Senegal travel guide

Getting there

Blaise Diagne International Airport near Dakar is the main gateway. Land borders connect with Mauritania, Mali, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and The Gambia.

Best time to visit: Nov–May – the dry season, sunny and less humid.

Flights: see the cheapest month to fly to Dakar, with live one-way and return fares from your nearest airport.

Tougher months: August-October - the rainy season brings humidity, heavy downpours and some impassable roads, especially in the south.

Weather by month in Dakar

• 26°J
• 26°F
• 26°M
• 25°A
• 26°M
• 29°J
• 30°J●
• 30°A●●
• 31°S●●
• 31°O●
• 29°N
• 27°D

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Africa/Dakar. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 135 of 198 other passports can enter Senegal without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 0 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 63 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of Senegal (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (U.S. Department of State, updated 2025-12-01). Read the advisory.

Stay

Most trips to Senegal are based around Dakar, Gorée Island or Saint-Louis. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$30–50 for a backpacker and US$80–160 mid-range, per person.

Connect

Plug types: C, D, E, K. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +221.

Mobile data: set up a travel eSIM or check your roaming plan before you fly, so data works as soon as you land.

Do

• Dakar (Cap-Vert · capital): A vibrant capital with markets, music, beaches and the African Renaissance Monument.
• Gorée Island (Off Dakar · history): A UNESCO-listed island and important memorial to the Atlantic slave trade.
• Saint-Louis (North · colonial city): The former capital, with colonial architecture and a lively fishing district.
• Sine-Saloum Delta (Centre-west · mangroves): A peaceful world of waterways, birds and island villages.
• Casamance (South · beaches & culture): A lush region with beaches at Cap Skirring and traditional Diola culture.
• Lac Rose (Lake Retba) (Near Dakar · salt lake): A salt lake famous for its pink hue and salt harvesters.
• Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary (North · wetlands): A key wintering site for millions of migratory birds.
• Niokolo-Koba National Park (South-east · wildlife): A large park with savannah and gallery forest along the Gambia River.

Things to do

• Visit Gorée Island. Take the ferry to a car-free island of pastel houses and the House of Slaves memorial.
• Explore Saint-Louis. Ride a horse-drawn carriage through colonial streets on a UNESCO-listed river island.
• See Lac Rose. Watch salt collectors at work on Lake Retba, which can turn pink in the dry season.
• Paddle the Sine-Saloum Delta. Explore mangroves, shell islands and fishing villages by pirogue.
• Dance to mbalax. Catch a live music night in Dakar and dance to Senegal's signature sound.
• Watch birds at Djoudj. See pelicans and flamingos at one of the world's major bird sanctuaries.
• Relax in Casamance. Unwind on palm-lined beaches and visit Diola villages in the green south.
• Surf in Dakar. Catch waves at N'Gor and Ouakam, where Africa's westernmost point meets the Atlantic.

Eat and drink

• Thieboudienne – the national dish of fish and rice
• Yassa – chicken or fish with onions and lemon
• Mafé – stew in rich peanut sauce
• Bissap – sweet hibiscus juice

Money and safety

Currency: West African CFA franc (XOF). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Appreciated – around 10% in restaurants.

Emergency numbers: 17 police · 18 fire.

• The currency is the West African CFA franc; euros are easily exchanged.
• ATMs are widely available in cities, but carry cash in rural areas.
• Senegal is one of the safer countries in West Africa; watch for pickpockets and persistent hustlers in Dakar.
• Ocean currents can be very strong, so swim only at supervised beaches.