Dakar
For a quick escape from the frenetic streets of Dakar, head to peaceful Île de N'Gor, a tiny island just off Dakar's north shore. It has a few calm…
Must-see attractions in Senegal
Senegal
Transferred to Saint-Louis in 1897, the Pont Faidherbe is the city's most significant landmark. The metal arches of this bridge linking Saint-Louis to the…
Senegal
Set in a former grand home allegedly used as a departure point for slaves, this is one of the most important monuments to the slave trade and features the…
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Dakar
The is one of Senegal's best museums. Exhibitions delve into African art and culture with over 9000 objects on display. Lively displays of masks and…
Dakar
Allegedly Africa's highest statue, the African Renaissance Monument was unveiled in 2010 to commemorate Senegal's 50 years of independence from France. At…
Dakar
A photogenic 1864 lighthouse graces the top of one of Dakar's few hills. It's worth making leisurely 20-minute walk, with sweeping views across the city…
Dakar
Dakar's central square is the beating heart of the city. Symmetrically laid out and home to countless cars, crooks and 1960s concrete blocks, it also…
Dakar
In Yoff village, take a look at the Layen Mausoleum, a shrine to the founder of the Layen Muslim brotherhood. Residents of Yoff are noted for their strong…
Dakar
Plage de N'gor is a small beach popular with families and football-playing youths, and there are a few snack spots with tables on the sands. It's not a…
Dakar
Plage de Virage is a popular spot with surfers. This small beach gets packed on weekends with a mostly local crowd, though a few foreigners pass by,…
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Senegal
At 900 sq km, Niokolo-Koba is Senegal's largest national park. It's listed as a World Heritage Site in danger, as park resources barely suffice to…
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Fathala Wildlife Reserve & Lodge
Senegal
For those not heading to wildlife parks in other parts of Africa, this 60-sq-km reserve might be worth adding to your itinerary. This reserve was created…
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Senegal
With its statue of the French governor who led the colonial expansion eastwards and initiated many ambitious infrastructural projects, this square sits…
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Parc National de la Langue de Barbarie
Senegal
This park includes the far southern tip of the Langue de Barbarie peninsula, the estuary of the Senegal River (which contains two small islands) and a…
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Dakar
A bustling popular quartier with tiny tailor's shops, a busy Marché Tilène and streets brimming with life, the Médina was built as a township for the…
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Parc National du Delta du Saloum
Senegal
Established in 1976, this lush national park is a water-filled wonderland with mangroves, salt marshes, islands and woodland all part of the great delta's…
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Senegal
Right opposite the Pont Faidherbe, the Governance (usually referred to as 'la Gouvernance') is built on the ruins of the 18th-century colonial fort. This…
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Senegal
This serene 700-hectare reserve is a great spot for seeing some of the avian wildlife along the coast. Pelicans, egrets, herons and flamingos are among…
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Dakar
An arts tour around Dakar is simply not complete without a visit to this famous art complex, where some of Senegal's most promising and established…
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Senegal
This small museum gives a glimpse into the life and times of Jean Mermoz, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and other pilots who flew during the golden era of…
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Dakar
Surrounded by sumptuous gardens and guards in colonial-style uniforms, the presidential palace was originally built for the colonial governors but now…
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Senegal
Gives a glimpse of island (and regional) history dating back to the 5th century. Exhibitions cover cultural lore, megalithic sites, key figures in the…
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Dakar
The impressive Grande Mosquée, built in 1964, sits in the heart of Médina, a lively neighbourhood where tiny tailor shops fight for space with improvised…
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Parc National des Oiseaux du Djoudj
Senegal
From November to April, some three million birds migrating south from Europe stop here, because it's one of the first places with permanent water south of…
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Dakar
Like all of Dakar's beaches, Yoff's stretch of sand isn't very clean. That doesn't stop beach-goers and surfers who come for the consistent waves. Aside…
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Senegal
On the Langue de Barbarie, Guet N'Dar is a fantastically busy fishing town worth checking out to observe local culture. Come here to watch dozens of…
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Senegal
This heritage, art and culture museum contains photos of famous Saint-Louis personalities, an informative history section (in French) and exhibitions on…
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Senegal
The Maghreb-style building of the Grand Mosque in the north was constructed in 1847 by order of the colonial administration to appease the growing Muslim…
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Dakar
On the northwest corner of Pl de l'Indépendance stands this grand colonnaded building, erected in 1910. It played a pivotal role for developing trade and…
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Senegal
On opposite sides of Place Faidherbe, these two 19th-century buildings were used as soldiers' barracks during the colonial days. The building on the south…
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Senegal
Climb to the top of the Castel, the southern tip of the island, for great views, and seek out the cluster of tiny arts workshops filled with pieces by…
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Senegal
In the south, next to the governor's palace, you'll find the Cathedral, an 1828 building with a neoclassical facade that is one of the oldest operating…
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Senegal
Overlooking the leafy Place Faidherbe is this classic 19th-century building, once the residence for the French colonial governor.
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Dakar
The elegant facade of this train station inspires ideas of romantic train journeys (which are quickly wiped away once you enter the bleak interior).
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Dakar
A grand building anchoring the Place de l'Indépendance, la Gouvernance was the seat of power for the French colonial administration of Senegal.
