Cheap flights to Dakar
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Quick summary
Country
Senegal
Continent
Africa
Airport
DSS
Currency
CFA franc (XOF)
Time zone
UTC
Deals already spotted to Dakar
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Dakar (Ndakaaru in Wolof) is the capital of Senegal. Wikipedia (EN) and Wikivoyage (EN) place it at the end of the Cap-Vert peninsula, the westernmost point of mainland Africa, and Wikivoyage calls it the cultural and commercial centre of French-speaking West Africa and a natural first stop thanks to its flight links with Europe. French Wikipedia adds that it was the capital of French West Africa from 1902 to 1958 and became the capital of independent Senegal in 1960. International events such as the Dakar Rally and the Contemporary Art Biennale have boosted tourism, business travel in particular. DSS is served by many airlines, so tracking prices helps you pick the right moment.
Airport and getting into town
A modern airport about fifty kilometres from the centre
Dakar – Blaise Diagne International Airport (DSS)
Blaise Diagne International Airport lies near the village of Diass, about 50 km from Dakar according to Wikivoyage (EN) and 47 km east of the city according to Wikivoyage (FR). It opened in December 2017 and replaced the old Léopold Sédar Senghor airport at Yoff, which now handles only a few flights. Wikivoyage (EN) lists direct links from Paris, Brussels, Madrid, Lisbon, Barcelona, Casablanca, Abidjan and Accra, among others; routes change with the season, so check the connections on your ticket. For the ride into town the two versions of Wikivoyage mention taxis, buses and the Regional Express Train (TER), but they disagree on whether the rail link to the airport is already running: check before you leave.
Distances from Wikivoyage (EN, FR), approximate. Journey times depend heavily on traffic and are not given here.
Both Wikivoyage editions warn about touts and unlicensed taxis outside the terminal: agree the fare before getting in, or use a ride-hailing app. Wikivoyage (FR) recommends yellow taxis or Yango, and Wikivoyage (EN) advises against changing money in the arrivals hall. As for geography, French Wikipedia puts Dakar 167 km from Banjul and 408 km from Nouakchott as the crow flies.
Landmarks
The Mosque of the Divinity, the corniche and the Mamelles lighthouse
Dakar is best explored between its Atlantic cliffs, its old Lebou villages and its districts of tiled roofs. The places below are illustrated; we stay cautious about dates and figures, which vary from one source to another.
The Mosque of the Divinity above the ocean
In Ouakam, one of the original Lebou villages named by Wikivoyage (EN), the Mosque of the Divinity stands on a green cliff above a beach where the waves roll in. The African Renaissance Monument can be seen on its hill in the distance: Wikipedia (FR) gives it a height of 52 m and says it was inaugurated on 3 April 2010 for the 50th anniversary of independence.
The corniche at sunset
German Wikipedia describes the west coast of the peninsula, the Corniche Ouest, as a mix of steep cliffs and small bays. Wikivoyage (EN) praises the sunset from the Place du Souvenir Africain, perched on a cliff above the ocean, but warns against walking along parts of the corniche in the evening and at night.
A peninsula of volcanic rock
French Wikipedia explains that the city stands on an old volcano, now topped by the Mamelles lighthouse, and German Wikipedia describes the two basalt cones of Les Mamelles, about a hundred metres high. The rocky coastline, seen here under a stormy sky, still shows the mark.
The Mamelles lighthouse
German Wikipedia calls it the oldest lighthouse in the country, and Wikivoyage (EN) praises the view over the ocean and the city skyline from the site. At night its beam sweeps over Ouakam and the Mamelles beach, a sandy beach popular for its sunsets, though Wikivoyage warns about big waves.
Tiled roofs and city blocks
From above, the city mixes villas with tiled roofs, trees and office blocks, with the sea in the background. German Wikipedia says economic activity and most institutions are concentrated in the Plateau district in the south, while Wikivoyage (EN) notes that the metropolitan area has several million inhabitants.
