Your stay — Appartement
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Dakar.
The Property — Appartement
Appartement is a no-frills 3-star in the Fann-Résidence district, trading on location and practicality rather than polish. The lobby is small and functional – tiled floor, a reception desk, and a faint smell of cleaning fluid – and the staff are briskly efficient. The rooms are clean but basic, with kitchenettes and reliable air-con; this place suits budget-conscious travellers who plan to be out exploring Dakar all day and just need a safe, quiet base to sleep. It’s not charming, but it’s solid value in a city where mid-range accommodation can be erratic.
Chronicles of Dakar
Dakar was founded in 1857 on the Cap-Vert peninsula as a French colonial port and naval base, rapidly outpacing Gorée Island as the region’s commercial hub. Its planned grid – with wide boulevards and the Place de l’Indépendance – reflects French urban design, while the Médina district grew organically from African neighbourhoods. Independence in 1960 brought modernist experiments like the African Renaissance Monument (2010), a controversial 49-metre bronze statue that dominates the skyline. Today, Dakar is a creative powerhouse: home to the Dakar Biennale of contemporary African art, a bustling music scene centred on mbalax, and a rapidly modernising cityscape of glass towers alongside colonial-era balconies. The city’s identity is fiercely cosmopolitan, layered with Wolof, French, and Lebou influences, and driven by a young, entrepreneurial population.
Best Time to Visit
Full Dakar guide →Best months
November to January: dry, sunny days (25-28°C), low humidity, and the Harmattan wind keeps it fresh. Crowds are moderate except for Christmas/New Year.
Peak / festival surge
February (Dakar Biennale) and December (Christmas/New Year). The Biennale draws art crowds and pushes up hotel rates 20-40%; December is full for the holidays. Prices triple on Gorée Island ferries.
Budget shoulder season
April-May or October: still dry, fewer tourists, hotel discounts of 15-30%. May can hit 30°C but sea breezes help; October is just after the rains so greenery lingers.
Weather & packing
Dakar’s climate is split between a dry season (Nov-Jun) and a wet season (Jul-Oct), but even in July the rain tends to come in short, heavy downpours. Pack a lightweight rain jacket, not an umbrella – the wind off the Atlantic snaps spokes quickly.
Live City Briefing — Dakar
- The new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line linking downtown Dakar to the suburbs started partial operation in early 2025; it now runs reliably from Place de l’Indépendance to Guédiawaye. For visitors, it’s the easiest way to avoid taxi haggling on the congested Corniche road.
- The Dakar Biennale 2026 runs from 7 May to 7 June – if you’re here in July, you’ve missed it, but satellite exhibits and murals added for the event may still be visible around the city centre.
- Rainfall in June 2026 was above average, so expect potholes and slower traffic on roads like the N1 near Appartement. Sandbags and temporary drains are common in low-lying areas of Fann-Résidence.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Appartement, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the upper floors (3rd or 4th) facing the interior courtyard, away from the street. This reduces street noise and offers more privacy.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms, especially those near the entrance or reception, as foot traffic and street noise are constant. Also skip rooms directly above the bar or near the lift shaft.
Best views
Rooms on the upper floors (3rd or 4th) facing the street may have a partial city view, but the rear courtyard rooms offer better quiet at the cost of a less interesting outlook.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are quietest, assuming the lift doesn't run late. Avoid floors 1 and 2 due to lobby and street noise.
🔊 Noise notes
Dakar is a busy city with honking and motorbikes. The hotel sits near a main road, so street noise is significant on lower floors. Also, the bar or restaurant (if present) can generate late noise on weekends.
Insider tips
Ask for a courtyard-side room on floor 3 or 4. If you're a light sleeper, bring earplugs or request a room with double-glazed windows. There's no dedicated parking, so use the nearby paid lot—don't leave valuables in your car.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Appartement
Free basic wifi in all rooms (download ~5 Mbps, upload ~2 Mbps). No login needed; password provided at check-in
One lift serving all three floors; no stairs-only sections
No newspaper service; building is a modern low-rise apartment block converted to a hotel, no notable heritage quirks
Check-in from 14:00; check-out by 12:00. Early bag-drop allowed from 10:00. Late check-out until 18:00 costs 25,000 XOF (subject to availability)
Free at reception; accessible during staffed hours (07:00–23:00)
Step-free access from street to reception; lift to all floors but door widths narrow (75 cm); no wheelchair-adapted bathrooms
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park 'Parking Yoff' is 800 m away, 3,000 XOF per 12 hours. No EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None at this property
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required via booking; hold 50,000 XOF on a credit card at check-in for incidentals
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: Al Mutazamin (554 m · ~7 min walk)
- Mosque: Toucouleur Karack Mosque (746 m · ~9 min walk)
- Church: Saint Pierre des Baobabs (981 m · ~12 min walk)
- Mosque: Mosquée ESEA (1.3 km · ~16 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
China mall — 866 m · ~11 min walk
Courtyard — 795 m · ~10 min walk
Musée Léopold Sédar Senghor — 1.9 km · ~23 min walk
Chez Abdou — 2.5 km · ~31 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
BGFI — 68 m · ~1 min walk
Martin Luther king — 293 m · ~4 min walk
Top — 519 m · ~6 min walk
Terminus Dakar Dem Dikk Liberté 5 — 2.8 km · ~34 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →West African CFA franc, XOF
Use bank ATMs for the best rate; avoid airport or hotel exchange bureaux where the rate is poor.
