Find places in Senegal

Must-Haves

• African Renaissance Monument (Ouakam)
  Ride up inside the giant bronze statue for the widest view over Dakar and the ocean.
• Goree Island ferry (Port of Dakar, Plateau)
  The short crossing to car free Goree, the essential half day from the capital.

Fun for Everyone

• Mamelles Lighthouse (Ouakam)
  A short uphill walk to the lighthouse for sunset over the Atlantic.
• Surf lessons at Yoff (Yoff)
  Beginner friendly surf schools on the beaches north of the city.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ngor Right surf break (Ngor Island)
  The famous right hand wave that put Dakar on the global surf map.

Must-Haves

• House of Slaves (Goree Island)
  A moving memorial to the Atlantic slave trade with its famous Door of No Return.
• Museum of Black Civilisations (Place de la Gare, Plateau)
  A bold modern museum celebrating African and diaspora history, art and science.
• IFAN Museum of African Arts (Place Soweto, Plateau)
  Masks, textiles and instruments from across West Africa in a compact colonial building.
• Mosque of the Divinity (Ouakam)
  A white mosque on the shore, striking at sunset with the waves below.

Off the Beaten Path

• Village des Arts (Route de l'Aeroport, Yoff)
  Wander open studios where Dakar's painters and sculptors work and sell.

Fun for Everyone

• Ngor Island (Ngor)
  Hop on a pirogue for calm swimming coves, seafood lunches and surf off the point.
• Yoff Beach (Yoff)
  A wide working beach where fishermen haul in pirogues and locals play football.

Off the Beaten Path

• Lac Rose (Niaga, near Dakar)
  A salt lake that can glow pink in the dry season, worked by salt collectors.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Soumbedioune Fish Market (Corniche Ouest)
  Watch the pirogues land the evening catch and browse the craft village next door.
• Marche Kermel (Plateau)
  A restored colonial market hall with fish, flowers, fabric and crafts.
• Marche HLM (HLM)
  Dakar's fabric market, piled high with wax prints and bazin, with tailors close by.

Off the Beaten Path

• Marche Tilene (Medina)
  A noisy everyday market for spices, produce and a real slice of Medina life.

Must-Haves

• Chez Loutcha (Plateau)
  Generous plates of Senegalese and Cape Verdean classics in a long running local favourite.
• Le Ngor (Ngor)
  A classic seafront restaurant for grilled fish and lobster with sea views.

Great for Date Night

• Le Lagon 1 (Corniche Est, Plateau)
  A seafood restaurant on stilts over the water with views to Goree.

Fun for Everyone

• Les Almadies Pointe (Almadies)
  Head to the point of Almadies for grilled fish shacks and waves crashing below.

Must-Haves

• Cafe de Rome (Plateau)
  A Dakar institution for coffee, pastries and people watching in the centre.

Fun for Everyone

• La Brioche Doree (Point E)
  A busy bakery cafe for croissants, sandwiches and breakfast.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Cafe Touba stalls (Medina)
  Try spiced cafe Touba from a street vendor, a Dakar morning ritual.

Must-Haves

• Just 4 U (Point E)
  Dakar's best known live music club, with mbalax, jazz and Afro bands.

Great for Date Night

• Le Djoloff (Fann Hock)
  A rooftop bar and restaurant with live jazz and city views.

Must-Haves

• Dak'Art Biennale (Citywide)
  Africa's leading contemporary art biennale, held in even numbered years.

Fun for Everyone

• Dakar wrestling matches (Arene Nationale, Pikine)
  Watch laamb, Senegal's wrestling, a spectacle of music, mystique and muscle.

Must-Haves

• Terrou-Bi (Corniche Ouest)
  A seafront hotel with a private beach, pool and casino.

Great for Date Night

• Radisson Blu Hotel Dakar Sea Plaza (Corniche Ouest)
  Sea view rooms and an infinity pool beside a shopping mall.

Fun for Everyone

• Pullman Dakar Teranga (Plateau)
  A central hotel with ocean views, a good choice for short stays.

