Where to stay in Dakar: Almadies, Ngor or the Plateau?

"Where should I stay in Dakar?" is one of the first questions travellers ask when they plan a trip to Senegal, whether they are coming for a few days of work or starting a tour of the country. Dakar spreads over the Cap-Vert peninsula, and the feel changes a lot from one area to the next: a government and business centre on one side, neighbourhoods facing the ocean on the other. Here is how to choose, depending on why you are coming.

Le Plateau: the historic city centre

Le Plateau is the heart of Dakar. Around Independence Square you will find most official buildings, ministries, embassies and much of the city's business life. Big markets draw large crowds.

It is the right base for a business trip, paperwork or a first look at the city on foot. Another plus: the port and the ferry landing for Gorée Island are on the north-eastern side of the district, which makes the day trip easy.

Gorée Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a place of remembrance of the Atlantic slave trade. You get there by ferry from the landing stage and explore it on foot. There are a few places to stay on the island, but not many: the simplest plan is to sleep in Dakar and spend a day there.

Les Almadies: the ocean and upmarket addresses

At the western tip of the peninsula, Pointe des Almadies is the westernmost point of mainland Africa. The area is residential and fairly upmarket, with many restaurants, cafés and hotels, the sea all around and sunsets over the Atlantic.

This is where you will find the King Fahd Palace, one of the most searched-for large hotels in Dakar, along with smaller places such as the Lodge des Almadies. Les Almadies suit a relaxing stay, a weekend or the end of a tour, when you want the sea without driving down to the Petite-Côte.

Ngor: the village, the island and the surf

Next to Les Almadies, Ngor has kept a village feel, with a family atmosphere and beaches. Offshore, Ngor Island is a crossing of just a few minutes, with beaches and seafront restaurants. Ngor Bay is one of Senegal's best-known surf spots, and several schools offer lessons.

The Hôtel Ngor Diarama is one of the names travellers search for most. Ngor is a little further from the city centre, so allow more travel time if you have meetings on the Plateau.

Other popular hotels in Dakar

Other Dakar hotels that come up often in searches include the Terrou-Bi, the Noom Hotel Dakar Sea Plaza, the Pullman Dakar Teranga and the Novotel Dakar. Before you book, check their exact location on the map: depending on your meetings and day trips, the right area matters as much as the room.

Arriving in Dakar: the airport is far from the centre

Blaise Diagne International Airport is at Diass, roughly 50 km from Dakar. If you land late in the evening or leave very early, allow for the drive. Our tips on choosing a hotel near Blaise Diagne Airport will help you decide. Another option is to spend your first or last night on the Petite-Côte, for example in Saly, which is closer to the airport. Our guide to hotels in Saly will help you choose.

A day at Lake Retba (Lac Rose)

About 35 km north-east of Dakar, Lake Retba, better known as Lac Rose, owes its colour to a micro-alga, Dunaliella salina. The pink is brightest in the dry season, when skies are clear. You can also watch the traditional salt harvest, and the lake was for many years the finish line of the Paris-Dakar rally. A day trip from Dakar is enough. To stay overnight or pair it with the beach at Toubab Dialaw, see our guide to the Pink Lake and Toubab Dialaw.

When to go

On the coast, Dakar is milder than the inland regions. For a month-by-month guide, read when to go to Senegal. November to May is the dry season, pleasant for exploring the city and enjoying the sea. The rainy season falls mainly between July and October, peaking in August.

Before you go

• Entry rules: requirements depend on your nationality. For French citizens, in principle no visa is needed for a short tourist stay. Always check the current rules with the Senegalese authorities or your own foreign ministry before you travel. We do not handle visa applications.
• Health: for yellow fever and malaria prevention, ask your doctor or a travel clinic.
• Currency: West African CFA franc (XOF), pegged to the euro at a fixed rate (€1 = 655.957 CFA francs).
• Time: GMT all year round, the same time as London in winter and one hour behind in summer.

Reserving your hotel in Dakar

Pick Dakar and your dates on our hotels in Senegal page. Travelling from the UK, the US or elsewhere abroad? You can pay online by bank card, and your voucher is sent to you after payment. Travellers based in Algeria can still pay in dinars.

For a first trip, our Dakar, Saly and Saint-Louis itinerary suggests a typical week. Any questions? Write to NIA, our assistant, or contact us.

Nreservi, online travel agency — 1st floor, 116 boulevard Colonel Krim Belkacem (Telemly), Algiers Centre — +213 540 28 40 40.