Dar es Salaam: a first-timer's city guide

Arriving in Dar

Julius Nyerere International Airport is the country's main international gateway, a short drive from the city centre and the Msasani Peninsula, though traffic can make it slow at rush hour. Use an official airport taxi or a ride-hailing app rather than accepting offers in the arrivals hall.

Where to stay

• **Masaki and Oyster Bay:** leafy, calm and close to restaurants, cafés and the sea. The most comfortable base for first-timers.
• **Msasani Peninsula:** shopping centres, the Slipway waterfront and sunset views.
• **City centre (Posta and Kisutu):** close to the ferry terminal for Zanzibar, historic buildings and good Indian food. Busy by day, quiet at night.
• **Mbezi and Kunduchi beaches:** resort hotels on the northern coast.

Things to do

• **Kivukoni Fish Market:** an early-morning auction of the day's catch, loud and full of life.
• **Kariakoo Market:** the city's giant commercial market. Go with a local friend or guide and keep your bag in front.
• **National Museum and House of Culture:** history from early human fossils to independence.
• **Village Museum:** traditional houses from different regions of Tanzania, with dance performances on some days.
• **Mwenge Woodcarvers Market:** Makonde carvings and Tingatinga paintings from the artists themselves.
• **Bongoyo and Mbudya islands:** short boat trips for snorkelling and lazy beach days.
• **Coco Beach:** where locals gather at weekends for grilled snacks, coconuts and the sea breeze.

Food

Dar is a food city. Try mishkaki (grilled meat skewers), chipsi mayai (a chip omelette), fresh grilled fish with coconut rice, and Indian dishes in the city centre that reflect the long history of trade across the Indian Ocean. Street food is popular; choose busy stalls where food is cooked fresh.

Getting around

Ride-hailing apps work well and avoid haggling. Bajaji (three-wheel tuk-tuks) are cheap for short trips, and the dedicated rapid bus lanes (BRT) cut through traffic on main routes. Boda boda motorbike taxis are common but accident rates are high. The Standard Gauge Railway runs inland toward Morogoro and Dodoma, and fast ferries go to Zanzibar.

Staying safe

Petty crime, bag snatching and phone theft happen, especially in crowds and on the beach. Avoid walking alone after dark, do not carry valuables on the beach, and keep car windows up in traffic. Take extra care around the ferry port where touts approach visitors.

Day trips

Bagamoyo, a historic Swahili and colonial town to the north, makes a rewarding day trip. Further afield, Nyerere National Park (formerly part of the Selous) and Mikumi National Park are the closest safaris to the city.

Heading to the islands? Read our Zanzibar guide, or plan your route with the free trip planner.

Easy escapes from the city

When the traffic wears you down, the coast is close. Bongoyo and Mbudya islands, reached by boat from the Msasani Peninsula, offer quiet beaches and clear water for swimming and snorkelling. South of the city, Kigamboni across the harbour has calmer beaches and simple resorts. Bagamoyo, a historic town to the north, makes a good day trip for its old buildings and Catholic museum. Inside the city, the National Museum and the Village Museum explain Tanzanian history and traditional homes, and the Kariakoo Market area shows the commercial heart of the city. Use our free trip planner to plan city days around your safari or Zanzibar time.