Must-Haves

• Faidherbe Bridge (Saint-Louis island)
  The iron bridge that is the city's symbol, best seen lit at night.

Fun for Everyone

• Caleche tour of the island (Saint-Louis island)
  Clip clop around the old streets by horse drawn carriage.

Must-Haves

• Guet Ndar fishing quarter (Langue de Barbarie)
  Hundreds of painted pirogues and a vibrant fishing community.
• CRDS Museum (Southern tip of the island)
  Regional history and ethnography in an old colonial building.

Fun for Everyone

• Institut Francais Saint-Louis (Saint-Louis island)
  Concerts, films and exhibitions in a colonial building.

Must-Haves

• Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary (Djoudj)
  Huge flocks of pelicans and flamingos in one of the world's great wetlands.

Fun for Everyone

• Langue de Barbarie National Park (Gandiol)
  Boat trips past seabird colonies at the river mouth.

Great for Date Night

• Hotel de la Poste restaurant (Saint-Louis island)
  Dine in the historic hotel tied to the Aeropostale pilots.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Fish grills on Guet Ndar (Langue de Barbarie)
  Grilled fish fresh from the boats at simple beach stalls.

Fun for Everyone

• Flamingo Bar (Quai Henri Jay)
  A riverside terrace for drinks and live music on weekends.

Must-Haves

• Saint-Louis Jazz Festival (Citywide)
  One of Africa's oldest jazz festivals, usually around late May or early June.

Must-Haves

• Hotel de la Poste (Saint-Louis island)
  A historic hotel full of aviation memorabilia beside the bridge.

Great for Date Night

• Hotel La Residence (Saint-Louis island)
  A family run hotel in a restored colonial house.

Off the Beaten Path

• Zebrabar (Langue de Barbarie, Mouit)
  A campement in the park with kayaks and birdlife at the door.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Sor Market (Sor)
  The mainland market for fabric, produce and everyday life.

Must-Haves

• Somone Lagoon (Somone)
  Pirogue trips through mangroves full of birds where the river meets the sea.

Fun for Everyone

• Bandia Reserve (Bandia)
  An easy game drive among giraffes, rhinos and giant baobabs.

Off the Beaten Path

• Popenguine Nature Reserve (Popenguine)
  Cliff walks and dry forest in a community managed reserve.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mbour Fish Market (Mbour)
  Chaotic, colourful afternoon landings of hundreds of pirogues.

Fun for Everyone

• Saly crafts village (Saly Portudal)
  Woodcarvings, fabric and jewellery in the resort's craft market.

Must-Haves

• Joal-Fadiouth (Joal)
  Walk the wooden bridge to an island made of seashells and its shared cemetery.

Off the Beaten Path

• Sobo Bade (Toubab Dialaw)
  A mosaic covered arts centre and guesthouse on the cliffs.

Fun for Everyone

• Popenguine Basilica (Popenguine)
  The shrine at the heart of Senegal's Pentecost pilgrimage.

Fun for Everyone

• Saly Portudal nightlife strip (Saly Portudal)
  Bars and clubs along the main resort road.

Fun for Everyone

• Accrobaobab (Bandia forest)
  Ziplines and rope courses through huge baobab trees.

Must-Haves

• Lamantin Beach Resort (Saly Portudal)
  A large spa resort on the beach.

Great for Date Night

• Royam Hotel (Saly Portudal)
  A resort with pools and gardens close to the beach.

Off the Beaten Path

• Les Manguiers de Guereo (Guereo)
  A peaceful lodge near the Somone lagoon.

Must-Haves

• Popenguine Pentecost pilgrimage (Popenguine)
  A huge Catholic pilgrimage walk from Dakar at Pentecost.

Must-Haves

• Saloum Delta National Park (Toubacouta)
  Boat trips into protected mangroves and seabird islands.

Fun for Everyone

• Fathala Reserve (Karang)
  A wildlife reserve with giraffes, antelope and a forest of baobabs.

