Home › Itineraries › Weekend
Weekend in Dakar

Weekend in Dakar

Trip Overview

Two days in Dakar slam you with history, then wash the weight away with Atlantic salt. Day one ferries you to Gorée Island, where ochre slave-house walls and rust-red cannons still face the sea, then drops you into the Plateau's jacaranda-lined grid while vendors grill spicy merlu over street-side coals. Day two hugs the Cap-Vert peninsula, following cliff trails where baobabs lean over crashing surf and finishing with live mbalax rolling from open-air bars in Almadies. Expect equatorial sun, skin glazed with salt, and nights driven by sabar drums.

Pace
Active
Daily Budget
$120-160 per day
Best Seasons
November, May (cool harmattan breeze)
Ideal For
First-timers, History seekers, Coastal lovers, Weekend escapees

Day-by-Day Itinerary

A complete plan for every day of your trip

1

Gorée's Echoes & Plateau Flavors

Dakar-Plateau & Île de Gorée
Ride the indigo channel to face colonial scars, then drift downtown alleys for thieboudienne and rooftop jazz at sunset.
Morning
Île de Gorée walking tour
Board the 09:00 ferry from Port de Dakar. The 20-minute crossing cuts through Atlantic chop that smells of diesel and seaweed. Walk clockwise from the jetty: the pink-washed courtyard of Maison des Esclaves, the line of rusty cannons still aimed seaward, women weaving bright bazin cloth beneath flame trees.
3.5 hours $25 (ferry + guide)
Buy ferry ticket directly at quay. Guides wait on the island, negotiate in CFA.
Lunch
Chez Loutcha
Senegalese comfort food
Afternoon
Plateau street-food crawl & rooftop jazz
Back in Dakar by 13:30, head to Rue 9 for yassa chicken skewers sizzling over charcoal. Stroll the jacaranda shade of Avenue Pompidou to Place de l'Indépendance, then climb to Ngor View rooftop for cold Gazelle beer and saxophone licks while the sun slips into the ocean.
3.5 hours $30
Evening
Dinner & nightlife in Plateau
Le Djolof for mafé stew followed by Just 4 U bar for live mbalax

Where to Stay Tonight

Plateau/Goree jetty zone (Hotel Le Djolof or Radisson Blu Dakar)

Ferry dock and nightlife lie within walking distance; Plateau remains the safest zone for solo evening strolls.

See all Dakar accommodation options →
Bring CFA cash to Gorée, card machines fail when sea spray hits the docks.
Day 1 Budget: $160
2

Cliff Trails & Almadies Beats

Cap-Vert Peninsula
Begin at the bronze heights of African Renaissance Monument, trace cliff paths to secret coves, and close with fried plantain and DJ sets in Almadies.
Morning
African Renaissance Monument & coastal hike
Catch an 08:00 taxi to the 49-metre bronze couple and child rising above crashing waves. The elevator to the crown gives 360° views: rust-colored roofs, baobab silhouettes, fishing pirogues gliding across silver water. Drop down and follow the dusty, thorn-scented coastal trail west to hidden Plage des Mamelles, where turquoise water fizzes over black lava.
3 hours $15 (monument + taxi split)
Lunch
La Cabane du Pêcheur, Almadies
Grilled capitaine and attieke
Afternoon
Plage du Virage surf & Almadies craft stalls
Rent a longboard from local surfers; Atlantic rollers arrive steady and warm. Rinse under palm-frond showers, then wander Almadies' craft market: indigo mud-cloth, oil drums hammered into geckos, air thick with shea butter and roadside plantain sizzling on grills.
3 hours $20
Evening
Sunset drinks & live music
Phare des Mamelles lighthouse bar for sunset, then Le Must Club for DJ sets

Where to Stay Tonight

Almadies Point (Hotel La Voile d'Or or boutique Villa 126)

Steps from nightlife, sunrise ocean views, easy airport hop next morning

See all Dakar accommodation options →
Flag a taxi collective (blue 7-seater) instead of private cabs, one-tenth the price along the peninsula.
Day 2 Budget: $140

Practical Information

Everything you need to know before you go

Getting Around
Ride taxi collectives (blue vans) for $1-2 per hop along the peninsula. Agree private taxi fares in CFA before boarding. Ferries to Gorée depart every 30 minutes from 06:30-23:00. Plateau is walkable; Almadies sprawls, schedule rides.
Book Ahead
Reserve rooftop bars like Ngor View for weekends. Surfboard rental on Plage du Virage is first-come, first-served.
Packing Essentials
Pack reef-safe sunscreen, a light scarf against harmattan dust, CFA cash in small notes, and a Type C/E power adapter.
Total Budget
$300-320 for 2 days excluding flights

Customize Your Trip

Adapt this itinerary to your travel style

Budget Version
Crash in Plateau hostel bunks, grab street thieboudienne from Rue 10 stalls ($2), ride taxi collectives everywhere, skip the paid monument elevator, the view from the base is free.
Luxury Upgrade
Book an ocean-view suite at King Fahd Palace, take a private speedboat to Gorée, join a guided art tour of Village des Arts, and toast sunset champagne at Terrou-Bi yacht club.
Family-Friendly
Trade the cliff hike for calm sand at Plage de N'Gor, swap late-night bars for 17:00 drumming at Soumbedioune craft market, and pick Radisson Blu for its pool and kids' club.
Book Activities for Your Trip
Tours, tickets, and experiences in Dakar

Didn't see anything interesting yet?

Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Dakar.

See All Dakar Tours on Viator

Already found your activities?

Let us help you find the best accommodation in Dakar.

Accommodation Guide Search Hotels on Trip.com

Continue Planning Your Trip

Things to Do

Top attractions and activities for Dakar

Budget Guide

Trip costs and money tips for Dakar

Getting Around

Transport options and tips for Dakar

Where to Stay

Accommodation guide for Dakar