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Flights to Dakar
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Dakar is the capital and largest city of Senegal in West Africa. Located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, Dakar is a bustling city with a population of over 1 million people with a friendly and welcoming nature.
It’s a busy city but with the locals reputation for being friendly and welcoming Westerners shouldn’t feel too overwhelmed. Of course knowing and speaking some French will help you vastly and earn you extra respect from the Senegalese!
There are several major landmarks within Dakar to see, including the following:
African Renaissance Monument
The newly unveiled (2010) African Renaissance Monument is set to become one of Dakar’s most popular landmarks and monuments, even if not for the right reasons! The huge statue is made of bronze and stands 49 metres tall. It is supposed to symbolise freedom and the development of Africa but it’s been criticised for many things including the style, which is very Stalinist, the form of the models not being African, the fact that locals artists were not used, and the cost.
IFAN Museum of African Arts
The IFAN Museum of African Arts is one of West Africa’s oldest art museums having been founded in 1938. The name was officially changed to the Theodore Monod African Art Museum in 2007 though the former name is still widely used. The museum is an important place to view and study African arts and cultures.
Dakar Grand Mosque
Dakar Grand Mosque is one of the city’s most important religious buildings. Completed in 1964 this mosque now adjoins the Islamic Institute of Dakar which is a public institute dedicated to Islamic teaching and research. The mosque itself features just one very broad minaret that stands 67 metres high.
Dakar Cathedral is another important religious building for the city. It actually has more of a mosque-like appearance than what you would expect for a cathedral – white washed walls with a large dome and two towers.
Goree Island
Just off the coast of Dakar is Goree Island. This small island was dedicated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its cultural importance as this is from where slaves were transferred onto ships heading for the Americas centuries ago. The island provides a pleasant escape from the city streets of Dakar and features colonial buildings and a museum.
Flights to Dakar
Dakar is home to the largest international airport in Senegal. Flights to Dakar will arrive at the Leopold Sedar Senghor International Airport (airport code: DKR). The airport is also still known by its original name, the Dakar-Yoff International Airport. There are no direct flights to Dakar when travelling from the UK. Royal Air Maroc connects in Casablanca, and flights to Dakar with Iberia stop once in Madrid. Air France also has a one-stop flight to Dakar, going through Paris. The only 2-stop route is with Lufthansa that will go through Frankfurt and then Lisbon.Dakar Tourist Attractions
As capital cities go Dakar isn’t bursting with tourist attractions but there is enough here to keep most visitors happy for several days. Being home to the main international airport for Senegal the majority of tourists will start their holiday in Dakar anyway, then you can move on and travel around the country or use Dakar as your base.It’s a busy city but with the locals reputation for being friendly and welcoming Westerners shouldn’t feel too overwhelmed. Of course knowing and speaking some French will help you vastly and earn you extra respect from the Senegalese!
There are several major landmarks within Dakar to see, including the following:
African Renaissance Monument
The newly unveiled (2010) African Renaissance Monument is set to become one of Dakar’s most popular landmarks and monuments, even if not for the right reasons! The huge statue is made of bronze and stands 49 metres tall. It is supposed to symbolise freedom and the development of Africa but it’s been criticised for many things including the style, which is very Stalinist, the form of the models not being African, the fact that locals artists were not used, and the cost.
IFAN Museum of African Arts
The IFAN Museum of African Arts is one of West Africa’s oldest art museums having been founded in 1938. The name was officially changed to the Theodore Monod African Art Museum in 2007 though the former name is still widely used. The museum is an important place to view and study African arts and cultures.
Dakar Grand Mosque
Dakar Grand Mosque is one of the city’s most important religious buildings. Completed in 1964 this mosque now adjoins the Islamic Institute of Dakar which is a public institute dedicated to Islamic teaching and research. The mosque itself features just one very broad minaret that stands 67 metres high.
Dakar Cathedral is another important religious building for the city. It actually has more of a mosque-like appearance than what you would expect for a cathedral – white washed walls with a large dome and two towers.
Goree Island
Just off the coast of Dakar is Goree Island. This small island was dedicated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its cultural importance as this is from where slaves were transferred onto ships heading for the Americas centuries ago. The island provides a pleasant escape from the city streets of Dakar and features colonial buildings and a museum.