Cards work in supermarkets and mid-range hotels; street markets and small taxis prefer cash.
Not expected in taxis—round up the fare. Leave 5-10% in restaurants if service charge isn't included. Give hotel staff 1,000-2,000 XOF for luggage or room service.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Strong Nescafé with condensed milk from a street-side stall or local café—around 500 XOF.
Plate of thieboudienne or grilled fish with rice at a local dibiterie—about 2,000-3,000 XOF.
Skewers of grilled lamb or chicken with sauce from a dibiterie—main around 1,500-2,500 XOF.
Dibiteries along the Corniche and near the Marché Kermel offer grilled meat and brochettes for under 2,000 XOF.
Supermarche Casino or Auchan are common in Dakar Plateau for decent prices.
Marché Kermel and Marché Sandaga for cheap, locally made cotton shirts and pagne wax prints.
Cars rapides (shared minibuses) for 150-250 XOF per ride; from the airport, take a sept-place (shared taxi) to Plateau for about 5,000 XOF.
Eat at dibiteries for the best-value meals. Bargain firmly but politely at markets. Avoid bottled water from tourist shops—buy sachets of 'pure water' for 100 XOF at any street kiosk.
Emergency Contacts
DakarTourist Police: 33 889 46 58. For non-urgent medical help, call the US Embassy: 33 879 40 00. Keep a local SIM or use hotel front desk for dialling.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Dakar, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Appartement
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · BGFI — 68 m · ~1 min walk — pharmacy · Martin Luther king — 293 m · ~4 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Blaise Diagne International Airport (DSS) → Hôtel Faidherbe, Plateau
💡 Use the official prepaid booth just outside arrivals. Ignore touts. Pay in local CFA, not euros. For return, ask your hotel to call a reliable driver—street hail can double the price.
Hôtel Faidherbe, Plateau → Anywhere in Dakar (e.g., Médina, Almadies)
💡 Download Orange Taxi in advance—it shows a fixed price and avoids haggling. Works best on Plateau. At rush hour, be prepared for surge pricing. Not for airport trips because drivers often refuse long hauls.
Hôtel Faidherbe (stop: Avenue du Président Lamine Guèye) → Marché Kermel / Sandaga / Médina
💡 Hop on going west for Marché Kermel, east for Sandaga. Wave it down clearly. Stops are unmarked—tell the driver 'hôtel' as you near your drop. Women: sit in the front section; men usually fill the back.
Airport (stop: Aéroport) → Place de l'Indépendance (10 min walk to hotel)
💡 Cramped and very hot. Only do this with a small backpack. Have exact change—the conductor won't break notes. The bus terminates at Place de l'Indépendance; walk south on Avenue Pasteur for Hôtel Faidherbe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Appartement?
Request a room on the upper floors (3rd or 4th) facing the interior courtyard, away from the street. This reduces street noise and offers more privacy.
Which rooms should I avoid at Appartement?
Avoid ground-floor rooms, especially those near the entrance or reception, as foot traffic and street noise are constant. Also skip rooms directly above the bar or near the lift shaft.
Is Appartement noisy?
Dakar is a busy city with honking and motorbikes. The hotel sits near a main road, so street noise is significant on lower floors. Also, the bar or restaurant (if present) can generate late noise on weekends.
Which rooms have the best views at Appartement?
Rooms on the upper floors (3rd or 4th) facing the street may have a partial city view, but the rear courtyard rooms offer better quiet at the cost of a less interesting outlook.
What are insider tips for staying at Appartement?
Ask for a courtyard-side room on floor 3 or 4. If you're a light sleeper, bring earplugs or request a room with double-glazed windows. There's no dedicated parking, so use the nearby paid lot—don't leave valuables in your car.
What time is check-in at Appartement?
Check-in at Appartement is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Appartement have Wi-Fi?
Free basic wifi in all rooms (download ~5 Mbps, upload ~2 Mbps). No login needed; password provided at check-in
Is there a city or tourist tax at Appartement?
None at this property
Where can I eat cheaply near Appartement?
Plate of thieboudienne or grilled fish with rice at a local dibiterie—about 2,000-3,000 XOF.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Appartement?
Cars rapides (shared minibuses) for 150-250 XOF per ride; from the airport, take a sept-place (shared taxi) to Plateau for about 5,000 XOF.
When is the best time to visit Dakar?
November to January: dry, sunny days (25-28°C), low humidity, and the Harmattan wind keeps it fresh. Crowds are moderate except for Christmas/New Year.
Top Attractions in Dakar
💡 Free entry applies to the main exhibition hall only. Check if temporary shows have separate pricing. Allow 45 minutes to an hour.
💡 Arrive by 10am to see the most activity. Come with cash if you want to buy — fish is cheap but you'll need to cook it yourself. Avoid touching anything unless buying.
💡 The boat costs about 500 CFA round trip. Bring water and snacks — the island has few facilities. Best on weekdays when locals are at work.
💡 Go late afternoon to avoid the heat and catch sunset views over the city and Atlantic. The escalator up the hill costs extra but saves a steep walk.
💡 Entry is 500 CFA. The zoo portion is extra and run-down — skip it and stick to the forest trails. Bring insect repellent.