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Dakar
West Africa's cultural capital on a windswept Atlantic cape
West Africa's cultural capital on a windswept Atlantic cape
Taller than the Statue of Liberty, this towering bronze statue of a family striding toward the future dominates the skyline from a hilltop, with sweeping views over the city and ocean from its base.
💡 Climb or drive up for the views; the interior museum is optional.
One of the city’s landmarks, this grand mosque with its soaring minaret was inaugurated in the 1960s and remains a serene focal point of the old Medina quarter.
💡 Admire from outside and dress modestly if visiting the grounds.
On the city’s edge, Lake Retba turns a startling strawberry pink in the dry season thanks to salt-loving algae, its shores worked by salt collectors in wooden pirogues.
💡 The pink is most vivid at midday in the dry season; go with a guide.
A lively seafront craft and fish market where pirogues land the day’s catch and artisans sell wood carvings, leather and textiles, buzzing at sunset.
💡 Come at dusk for the fish landing and haggle for crafts.
The upscale western tip of the peninsula holds the continent’s westernmost point, breezy surf spots, seafood restaurants and Dakar’s liveliest bars and nightlife.
💡 Sunset drinks here catch the last light in continental Africa.
Senegalese cuisine is among Africa’s finest. Try thieboudienne, the national dish of fish and rice, spicy chicken yassa, and hearty mafe groundnut stew, washed down with bissap (hibiscus) or ginger juice. Dakar has everything from humble street stalls grilling dibi lamb to chic Almadies seafood restaurants, plus strong Lebanese and French influences and excellent coffee.
Climb the African Renaissance Monument for the views, explore the Medina and Grande Mosquee, then watch the fish land at Soumbedioune at sunset.
Take the ferry to historic Goree Island for the House of Slaves and colourful colonial lanes, returning for dinner in Almadies.
Head out to Lac Rose for the pink waters and salt harvest, or relax on the peninsula’s beaches and surf breaks.
Most taxis are unmetered; negotiate the price before getting in, or use a ride app where available.
Cards work in hotels and upscale spots, but you need West African CFA francs for markets, taxis and street food.
November to June is dry and pleasant; the rains and humidity peak from July to September.
Senegalese hospitality is famous; a few words of French or Wolof go a long way.
Music-loving Dakar, colonial Saint-Louis, the memory of Goree Island, the beaches of Saly and the mangroves of the Sine-Saloum Delta — five sides of Senegal.