Other sights named by Wikipedia (EN, FR, DE) and Wikivoyage (EN, FR): the African Renaissance Monument; the Grand Mosque, built in 1964 by French and Moroccan architects; Place de l'Indépendance and the historic Plateau; the Dakar railway station; Kermel market; Hann Park; the Madeleine Islands, called the smallest national park in the world by Wikivoyage (EN); and the points of Almadies and Ngor to the west. To the east, Gorée island, a UNESCO site since 1978 according to French Wikipedia, is a 10 to 20 minute boat ride from the port; German Wikipedia notes that its role in the slave trade has sometimes been overstated but that the House of Slaves remains a place of remembrance. Further out, Lake Retba, the Pink Lake, where salt is still harvested by hand, is a classic day trip.
Museums and culture
Black civilisations, African art and a lively cultural scene
The Museum of Black Civilisations
French Wikipedia records its opening in 2018; Wikivoyage (EN) describes a museum devoted to African civilisations in a rotunda-shaped building, with labels that call for a little French. It adds to the cultural standing Dakar has held since the 1966 World Festival of Black Arts (Wikipedia FR).
IFAN and African art
French Wikipedia lists the IFAN museum among the city's buildings of interest, and Wikivoyage (EN) specifies that this is the Théodore Monod Museum of African Art on Rue Émile Zola. On Gorée, a historical museum of Senegal and a sea museum are also named by French Wikipedia.
Contemporary art, performance and memory
Wikivoyage (EN) names the Village des Arts, an artists' studio with exhibitions, the Grand National Theatre, one of the largest venues in West Africa, the French Institute, contemporary art galleries and the Henry Bathily Museum of Women at Place du Souvenir Africain. We give no prices or opening hours, as they change.
Food and drink
Thieboudienne, yassa, bissap and markets
Everyday dishes
The country's signature dish is thieboudienne, fish with rice, vegetables and a tomato sauce; next come yassa, chicken with onions and lime, and mafé, a stew in groundnut paste. Wikivoyage (FR) mentions the tangana, small canteens serving dishes such as tieb or yassa at low prices, and Wikivoyage (EN) praises the roasted peanuts served with beer.
Drinks and sweet things
Wikivoyage (FR) suggests a well-chilled bissap, hibiscus juice, when the heat weighs on you. There are also French-style bakeries and Lebanese food, a legacy of the ties with France and of the Lebanese immigration described by French Wikipedia.
Markets and districts
Wikivoyage (EN) names Kermel, a traditional market in the centre, Soumbédioune, where fish and crafts are bought in the late afternoon, and the HLM market for fabric; Sandaga is described as very busy, with insistent hawkers. Seafood restaurants cluster at Ngor and Almadies.
Getting around
TER, rapid buses, taxis and boats
Regional Express Train
Wikivoyage (EN) says the first TER section, between Dakar station and Diamniadio, opened in December 2021; Wikivoyage (DE) describes a double-track line of 36 km with eleven stops. It mainly serves trips to the eastern part of the metropolitan area.
Buses and BRT
Wikivoyage (EN) presents the Sunu BRT, opened in 2023, which links the Grand Mosque to the corniche over 18 km on dedicated lanes, and the Dakar Dem Dikk buses, considered fairly dependable. The colourful minibuses known as cars rapides take some practice: ask a local for help.
Taxis and boats
Yellow taxis and apps such as Yango or Heetch are named by Wikivoyage (FR, EN): the fare is agreed before you get in. For Gorée a boat leaves from the port next to Place de l'Indépendance; another links Dakar to Ziguinchor, in Casamance, overnight according to Wikivoyage (DE, EN).
Budget and precautions
Budget and precautions
Price level
Dakar sits in a mid-range bracket for the region, with big differences between local eating places and chain hotels. The only figure confirmed by two sources is the taxi between the airport and the centre: roughly 20,000 to 23,000 CFA francs according to Wikivoyage (EN, FR), after bargaining. We publish no other fares, which change quickly.
Currency
Senegal uses the CFA franc (XOF). Cash remains useful outside big hotels and restaurants.
