Dakar is the capital of Senegal and a port city on the Cap-Vert Peninsula, the westernmost point of the African continent. Surrounded by ocean on three sides, the Atlantic wind is felt everywhere in it. Gorée Island opposite the city is on the UNESCO World Heritage list and is preserved as a memorial to the history of the slave trade, twenty minutes away by ferry. The African Renaissance Monument standing on a hill at the western end is, at 49 metres, the tallest statue on the continent. French is the official language, Wolof is spoken day to day, and the city is the centre of West African music.
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See flights to Dakar →When to visit Dakar
November to May is the dry season and the best time to travel, with temperatures between 24C and 28C and the ocean wind cutting the humidity. July to October is the rainy season, when humidity rises and temperatures reach 31C. Evenings cool down between December and February, so a light layer is worth packing.
Things to do in Dakar
Gorée Island
The small island off Dakar was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1978 and is preserved as a memorial to the Atlantic slave trade. The House of Slaves on the island is open as a museum, and its narrow lanes hold colonial era houses and the remains of a fort facing the ocean.
African Renaissance Monument
Unveiled in 2010, the 49 metre bronze statue stands on a hill west of the city and is the tallest statue on the African continent. A lift inside reaches a viewing level that looks over Dakar, the ocean and the tip of the peninsula.
Museum of Black Civilisations
Opened in 2018, the museum is built around a narrative that follows the history of civilisations of African origin from the beginnings of humanity to the present. The round building itself takes its form from the traditional courtyard houses of southern Senegal.
Lake Retba
The salt lake about 30 kilometres north east of the city turns pink in the dry season because of an alga in its water. Salt collectors lift salt from the bottom by hand, and the dunes around it run down to the ocean shore.
Marché Kermel
Built in 1860 and rebuilt after a fire in 1994 in keeping with its original plan, the circular covered market is the oldest in the centre. Flower, fruit and fish stalls fill the inside, while craft and fabric sellers work the streets around it.
Mamelles Lighthouse
Built in 1864, the lighthouse stands 105 metres up on an extinct volcanic hill at the highest point of the peninsula. The road to the top can be walked, and the summit looks over the ocean and the whole city, and at sunset over the westernmost point of Africa.
Flights from Turkey to Dakar
A direct flight from Istanbul to Dakar takes about 7 hours 55 minutes and the route is operated by Turkish Airlines, with up to 10 flights a week. Flights land at Blaise Diagne Airport, opened in 2017, as the city's old airport at Yoff is closed to commercial traffic.
Dakar FAQ
How many days do you need in Dakar?
Three days cover the centre, Gorée Island and the museums. Adding Lake Retba, Saint-Louis or the Sine-Saloum delta brings it to five or six days.
How far is the airport from the city centre?
Blaise Diagne International Airport is at Diass, about 45 kilometres from the centre. The taxi ride along the motorway takes about an hour, and an express train line also runs between the airport and the city.
What do you need to enter Senegal?
For a Turkish passport the visa is issued on arrival and allows a stay of up to one month. A yellow fever certificate is required if you are arriving from a country where yellow fever is present, and the passport must be valid for at least six months.
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