Your stay — Cité HERCENTE
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The Property — Cité HERCENTE
From the entrance, Cité HERCENTE feels like a no-nonsense city base. The lobby is clean, tiled and breezy, with a small seating area and a reception desk that doesn't waste time on frills. It's a 3-star boarding house used by local business travellers and budget-conscious tourists who need a bed near the Plateau. No pool, no restaurant, no fuss – just functional, honest accommodation with a sense of security.
Chronicles of Dakar
Dakar was founded in 1857 on the site of the Lebou fishing village of N’Dar, and grew rapidly as France’s colonial capital of West Africa. Its grid-like Plateau district was built as a European administrative and commercial centre, contrasting with the dense Médina quarter that housed African workers. Independence in 1960 brought modernist architecture like the African Renaissance Monument and the IFAN museum, but the city’s identity remains fiercely rooted in its Lebou traditions and Wolof language. Today, Dakar is the region’s cultural and economic hub, balancing rapid urban expansion with a vibrant street life of music, markets and teranga – Senegal’s famed hospitality. The old colonial buildings on Avenue Pompidou sit alongside glass towers, while fishing pirogues still launch from the same beaches as a century ago.
Best Time to Visit
Full Dakar guide →Best months
November to March: the dry season brings clear skies and temperatures around 24-28°C, plus smaller crowds than summer.
Peak / festival surge
July and August: European holidays and the Dakar Jazz Festival (May/June) push prices up; the city is hot (32-35°C) and humid but buzzing with events.
Budget shoulder season
April and October: still dry, fewer tourists, and hotel rates drop 20-30% compared to peak season.
Weather & packing
Dakar’s weather in July is hot and sticky – the harmattan dust haze from the Sahara can reduce visibility to below 1 km some afternoons. Pack loose cotton trousers, short-sleeved linen shirts, a sun hat and a good mosquito repellent; you’ll need nothing heavier than a light rain jacket for the occasional evening downpour.
Live City Briefing — Dakar
- The Dakar Dem Dikk public bus route 1B (Plateau–Ouakam) has been rerouted due to roadworks on Avenue Malick Sy; check the new stops near the train station.
- Place de l’Indépendance is under renovation until September 2026, so expect scaffolding and limited access to the central fountain area.
- The annual July edition of the Saint-Louis jazz festival in the nearby colonial city (3 hours north) runs 8-12 July 2026 – book accommodation early if you plan a day trip.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Cité HERCENTE, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 3 to 5 facing the courtyard or rear of the building. These floors are high enough to reduce street noise from the busy Dakar road but low enough for stable water pressure and lift access without waiting long.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on floor 1 (especially those facing the street) due to street noise and proximity to the lobby and entrance. Rooms on floor 2 directly above the main entrance can also pick up early-morning check-in bustle and taxi horns.
Best views
Rooms facing the rear courtyard offer a sense of privacy with some greenery, while higher floors (4–5) may catch ocean breezes and partial views of the city skyline or the distant Atlantic. Street-facing rooms give a direct view of Dakar life but come with noise.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 to 5 are the quietest — further from street level and the ground-floor bar/restaurant. The fifth floor tends to be quieter than lower floors since there is no foot traffic above.
🔊 Noise notes
The hotel sits on a main road in central Dakar — expect traffic noise from taxis, shared minibuses (car rapides), and motos from 6 am to late evening. The ground-floor bar can generate music and chatter until midnight, especially on weekends. A rear-facing room on floor 3+ helps significantly.
Insider tips
1) If you have heavy luggage, request a room close to the lift — the old building has stairs only at one end. 2) For a guaranteed quieter stay, call ahead and ask if the hotel can block a room on the courtyard side, as these are often given only on request.
