10 Things You MUST Do In Dakar, Senegal

Alexa Renee
18 hours ago
4 min read

If there's one city in West Africa I'm obsessed with, it's Dakar. Vibrant, full of flavor, and perfectly chaotic, much like my personality, haha. If you were my friend, and I loved you, these are the top things I'd force you to do on a first-time visit to the city.

I promise you won't want to skip a single little thing on this list (or do, idk, you won't hurt my feelings).

1. Go to Gorée Island (and go early)

This is one of the most important historical stops in Dakar, and it’s an absolute non-negotiable stop. The island is beautiful, but the history is heavy, especially when you visit the House of Slaves. This was many enslaved Africans' final stop before heading to the Americas and beyond.

This can totally be done on your own, but to minimize logistics, book a tour via Viator (like this one) or through my friends at Mowoki Tours.

Tips:

Go early to avoid long lines
Bring your passport (required for tickets)
Ferry is ~5,000–6,000 CFA roundtrip
Plan for at least half a day

2.Dedicate a day to N'gor Island

N'gor Island is the easiest escape from Dakar when you want something slower. It’s just a few minutes away, but the vibe completely shifts to laid-back beach energy. This is where you go to eat good seafood, sit by the water, and not feel rushed at all. There's also an excellent art scene. Tickets should be 2000 CFA roundtrip for the public boats.

Grab a delicious lunch of grilled fish, or yassa poulet on island at Restaurant La Penenaire

Tips:

Boat is ~2,000 CFA roundtrip for the public boat
Ride is about 5–10 minutes
Keep your return ticket slip
Bring cash for food, shops and ferry tickets

3. Book a street food tour

Dakar has incredible food, but a tour helps you tap into it way faster and with a trusty guide by your side. You’re learning what the dishes are, where to find them, and how locals actually experience the city. One of the best parts is you'll visit the famous dibi spot that Anthony Bourdain highlighted on No Reservations years ago.

My street food tour was run with Mowoki Tours! This can also be done through this tour on Viator.

Tips:

Come hungry, portions add up

4. Take a cooking class with Dakar Jollof

Fun fact- Senegal makes the ORIGINAL jollof rice, and it wins in every war. This class is run with Dakar Jollof and it is completely hands on, you’ll spend a few hours learning how to cook Theibboudine from scratch. You'll absolutely build an appetite, and by the end of the class will be ready to devour.

Tips:

Book in advance (limited spots)
Come hungry, you’ll eat everything
Don’t schedule anything right after because you'll want to nap

5. Visit the Museum of Black Civilizations

We love a museum that talks about everything Black! The museum gives context to the culture, history, and identity you’re seeing throughout Dakar. It’s modern, well done, and worth taking your time with.

Tips:

Entry ~3,000 -5,000 CFA
Plan for 2–3 hours
Closed Mondays

6. Enoy Dakar's vibey beach clubs

Dakar beach clubs are a whole vibe. Slow down, sit by the water, and just enjoy being there. Some of the best ones are around Ngor and Almadies. A lot of them are within walking distance of each other, so you could spend an afternoon just bouncing around!

Check out:

Tips:

Check Instagram/WhatsApp for reservations and hours
Some have entry fees or minimum spend
Go for a few hours, not 30 minutes
Bring cash just in case

7. Make a sunset reservation at Le Phare des Mamelles

This is one of those dinners where the setting does a lot of the work. You’re right on the cliffs overlooking the ocean, and the sunset is the moment. It’s a little more elevated, so it feels like a proper night out. Try to catch a night when they have live music!

Tips:

Make a reservation ahead of time
Go right before sunset
Expect higher prices than average

8. Go shopping at Soumbedioune

If you want souvenirs that actually feel meaningful, this is where you go. Markets like Soumbédioune are full of handmade goods, from textiles to jewelry to art. It’s a great place to take your time and browse.

Tips:

Bring cash
Negotiate respectfully

9. Go to the African Renaissance Monument and go all the way up

Most people take a picture from the bottom and leave, but you can actually go inside and up to the top. The views over Dakar are incredible and give you a completely different perspective of the city. There's also a museum inside!

Tips:

Open roughly 9am–7:30pm
You can access a museum + viewing area
Go on a clear day for the best views

10. Eat

As I type this now, I miss Senegalese food dearly. It's hands down my favorite cuisine in West Africa, and probably top 10 of my favorite food in the world.