Flights, safety and health
SniperAir tracks prices to DSS and compares them with the route's history, but it does not sell or book tickets. To compare, you can also follow Casablanca or Marrakech. Wikivoyage (EN) describes fairly frequent petty crime, including at Place de l'Indépendance, with pickpocketing in markets and scams near the airport, and advises avoiding the corniche and beaches at night, while stressing the hospitality of residents and the country's political stability. Official advice varies from one country of departure to another: check your own government's before booking. For health, ask a doctor or a vaccination centre before you go: vaccinations, including yellow fever, and malaria prevention.
When to go
A hot climate softened by the Atlantic breeze
Dry season (roughly December to May)
Wikivoyage (DE) places the dry season from December to May. Wikivoyage (EN) adds that January to March are the coolest months, with highs around 25 °C and lows of 17 to 18 °C: this is the most comfortable period for most visitors.
Rainy season (roughly July to October)
Wikivoyage (EN) puts it from July to October and Wikivoyage (DE) from June to November, under the name hivernage. The hottest months are July to October, with highs of 30 to 31 °C; streets can flood during downpours.
Temperatures
The sea breeze tempers the heat compared with inland cities such as Bamako or Ouagadougou, according to Wikivoyage (EN, ES). The climate stays warm and humid all year.
Rainfall
Wikivoyage (EN, ES) gives about 495 mm of rain a year, almost all between July and October. The sources do not agree exactly on the limits of the wet season, so we stay approximate.
To combine the sea, sightseeing and comfortable temperatures, the end of the dry season, from December to March, is the period most often suggested. We give no full monthly averages, because the sources do not cover the same stations or years.
By length of stay
What to do in Dakar by length of stay
The centre, the monuments and the corniche
One or two days for the Plateau and Place de l'Indépendance, a viewpoint on the corniche, the African Renaissance Monument and the Mamelles lighthouse, following the safety advice.
Gorée, museums and beaches
Add Gorée island, the Museum of Black Civilisations or IFAN, a market and a music night. The beaches of Ngor and Almadies suit a break by the water.
Lake Retba, Saint-Louis and beyond
Wikivoyage (EN) suggests Lake Retba; Wikivoyage (FR, DE) gives about 260 km by road to Saint-Louis, four hours by bush taxi according to the French edition. The Saloum delta and Casamance need more time.
In pictures
Dakar in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Dakar
Where is Dakar airport and how far is it from the centre?
Blaise Diagne Airport (DSS) is at Diass, 47 km east of Dakar according to Wikivoyage (FR) and about 50 km according to Wikivoyage (EN). It replaced the old Yoff airport in December 2017.
Is Dakar a safe city?
Wikivoyage (EN) describes fairly frequent petty crime, mainly in markets, around the airport and at night on the corniche and beaches, but also a politically stable country. Official advice varies by country of departure: check your own government's before booking.
What health precautions should I take for Dakar?
Ask a doctor or a vaccination centre before you go: up-to-date vaccinations, including yellow fever, and malaria prevention. Entry requirements depend on your nationality and change: check the official sites.
When is the best time to go to Dakar?
The dry season, roughly December to May, is the most pleasant, especially January to March, with highs around 25 °C according to Wikivoyage (EN). The rainy season runs roughly from July to October.
How long should I stay in Dakar?
One or two days cover the centre and the corniche; add two days for Gorée, museums and beaches, and more for Lake Retba or Saint-Louis.
Do I need a stopover to fly to Dakar?
Wikivoyage (EN) lists direct flights from several European cities, for example Paris, Brussels, Madrid, Lisbon and Barcelona. Routes change: check connections on your ticket.
How much does a flight to Dakar usually cost?
The price depends mainly on your departure city, the time of year and how far ahead you book. The "opportunities" section above shows real examples of prices SniperAir has already detected to this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Dakar drops below my budget?
Create an alert profile with your departure airport, Dakar (DSS) as the destination and your maximum budget. You are notified automatically as soon as a matching price is detected. SniperAir monitors and alerts, it does not sell or book tickets.
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