Things to Do in Senegal

From the history of Goree Island to the pink waters of Lake Retba - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.

Travel guide - last updated September 2026

Senegal is often described as the gateway to West Africa, with Dakar as one of the region's most developed and well-connected capitals - a genuinely difficult history at Goree Island's slave-trading heritage site, a naturally pink lake, and one of the continent's strongest live music scenes centered on mbalax. Here are 5 places worth building a trip around.

Top attractions

The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.

🏝️

Goree Island

A UNESCO World Heritage island off Dakar, with the House of Slaves documenting the Atlantic slave trade directly and unflinchingly - a short ferry ride from the mainland and a near-universal stop on a Senegal trip.

📍 Dakar

🚉 The chaloupe ferry leaves the Dakar terminal beside the port every hour or two, taking 20 minutes - the island has no cars, and everything on it is within a 15-minute walk.

🌊

Lake Retba (Lac Rose)

A lake with a naturally pink hue caused by algae and high salt content, historically the finish line of the Paris-Dakar Rally - swimming here is unusually buoyant given the salt concentration.

📍 Near Dakar

🚉 The pink lake is 35km north-east of Dakar with no bus service; taxis and tours take about an hour, and 4x4 or quad excursions run along the dunes to the coast from the shore.

🎵

Dakar Music Scene

Senegal's capital is one of Africa's most significant music hubs, home to mbalax (the genre popularized globally by Youssou N'Dour) and a lively live-venue scene across the city.

📍 Dakar

🚉 The clubs are spread across Almadies, Ngor and the Plateau; the new TER commuter railway runs from Dakar to Diamniadio, but nights out are covered by taxis and ride apps.

🦩

Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary

A wetland reserve near the Mauritanian border, one of the most important bird sanctuaries in the world, hosting millions of migratory birds including pelicans and flamingos each year.

📍 Near Saint-Louis

🚉 The sanctuary is 60km north of Saint-Louis with no public transport - a hired 4x4 or a tour from Saint-Louis is the way, and boat trips into the reserve are arranged at the entrance.

🏖️

Saint-Louis

A former colonial capital and UNESCO World Heritage city on an island in the Senegal River, with colorful colonial architecture and a strong jazz festival tradition each May.

📍 Saint-Louis

🚉 Buses and sept-place shared taxis run from Dakar in four to five hours; the colonial island is crossed on the Faidherbe bridge, and the town itself is walkable once you are there.

Mark Senegal, get the stamp

🇸🇳SENEGALVISITED

🇸🇳SENEGALLIVED

🇸🇳SENEGALWISHLIST

In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.

Open MyPassportStory

Planning questions

How many days do you need in Senegal?

A week covers Dakar, Goree Island and Lake Retba well, including a couple of days added for Saint-Louis or the Djoudj bird sanctuary.

What's the best time to visit Senegal?

November-May is the dry season and the most comfortable time to visit. The wet season (June-October) brings heavier, more frequent rain, particularly further south.

Is Senegal good for a first-time visit?

Yes - Dakar is one of the more developed and accessible capitals in West Africa for a first visit, with French widely spoken alongside Wolof and other local languages.

Do I need a visa to visit Senegal?

Many nationalities, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and most of the EU, can visit visa-free for short tourist stays. Check the official visa information for your nationality: diplomatie.gouv.sn.

What are some things to do in Senegal on a tight budget?

The ferry to Goree Island is inexpensive for a genuinely significant historical site, local Senegalese food (thieboudienne) is cheap and widely available, and shared sept-place taxis are an affordable way to travel between cities.

Can I rent a car in Senegal, and what licence do I need?

Yes, and it helps for the north and the Sine-Saloum delta, though sept-place shared taxis link every town cheaply. A foreign licence is accepted for visits when carried with an International Driving Permit, and the minimum age is generally 23 to 25. The Dakar-Diamniadio toll motorway is fast and modern; beyond it, roads narrow and are shared with carts and livestock. Hiring a car with a driver is common and worth considering for the desert and delta routes. Senegal's own government sites are often unreachable from abroad, so confirm the driving and entry requirements with a Senegalese embassy before you travel.