Off the Beaten Path

• Palmarin salt flats (Palmarin)
  Pink tinged salt pans and lagoons at the delta's edge.

Must-Haves

• Sine-Saloum pirogue trip (Toubacouta)
  Drift through mangrove channels, stopping at shell islands and villages.

Fun for Everyone

• Kayaking the bolongs (Toubacouta)
  Paddle quietly through creeks at high tide.

Off the Beaten Path

• Foundiougne ferry crossing (Foundiougne)
  A slow river crossing into the sleepy town on the Saloum.

Must-Haves

• Keur Saloum (Toubacouta)
  A riverside lodge with bungalows and boats at the jetty.

Great for Date Night

• Les Paletuviers (Toubacouta)
  A comfortable lodge among mangroves with a pool and boat trips.
• Fathala Wildlife Lodge (Karang)
  Tented luxury on the edge of the reserve.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ecolodge de Simal (Simal)
  Eco cabins on a creek with kayaks and quiet nights.
• Les Collines de Niassam (Palmarin)
  Unique tree houses and stilt rooms over a lagoon.

Off the Beaten Path

• Mar Lodj island (Mar Lodj)
  A car free island where Muslim, Christian and animist shrines sit side by side.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Lodge fish lunches on a sandbank (Toubacouta)
  Grilled fish on a sandbank in the middle of the delta.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Sokone market (Sokone)
  A rural market where delta villagers trade fish and produce.

Must-Haves

• Marche Saint-Maur (Centre)
  The busy central market for produce, fabric and daily life.

Fun for Everyone

• Ziguinchor artisans market (Centre)
  Woodcarvings, baskets and fabric from Casamance artisans.

Must-Haves

• Casamance River pirogue trip (Riverfront)
  Explore mangroves, bird islands and fishing villages by boat.

Must-Haves

• Alliance Franco-Senegalaise (Centre)
  A beautiful building in Casamance style hosting concerts and exhibitions.
• Oussouye (Oussouye)
  The heart of Jola country and seat of the King of Oussouye.

Off the Beaten Path

• Carabane Island (Carabane)
  An island with a colonial past, a quiet beach and an old church.
• Cases a etage of Mlomp (Mlomp)
  Unique two storey mud houses in a Jola village.
• Impluvium house of Enampore (Enampore)
  A round clay house built around a rainwater basin.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Le Perroquet (Riverfront)
  A friendly riverfront spot for fish and a drink at sunset.

Must-Haves

• Hotel Kadiandoumagne (Riverfront)
  A hotel with a terrace over the Casamance River.

Fun for Everyone

• Le Flamboyant (Centre)
  A comfortable central hotel with a pool.

Fun for Everyone

• Elinkine fishing port (Elinkine)
  A busy port and the jumping off point for Carabane.

Off the Beaten Path

• Kafountine fish smoking beach (Kafountine)
  A vast beach where fish is smoked in open air.

Must-Haves

• Cap Skirring beach (Cap Skirring)
  Miles of soft white sand and palm trees.

Off the Beaten Path

• Boucotte beach (Boucotte)
  Quiet beach walks past a fishing village.

Fun for Everyone

• Diembering (Diembering)
  A village of giant kapok trees and dunes near the beach.

Must-Haves

• Club Med Cap Skirring (Cap Skirring)
  The classic all inclusive resort on the beach.

Great for Date Night

• Hotel La Paillote (Cap Skirring)
  A beachfront hotel with bungalows and a good restaurant.

Great for Date Night

• La Paillote restaurant (Cap Skirring)
  Seafood dinners near the sand.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Village fish restaurants (Cap Skirring village)
  Grilled barracuda and rice in simple family places.

Fun for Everyone

• Cap Skirring beach bars (Cap Skirring)
  Sundowners on the sand as the sun drops into the Atlantic.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Cap Skirring village market (Cap Skirring village)
  Fruit, fabric and crafts in the village centre.

Off the Beaten Path

• Bicycle tour of the villages (Cap Skirring)
  Cycle through rice paddies and Jola villages.