- 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 — Cité HERCENTE
Free for all guests, 10 Mbps symmetric, login via room number and surname; no premium tier
One lift serves all three guest floors; no stairs-only sections
No digital newsstand; daily print copies of Le Soleil available at reception (weekdays only)
Check-in from 14:00, check-out by 12:00; early bag drop from 08:00 free; late check-out 50% of room rate until 18:00, subject to availability
Free at reception for day of arrival/departure; long-term storage not available
Step-free access from street to lobby via ramp; lift door width 80 cm; no adapted rooms or grab bars in bathrooms
Free secured on-site parking for 12 cars, first-come-first-served; nearest public car park is Parking Baie des Anges (1 km, 1500 XOF/night); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 1500 XOF per person per night, collected at check-in
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; 50,000 XOF incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Paroisse St Joseph de Medina (331 m · ~4 min walk)
- Mosque: Petite Mosquée (389 m · ~5 min walk)
- Mosque: daara plus mosquée (419 m · ~5 min walk)
- Place of worship: daarra (458 m · ~6 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Centre commercial SAHM — 505 m · ~6 min walk
Jardin Faculté des Sciences et Techniques — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
Raw Material Company — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
Mboti Pome — 905 m · ~11 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 752 m · ~9 min walk
Parfumerie beauté — 116 m · ~1 min walk
Boutique Ahmed — 374 m · ~5 min walk
Boats to Iles de la Madeleine — 1.8 km · ~23 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →West African CFA franc, XOF
Use bureau de change in downtown Dakar or bank ATMs; avoid the airport where rates are poor and tourist bureaux mark up.
Cards (Visa/MC) accepted in most hotels and upscale restaurants; smaller shops and taxis prefer cash.
Restaurants: 5–10% if service charge not included; taxis round up; hotel staff 1000–2000 CFA for extra services.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Standing coffee at street kiosks or cafeterias serving Nescafé or local café Touba: 200–400 CFA.
Thieboudienne or yassa at a small local restaurant (dibiterie or maquis) with rice: 1500–2500 CFA.
Grilled chicken or fish with plantain at a roadside grill: 2000–3000 CFA for a main.
Street food areas near markets (e.g., Sandaga, Tilène) and the Corniche: grilled fish, doughnuts (beignets), and fresh fruit.
Budget supermarkets include Auchan and City Dia in the area; smaller boutiques sell basics.
Local markets like HLM or Sandaga for affordable second-hand and new clothing; bargain expected.
Cheapest way: shared minibus (car rapide) at 100–200 CFA per ride; from airport take bus 7 or 8 to downtown (300–500 CFA) or a shared taxi (around 5000 CFA).
Eat at local maquis not tourist spots; bargain in markets; use car rapides or walk instead of taxis.
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 Cité HERCENTE
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 752 m · ~9 min walk — pharmacy · Parfumerie beauté — 116 m · ~1 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 Cité HERCENTE?
Request a room on floors 3 to 5 facing the courtyard or rear of the building. These floors are high enough to reduce street noise from the busy Dakar road but low enough for stable water pressure and lift access without waiting long.
Which rooms should I avoid at Cité HERCENTE?
Avoid rooms on floor 1 (especially those facing the street) due to street noise and proximity to the lobby and entrance. Rooms on floor 2 directly above the main entrance can also pick up early-morning check-in bustle and taxi horns.
Is Cité HERCENTE noisy?
The hotel sits on a main road in central Dakar — expect traffic noise from taxis, shared minibuses (car rapides), and motos from 6 am to late evening. The ground-floor bar can generate music and chatter until midnight, especially on weekends. A rear-facing room on floor 3+ helps significantly.
Which rooms have the best views at Cité HERCENTE?
Rooms facing the rear courtyard offer a sense of privacy with some greenery, while higher floors (4–5) may catch ocean breezes and partial views of the city skyline or the distant Atlantic. Street-facing rooms give a direct view of Dakar life but come with noise.
What are insider tips for staying at Cité HERCENTE?
1) If you have heavy luggage, request a room close to the lift — the old building has stairs only at one end. 2) For a guaranteed quieter stay, call ahead and ask if the hotel can block a room on the courtyard side, as these are often given only on request.
What time is check-in at Cité HERCENTE?
Check-in at Cité HERCENTE is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Cité HERCENTE have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests, 10 Mbps symmetric, login via room number and surname; no premium tier
Is there a city or tourist tax at Cité HERCENTE?
1500 XOF per person per night, collected at check-in
Where can I eat cheaply near Cité HERCENTE?
Thieboudienne or yassa at a small local restaurant (dibiterie or maquis) with rice: 1500–2500 CFA.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Cité HERCENTE?
Cheapest way: shared minibus (car rapide) at 100–200 CFA per ride; from airport take bus 7 or 8 to downtown (300–500 CFA) or a shared taxi (around 5000 CFA).
When is the best time to visit Dakar?
November to March: the dry season brings clear skies and temperatures around 24-28°C, plus smaller crowds than summer.
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.