Flights to Dakar with Air France from CAD 1,236*

Dakar, a combination of European and African culture

Why not purchase a plane ticket to Dakar? Air France, along with its partners, offers regular flights departing from large Canadian airports: Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver, etc., to Dakar, the capital of Senegal.

There are at least twenty hours in travel time since flights have one or two stopovers, usually including one in Paris, France. There is a five-hour time difference between Montreal and Dakar, and therefore, an eight-hour time difference between Vancouver and Dakar.

In Senegal, you will land at the Léopold-Sédar-Senghor Airport from where you can reach downtown, located 15 km away.

A city with a population of over 3 million, located in the far west of Africa on the Cap Vert peninsula. A location that makes it a crossroads for European and African cultures, especially since Senegal was a French colony for a long period, before declaring independence in 1960 with the famous poet and politician, Léopold Sédar Senghor becoming the country's first president.

Dakar: paradise beaches and local craftsmanship

Today, Dakar is a cosmopolitan city, with French influence on the one hand (railroad construction, etc.), and African and Muslim influence on the other hand (95% of the Senegalese population is Muslim), with for example, Dakar's large mosque, built in 1964 after independence.

Tourists who come to Dakar love the vast, tropical beaches, colorful markets and animated streets, where peddlers will try to entice you. Dakar's beautiful beaches are one of the city's biggest attractions. You can take a dugout canoe to the paradise island of N'gor. You can also go to Rose Lake, a 3 km square lagoon that is named for the color of the water. Ouakam, Almadies and Yoff beaches are very famous and you can try surfing or diving near the Mamelles cliffs.

For local purchases, you can visit the craft village of Soumbéioune, founded over 40 years ago, that has sculptures, jewelry, leather goods, shoes, a tannery, sewing, dying and weaving activities. You will find quality handcrafts to carry home in your luggage!

Travel to Dakar: practical information

We recommend taking a flight to Dakar during the dry season between December and May, the months of June to November are very hot and humid since Dakar is located in a subtropical desert region, with a coastal micro-climate influenced by trade winds and the monsoon.

To go to Dakar, all Canadian citizens need to have a passport that is valid at least six months beyond the expected date of departure from Senegal. A visa is not required, whether you are a tourist, on business or a student.

You must have proof of vaccination against yellow fever. You should only drink bottled or sterilized water. There are suitable health services in the city of Dakar, however, there are very few suitable health services outside of the city.

The currency in Senegal is the CFA franc. Although there are often ATMs available, credit cards are rarely accepted.