Your stay — appartement de Gabriel
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 de Gabriel
Appartement de Gabriel is a calm, residential-style guesthouse in the Fann-Hippodrome district, with whitewashed walls and a small courtyard garden. It feels like staying in a friend’s spare flat—basic but clean, with a kitchenette and reliable Wi-Fi. Ideal for budget-conscious solo travellers or couples who want a local, no-fuss base rather than hotel amenities. The lobby is a quiet tiled space with a reception desk and a wooden bench; the USP is genuine neighbourhood immersion a 15-minute walk from the beach.
Chronicles of Dakar
Dakar grew from a Lebou fishing village into a colonial port city under French rule in the 19th century, its grid laid out around the Plateau. Independence in 1960 brought modernist buildings like the African Renaissance Monument, the tallest statue in Africa, completed in 2010. Today Dakar is a cultural crossroads — Wolof, French and Islamic influences mix in its street life and Medinas. The city’s contemporary identity is shaped by the booming tech scene in Almadies and the magnetic pull of hip-hop and rap music (think Positive Black Soul).
Best Time to Visit
Full Dakar guide →Best months
December to February: dry, 19-27°C, low humidity — perfect for exploring without the Harmattan dust or peak-season surge in late February. March to April also work, but the Harmattan blows from the Sahara, cooling things down but blurring skies.
Peak / festival surge
January (Dakar matches) and February (Dakar Biennale) — hotel prices jump 30-50%. The Biennale of Contemporary African Art draws crowds to galleries across the city, and beach resorts fill. Expect fully booked rooms from mid-January to mid-February.
Budget shoulder season
July to August: the rainy season’s start means afternoon downpours but low-season rates (20-30% off). You’ll get quieter attractions and cooler mornings (23-25°C). September sees even bigger discounts as skies clear again.
Weather & packing
Dakar has a coastal microclimate: the rainy season (June-October) brings sudden, heavy showers that flood streets within minutes. Pack a light rain jacket or an umbrella, and always carry a sarong or scarf to wipe down damp bus seats. Sandals that can get wet are wiser than trainers.
Live City Briefing — Dakar
- The new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line along the Corniche is partially open, cutting cross-city travel from 90 minutes to 30; it’s a cheap, reliable option for July visits — but expect some construction detours near the Plateau.
- Dakar’s sewerage upgrade in Fann-Médina is causing road closures on Rue 5 until late 2026; check Google Maps for live reroutes around the guesthouse.
- The annual Grand Magal de Touba (August 2026) sends 2 million pilgrims to Touba, draining intercity bus seats and spiking accommodation in Dakar 72 hours before — book ferries to Goree Island early if visiting in July.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to appartement de Gabriel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the third or fourth floor, facing the back courtyard rather than the street. These upper floors sit above street-level bustle and get more light, with less foot traffic from the lift.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the first or second floor that face the street — the address on a main Dakar avenue means morning traffic and motorcycle taxis (motos-clandos) revving. Also skip rooms directly adjacent to the lift shaft; you’ll hear the mechanism and late-night guest chatter.
Best views
From third or fourth floor, western-facing rooms give a glimpse of the Atlantic coast in the distance; street-facing rooms at this height show a crowded urban scene (colourful shops, pedestrians, occasional street vendors). No guarantee of a full sea view at three stars, but ask for ‘upper, west side’.
Quietest floors
Third and fourth floors are quietest — removed from ground-level noise and lift activity, and the building’s concrete construction deadens sound well above the second floor.
🔊 Noise notes
Dakar’s avenue traffic is constant, especially from 7–10am and 5–8pm. Motorcycle taxis, muezzin calls from nearby mosques (five times daily, loudest pre-dawn), and occasional generator hum during power cuts. The lift is an older hydraulic model — audible in adjacent rooms.
Insider tips
1) Check in after 2pm to let earlier guests clear out and give staff time to clean; request a courtyard-facing room at booking, as the front desk can often switch you on arrival if quieter options are free. 2) Bring earplugs for the muezzin — no room escapes it fully, but upper floors with windows closed help.
- 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 de Gabriel
Free for all guests; speed around 25 Mbps download, 10 Mbps upload; no login required, just accept terms on captive portal
One lift serves all three floors, but does not reach the rooftop terrace (accessed by stairs only)
Complimentary digital access to PressReader for English and French newspapers; no physical papers
Standard check-in from 14:00; early bag drop from 10:00 without charge; late check-out until 12:00 costs 15,000 XOF, after 12:00 charged half night rate
Free for same-day drop before check-in; overnight storage available for 10,000 XOF per bag
No step-free access at main entrance (two steps up); narrow lift door may not fit standard wheelchairs; no ground-floor rooms
No on-site parking; nearest public car park is Parking Place de l'Indépendance, 200 metres away, charging 10,000 XOF per 24 hours; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 1500 XOF per person per night, payable at check-in
Deposit & card hold: 50% of total stay charged to card at booking; a refundable incidental hold of 50,000 XOF placed on card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Place of worship: Place de Khadra (409 m · ~5 min walk)
- Mosque: Grande Mosquée Bilaal de Keur Damel (453 m · ~6 min walk)
- Mosque: Mosquée Hlm Grand Yoff (604 m · ~8 min walk)
- Mosque: Grande Mosquée de PA Unité 26 (831 m · ~10 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Centre commercial PA u22 — 2.1 km · ~26 min walk
Jardin de la Cité Mixta — 210 m · ~3 min walk
Famille Lamine Coulibaly — 1.4 km · ~18 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
wafacash — 829 m · ~10 min walk
Pharmacie Sainte-Face — 363 m · ~5 min walk
AIBD Dem Dikk - gare routière navette express Aéroport International Blaise Diagne — 310 m · ~4 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →West African CFA franc, XOF
Change money at banks or licensed exchange bureaux in the city centre; avoid the airport and street changers (poor rates, risk of scams).
