Dar es Salaam Travel Guide: Sights and Transport

The commercial capital

Dar es Salaam, the name means “haven of peace” in Arabic, is Tanzania’s largest city and its economic engine. The official capital is Dodoma, but Dar is where the ports, offices, embassies and most flights are. It’s hot, humid, chaotic and friendly, with a strong Swahili character and a large Indian community.

Most safari travellers pass through en route to Zanzibar or the southern parks. A night or two here can be enjoyable if you go in with realistic expectations.

Getting around

The main challenge is traffic. Roads are congested at all hours, and rush hour can be brutal. Bolt and Uber are the easiest way to move around. Bajaj (tuk-tuks) and bodaboda (motorbike taxis) are cheaper. The DART Bus Rapid Transit system serves major corridors, and it’s a good way to cross the city if your route matches. Ferries link the city centre with Kigamboni across the harbour.

Give yourself at least two hours to reach the airport at busy times, and don’t book a tight connection.

What’s worth your time

National Museum and House of Culture. Fossils from Olduvai Gorge, including early human remains, and displays on Tanzania’s history. It’s a good starting point.

Village Museum. A collection of traditional houses from many Tanzanian ethnic groups, with cultural demonstrations.

Kariakoo Market. A sprawling market district, busy and exciting. Go with a guide if you’re not comfortable in crowds, and keep valuables close.

Kivukoni Fish Market. Fresh seafood at dawn near the ferry terminal, with auctions and grilled fish stalls. It’s very local and very smelly.

Msasani Peninsula and Slipway. A waterfront shopping and dining complex with sunset views and boats to nearby islands.

Coco Beach. A public beach where locals gather in the evening for snacks, football and sunset. It’s lively rather than tranquil.

Bongoyo and Mbudya Islands. Boat trips from the Msasani area to small marine reserves with white sand and snorkelling. A good half-day escape.

Bagamoyo. A historic coastal town about 70 km north, once a trading post and terminus for caravan routes. It’s a possible day trip if you have time.

Eating

Swahili cuisine is the highlight. Try pilau, biryani, mishkaki (grilled skewers), chipsi mayai (chips omelette), fresh grilled fish and octopus in coconut sauce. Zanzibar-style street food is easy to find, and Indian restaurants are excellent. Safari and Kilimanjaro are the main lagers.

Dar es Salaam as a gateway

The city is the main gateway to Zanzibar, which is around two hours by fast ferry or twenty to thirty minutes by air. It’s also the departure point for flights to Nyerere National Park and Ruaha in the southern circuit. Most northern circuit safaris start in Arusha, but many travellers connect through Dar.

Practical notes

The currency is the Tanzanian shilling. Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants, and ATMs are common. Vodacom, Airtel and Tigo (now part of Yas) sell SIM cards, and you need a passport to register. Dress modestly away from beach resorts, particularly in coastal areas with a Muslim majority. A visa is required for most visitors, and you can apply online or on arrival. See our East Africa visa guide.

A single day

Start with the National Museum, then the Village Museum. Have lunch at a waterfront restaurant. In the afternoon, take a boat from the Slipway to Bongoyo Island for a swim, and finish at Coco Beach or a sunset drink in Oyster Bay. If you’re catching a Zanzibar ferry the next morning, stay near the port.

Dar es Salaam travel FAQ

Is Dar es Salaam worth visiting?

For a night or two, yes. It's the country's largest city, with good seafood, a busy waterfront, markets and a handful of museums. It isn't picturesque, and the heat and traffic can be draining, but it offers a real feel of urban Tanzania and links easily to Zanzibar and Nyerere.

How do you get from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar?

By fast ferry, which takes about two hours from the terminal near the port and runs several times daily, or by plane, which takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Ferries are cheaper and scenic but can be rough. Book ahead in peak season and check the sailing times.

How bad is traffic in Dar es Salaam?

Notoriously bad. Rush hour can turn a 10 km trip into an hour or two. Plan airport transfers with generous buffers, and use the ferry across Kurasini and Kigamboni or the Bus Rapid Transit lanes where possible.

Is Dar es Salaam safe?

It's generally safe for visitors who take standard precautions. Pickpocketing and bag snatching from car windows happen, especially in traffic and crowded markets such as Kariakoo. Use ride-hailing at night, and don't carry valuables you don't need.

What should you do on a single day?

See the National Museum and the Village Museum in the morning, eat fish at a waterfront stall or restaurant, take an afternoon trip to Bongoyo or Mbudya Island, and end with sunset at Coco Beach or a Msasani Peninsula restaurant.

Where is the best place to stay?

Msasani Peninsula and Oyster Bay are the most popular for visitors, with hotels, restaurants and the Slipway waterfront centre. Kigamboni, across the harbour, has beach resorts. The city centre is convenient for the ferry.

Trips that start or end in Dar es Salaam

Serengeti and Zanzibar: 10-Day Safari and Beach Trip

Ten days pairing Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti with a flight to Zanzibar, a night in Stone Town and two on the beach. A classic Tanzania combination.

10 daysComfort to luxury

Tanzania Northern Circuit Safari: 8 Days

An eight-day northern circuit from Arusha: Tarangire's elephants, three nights in the Serengeti and a night on the Ngorongoro Crater rim, with a private guide.

8 daysMid-range

Parks within reach of Dar es Salaam