Dakar 2026

Arriving in Dakar: your first 24 hours checklist

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AIBD airport, cash, SIM card, TER or taxi to Dakar and Saly, first meal and the heat: a practical checklist for your first 24 hours in Dakar, ideal before the JOJ Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

Arriving in Dakar: your first 24 hours, step by step

Arriving in Dakar means handling the airport, cash, a phone line, the road into town and the heat, all within a few hours. This checklist covers your first 24 hours, whether you are on holiday, visiting family or travelling with a young athlete for the JOJ Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, from 31 October to 13 November. To plan the rest of your stay, browse travel and tourism services in Dakar.

At AIBD airport: formalities and first moves

Blaise Diagne International Airport is in Ndiass, roughly 45 km from central Dakar.

  • Keep your passport handy, along with your accommodation address and any entry documents required for your nationality. Check the rules before you fly.
  • Expect offers to carry bags or find a taxi at the exit. A polite "no thank you" is enough.

Cash and SIM card: the two priorities

Senegal uses the CFA franc (FCFA). Get some cash before leaving the airport.

  • ATMs are the easiest way to get money.
  • Bureaux de change are found mainly at the airport and in central Dakar, such as the Plateau.
  • Cards: Visa is the most widely accepted foreign card in hotels, supermarkets, malls, many Dakar restaurants and the Saly resorts.
  • Cash still rules in markets, taxis and small shops. Ask for small notes.

A local SIM card usually costs between 500 and 1,000 FCFA, plus a data bundle, and you will need your passport to register it. Ride-hailing apps such as Yango and Heetch are paid in cash or through Wave or Orange Money, never by card. Those mobile wallets require a Senegalese SIM and ID, so most short-stay visitors simply rely on cash and card.

Getting to Dakar or Saly: train, bus, taxi or transfer

  • TER train: the regional express links the airport with Diamniadio, Rufisque, Thiaroye, Pikine, Hann, Colobane and Dakar station on the Plateau. Almadies, Ngor, Parcelles Assainies, Guédiawaye and Keur Massar are not on the line, so you will need a taxi for the last stretch.
  • Bus: cheap, but awkward with heavy bags.
  • Taxi: expect roughly 20,000 to 30,000 FCFA to the centre or the Almadies. Agree on the fare before getting in.
  • Pre-booked transfer: the most relaxing option for night arrivals or families, especially to Saly, about 80 km from Dakar and closer to the airport.

From the airport to Mermoz, Point E or Sacré-Cœur, allow anywhere from 45 minutes to over an hour and a half depending on toll motorway traffic.

First meal, rest and the heat

Keep your first meal easy. A plate of thiéboudienne, yassa or mafé in a small neighbourhood eatery often costs 1,500 to 3,500 FCFA, while a sit-down restaurant in the Almadies or the Plateau is more like 7,000 to 15,000 FCFA per person.

Then rest. Late October and early November are still hot and humid, with afternoons above 30 °C.

  • Drink bottled or filtered water throughout the day.
  • Pack sunscreen, a hat and light cotton clothes.
  • Use mosquito repellent in the evening.

Getting your bearings the next day

On day two, find your feet without overdoing it:

  • Map your block: nearest pharmacy, minimarket and ATM.
  • Save the emergency numbers: police 17, fire brigade 18, SAMU ambulance 1515.
  • Following the Games? Locate your venue. Tour de l'Œuf and Iba Mar Diop in Médina are in the city, Dakar Arena and the Diamniadio Exhibition Centre are reachable by TER, and the beach sports take place in Saly. For schedules and tickets, check the organizing committee's official website or app.

Recommended addresses on SeneFinder

You can also see all addresses in this category or explore the Dakar directory.

Useful tools

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get from AIBD airport to Dakar?

Allow 45 minutes to over an hour and a half depending on traffic. The TER is more predictable if you stay near a station.

Should I withdraw cash as soon as I land in Dakar?

Yes. Airport ATMs give you FCFA straight away for the taxi, SIM card and small purchases, and you can use a Visa card later in hotels and supermarkets.

Can I pay for a ride-hailing car by card in Dakar?

No. Yango and Heetch are paid in cash or via Wave and Orange Money, which need a Senegalese SIM. On a short stay, carry cash.