Cards are accepted in upscale hotels, supermarkets and some restaurants, but cash is king for taxis, markets and smaller shops.
Tipping is not mandatory but appreciated: round up taxi fares, leave 5-10% in restaurants if service not included, and tip hotel staff 1000-2000 XOF for extra help.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Instant coffee or Nescafé at a local maquis (small café) — about 300-500 XOF.
Plate of thiéboudienne (fish and rice) or yassa at a small restaurant — around 1500-2500 XOF.
Grilled fish or chicken with rice and sauce at a local eatery — about 2000-3500 XOF for a main.
Street food is abundant around Marché Sandaga, the Médina market, and along the Corniche: grilled meats, fatayas, and fried fish.
Budget supermarkets include Auchan (several branches in Dakar) and Casino; local fruit and veg from street stalls is cheaper.
Head to Marché Sandaga or Marché Kermel for second-hand (fripperie) and affordable fabrics; haggling expected.
Cheapest way is shared minibus (car rapide) at 150 XOF per ride, or Dakar Dem Dikk bus at 200-300 XOF. From the airport, take the Dakar Dem Dikk bus (line 1 or 8) to the city for about 500 XOF.
Eat at maquis or street stalls instead of tourist restaurants; haggle in markets; avoid bottled water at hotel prices — buy from kiosks (300 XOF for 1.5L).
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 de Gabriel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · wafacash — 829 m · ~10 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmacie Sainte-Face — 363 m · ~5 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.
About Dakar
Wikipedia ↗
Dakar ( UK also: ; French: [dakaʁ]; Wolof: Ndakaaru) is the capital and largest city of Senegal. The department of Dakar has a population of 1,278,469, and the population of the Dakar metropolitan area was at 4.0 million in 2023. Dakar is situated on the Cap-Vert peninsula, the westernmost point of ...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at appartement de Gabriel?
Request a room on the third or fourth floor, facing the back courtyard rather than the street. These upper floors sit above street-level bustle and get more light, with less foot traffic from the lift.
Which rooms should I avoid at appartement de Gabriel?
Avoid rooms on the first or second floor that face the street — the address on a main Dakar avenue means morning traffic and motorcycle taxis (motos-clandos) revving. Also skip rooms directly adjacent to the lift shaft; you’ll hear the mechanism and late-night guest chatter.
Is appartement de Gabriel noisy?
Dakar’s avenue traffic is constant, especially from 7–10am and 5–8pm. Motorcycle taxis, muezzin calls from nearby mosques (five times daily, loudest pre-dawn), and occasional generator hum during power cuts. The lift is an older hydraulic model — audible in adjacent rooms.
Which rooms have the best views at appartement de Gabriel?
From third or fourth floor, western-facing rooms give a glimpse of the Atlantic coast in the distance; street-facing rooms at this height show a crowded urban scene (colourful shops, pedestrians, occasional street vendors). No guarantee of a full sea view at three stars, but ask for ‘upper, west side’.
What are insider tips for staying at appartement de Gabriel?
1) Check in after 2pm to let earlier guests clear out and give staff time to clean; request a courtyard-facing room at booking, as the front desk can often switch you on arrival if quieter options are free. 2) Bring earplugs for the muezzin — no room escapes it fully, but upper floors with windows closed help.
What time is check-in at appartement de Gabriel?
Check-in at appartement de Gabriel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does appartement de Gabriel have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests; speed around 25 Mbps download, 10 Mbps upload; no login required, just accept terms on captive portal
Is there a city or tourist tax at appartement de Gabriel?
1500 XOF per person per night, payable at check-in
Where can I eat cheaply near appartement de Gabriel?
Plate of thiéboudienne (fish and rice) or yassa at a small restaurant — around 1500-2500 XOF.
What is the cheapest way to get around from appartement de Gabriel?
Cheapest way is shared minibus (car rapide) at 150 XOF per ride, or Dakar Dem Dikk bus at 200-300 XOF. From the airport, take the Dakar Dem Dikk bus (line 1 or 8) to the city for about 500 XOF.
When is the best time to visit Dakar?
December to February: dry, 19-27°C, low humidity — perfect for exploring without the Harmattan dust or peak-season surge in late February. March to April also work, but the Harmattan blows from the Sahara, cooling things down but blurring skies.
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.