Hotels in Senegal

Senegal: beaches, heritage and nature

Petite-Côte beaches, Dakar and Gorée Island, the old town of Saint-Louis, the Somone lagoon, Lake Retba and the beaches of Casamance: Senegal works as well for a week of all-inclusive sunshine as for a tour mixing city, history and nature.

We compare hotels in Saly, La Somone, Dakar, Saint-Louis and Casamance. Pick your dates in the search above to see available hotels. Travelling from Europe, North America or elsewhere abroad? You can pay online by bank card, and your voucher is sent to you after payment.

Saly and the Petite-Côte: the beach break

Saly, about 80 km south of Dakar and just north of Mbour, is the main resort of the Petite-Côte: beachfront hotels, residences, villas, restaurants and a golf course. The sea is usually calm, and Blaise Diagne International Airport is close by. The shoreline has suffered from erosion and works have been carried out to protect the beaches, so ask whether your hotel opens straight onto the sand.

All inclusive is the most popular option. The Royam, Le Saly Hôtel and Hôtel Club Les Filaos, the Palm Beach, the Mövenpick Resort Lamantin and the Saly Princess are among the most searched-for names. Our guide to hotels in Saly is on the blog.

La Somone: a quiet lagoon

About 77 km south of Dakar, La Somone is known for its lagoon, protected since 1999 as a community nature reserve, with mangroves and a great many birds. Hotels here, such as the Africa Queen and the Royal Horizon Baobab, are quieter than in Saly.

Dakar: Plateau, Almadies or Ngor?

Le Plateau, around Independence Square, is the government and business centre; the ferry landing for Gorée Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is on the north-eastern side of the district. It is the right base for a business trip or a first visit on foot.

To the west, Pointe des Almadies is the westernmost point of mainland Africa: restaurants, hotels and sunsets over the Atlantic, with the King Fahd Palace among the most requested addresses. Next door, Ngor keeps a village feel; its island is a few minutes' crossing away and its bay is a well-known surf spot. Our guide to where to stay in Dakar is on the blog.

Day trip: Lake Retba (Lac Rose), about 35 km north-east of Dakar, owes its colour to a micro-alga; the pink is brightest in the dry season.

Saint-Louis and the Langue de Barbarie

Further north, Saint-Louis is built partly on an island at the mouth of the Senegal River. The Island of Saint-Louis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reached by the Faidherbe Bridge. Stay on the island to do everything on foot, or on the Langue de Barbarie, on the ocean side. Allow at least two nights.

Cap Skirring and Casamance

In Casamance, at the south-western tip of the country, Cap Skirring is a beach resort. Its international airport mainly receives flights during the tourist season, which runs from autumn to spring. Avoid the rainy season, longer and heavier than in the north, especially from July to September. For a hotel in Cap Skirring, mention it in your request and we will check availability.

When to go and what to plan

The dry season runs roughly from November to May and is the best time for beaches and sightseeing. The rains fall mainly between July and October, peaking in August; in Casamance they start earlier and last longer.

It depends on your nationality. For French citizens, in principle no visa is needed for a short tourist stay in Senegal. Always check the current rules with the Senegalese authorities or your own foreign ministry before you travel. We do not handle visa applications. For yellow fever and malaria prevention, ask your doctor or a travel clinic before you leave, and check the latest official advice.

Senegal uses the West African CFA franc (XOF), pegged to the euro at a fixed rate: €1 = 655.957 CFA francs. The country is on GMT all year round: the same time as London in winter, one hour behind in summer.

Reservations and payment

Choose your hotel and room, then send your request. Travelling from Europe, North America 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.

A question about a hotel, an all-inclusive package or an itinerary? Write to NIA, our assistant, or contact our team.

Frequently asked questions