Senegalese cooking.

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Dakar is the capital of Senegal, on the Cap-Vert peninsula on the Atlantic coast of West Africa. The city runs from the Plateau district, with its colonial-era buildings and banks, through the older Médina to the harbor and the beaches along the shore. Gorée Island lies a short ferry ride offshore. Its old houses and the Maison des Esclaves, a memorial to the enslaved people held there before being shipped across the Atlantic, are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The markets and food are the other reasons to go. Thieboudienne, a dish of fish and rice, is Senegal's national dish and is common on menus across the city. The Sandaga market in Plateau and the Soumbedioune craft market show daily trade and local crafts. The dry season runs from November to May, and November to February is the most comfortable time to visit. Dakar suits a two- to three-day stop, either as a city break or as the start of a trip along the Senegalese coast.

Dakar in five

Carry CFA francs for markets and taxisPay for markets, taxis and small restaurants in CFA francs. Many hotels and supermarkets take cards, but plenty of smaller places do not.Money and costs
Set up a local SIM or eSIMOrange and Free are the main mobile networks. Buy either with your passport, and load data before you need maps or ride-hailing.Phones and eSIM
Agree the taxi fare before you get inDakar taxis often run without a meter. Ask the price to your destination first, and confirm it with the driver before you set off.
Take the Gorée ferry earlyFerries to Gorée Island leave from the harbor in central Dakar, and the island has no cars. Go in the morning, before the day-trip crowds arrive.
Ask before photographing peopleIn markets and on the street, ask before you take someone's portrait. Do not photograph police, military sites or government buildings.

Things to do in Dakar

See all attractions in Dakar

Mosque · DakarGrand Mosque of Dakar

Beach · DakarPetite Ngor Beach

Sight · DakarMedina

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to DakarPut the places you like in Dakar on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Currency: West African CFA franc (XOF)
Entry: Visa or e-visa needed by many passports; check the rules for yours before you fly
Emergency: 17 police, 18 fire, 1515 ambulance (SAMU)
Tipping: Not required; round up in restaurants or leave small change
Time: UTC+0, no daylight saving

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryClear0 rainy daysHigh25°Low21°Cool, dry
FebruaryClear0 rainy daysHigh24°Low20°Dry, hazy
MarchClear0 rainy daysHigh23°Low20°Hot, dry
AprilClear0 rainy daysHigh23°Low20°Hot, dry
MayClear0 rainy daysHigh24°Low21°Hot, humid
JuneClear1 rainy dayHigh26°Low23°Rains begin
JulyPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh27°Low25°Rainy season
AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh28°Low26°Rainy season
SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh29°Low27°Humid, rain
OctoberClear3 rainy daysHigh29°Low27°Humid, rain
NovemberClear0 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Dry, warming
DecemberClear0 rainy daysHigh26°Low23°Dry, mild

Average daily high and low in Dakar, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Dakar

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 32°
Humidity: 81%
Wind: 12 km/h
Chance of rain: 40%

Dakar

10:37 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+0

Today29°25°40%Monday: Thunderstorms. High 29°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 40%.
Tue30°25°18%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 18%.
Wed30°26°2%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 30°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 2%.
Thu31°27°2%Thursday: Cloudy. High 31°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 2%.
Fri32°27°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 32°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sat37°28°0%Saturday: Cloudy. High 37°, Low 28°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sun39°28°0%Sunday: Cloudy. High 39°, Low 28°. Chance of rain 0%.

Updated 08:24 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 587.8 XOF

Amount

Converted to

XOF · West African CFA Franc

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Gorée IslandShort ferry ride from the Dakar harborThe House of Slaves and car-free streets make a half-day trip.
Lac RoseAbout 1 to 2 hours by road, depending on trafficA pink-tinted salt lake where locals harvest salt by hand.
Saint-LouisAbout 4 to 5 hours by roadA former colonial capital on an island in the Senegal River, with a UNESCO-listed old quarter.

Before you go to Dakar

eSIM for SenegalOrange and Free network optionsRead the guide

Travel insuranceCover for medical care and evacuationRead the guide

Money and cardsCFA francs, cash and card acceptanceRead the guide

Stays in DakarPlateau, Médina and Almadies comparedRead the guide

Rules for Dakar, checked

Check Senegal's visa and e-visa rules for your passport on the official government site before you fly, as requirements depend on nationality.
Ask before photographing people in markets and on the street, and do not photograph police, military sites or government buildings.
Dress modestly outside the tourist areas, and ask before you go inside a mosque, since access for non-Muslims varies from one mosque to another.

Plan around Dakar

All of Senegal

Dakar in the wider country, with regions and entry rules

Read the guide Getting around

Taxis, buses and the Gorée ferry across the city

Read the guide Money and cards

Paying in CFA francs and where cards work

Read the guide Visas and entry

Checking the entry rules for your passport

Read the guide Where to stay

Plateau, Médina and Almadies compared

Read the guide Phones and eSIM

Data for maps and ride apps on arrival

Read the guide

Dakar FAQ

Is Dakar worth visiting?

Yes, for two or three days. Gorée Island, the Museum of Black Civilisations and the Sandaga market show different sides of the city and its history.

How many days do you need in Dakar?

Two days cover the city centre, the museums and Gorée. Add a day for Lac Rose if you want to see a place outside the city.

Where should I stay in Dakar?

Plateau for walking to the centre, banks and the harbor. Almadies or Ngor if beaches matter more, and Médina for a cheaper, livelier base.

Can I use cards in Dakar?

Large hotels and some shops take cards, but markets, taxis and small restaurants usually need cash. Carry CFA francs for everyday spending.

Can I visit Gorée Island as a day trip?

Yes, half a day is enough. Ferries leave from the Dakar harbor, and the island has no cars, so you walk everywhere.