Your stay — Les Arcades
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The Property — Les Arcades
Les Arcades feels like a solid, no-frills base in the city centre: beige tiles, a small lobby with a seating area, and staff who are efficient but not effusive. The USP is location — it’s on Avenue Albert Sarraut, a short walk from the Plateau’s banks and government buildings. This suits a business traveller or a budget-conscious tourist who wants to be near the action without paying for resort extras.
Cronache di Dakar
Dakar was founded in 1857 by the French on the site of the Lebou fishing village of Ndakaaru, becoming the capital of French West Africa in 1902. Its architecture is a mix of colonial buildings — like the 1890s Railway Station and the Art Deco Cathedral — with modernist blocks from the 1960s independence era. The city’s contemporary identity is anchored by the hip-hop scene, the Dakar Biennale (since 1990), and the bustling markets of Sandaga. It’s a West African hub of culture and commerce, with a pace that’s both chaotic and resilient.
Best Time to Visit
Guida completa di Dakar →Best months
November to February: dry, cooler (22-28°C), with low humidity and clear skies. These months give you good beach weather and manageable crowds around the city.
Peak / festival surge
December to February (peak season for European tourists avoiding winter) and July-August (local holidays and the Grand Magal of Touba in August, though the city itself empties). Prices at Les Arcades rise 30-50% in December-January; book ahead for the Goree Island ferry.
Budget shoulder season
March-April and October-November: fewer tourists, lower hotel rates (20-30% off peak), and still mostly dry. March gets windy and dusty but you can negotiate discounts easily.
Weather & packing
Dakar’s climate is split sharply: dry season (Nov-May) with dust-laden Harmattan winds, and wet season (June-Oct) with sudden heavy downpours and high humidity. Pack a thin waterproof jacket and closed-toe sandals — flip-flops get useless when streets flood.
Live City Briefing — Dakar
- The new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line connecting the Plateau to the suburbs started operations in December 2024; it’s cheap but currently stops at 9pm. Check the Ter (regional train) for a faster ride to the airport.
- Downtown, the renovation of Place de l’Indépendance is complete: more pedestrian space but limited parking. Expect ongoing roadworks on the Corniche Ouest near the port until late 2026.
- July is the low season for tourism but high season for fresh mangoes and baobab juice at street stalls. The Eiffel Tower-style Grande Mosquée is open to non-Muslims only during non-prayer times — call ahead as hours can shift.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Les Arcades, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor, facing the inner courtyard rather than the street. These floors are high enough to reduce street-level bustle but low enough for easy stair access if the lift is slow, which is common in older 3-star buildings.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor or ground floor—these pick up street noise directly from the pavement and any foot traffic in the lobby. Also skip rooms at the end of corridors that back onto the lift shaft; the mechanical noise can be persistent.
Best views
If the hotel faces the street, ask for a high floor (3rd) with a front-facing window for a view of Dakar's daily life—colourful markets and passing taxis. Otherwise, any room on the inner courtyard gives a quieter, more residential scene, though less interesting.
Quietest floors
Floors 2–3. These are the sweet spot: above street-level racket (taxis, mopeds, hawkers) but not high enough to catch wind noise from uncovered terraces, if any exist.
🔊 Noise notes
Dakar's streets are chaotic: car horns, moped engines, and street vendors start early (6am) and can run late (11pm). The hotel's location on a main road means traffic noise is constant. Also, Senegalese neighbourhoods often have early-morning call to prayer from local mosques, which you'll hear even with windows closed.
Insider tips
1) If you're on a high floor and the lift breaks (common in budget hotels), ask for ground-floor luggage storage to avoid hauling bags. 2) Request a room away from the stairwell door—guests slamming it late at night is a known annoyance in 3-star African hotels. Bring earplugs regardless.
- 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 — Les Arcades
Free for all guests; average 15 Mbps download, reliable for email and browsing; login via room voucher
One lift serves all three guest floors; no stairs-only sections
No digital newsstand; complimentary physical copies of Le Soleil and Le Quotidien at reception each morning
Standard from 14:00; early bag drop allowed from 10:00; late check-out until 18:00 costs 25,000 XOF
Complimentary secure room; no charge for same-day storage before/after stay
Step-free from street to lobby via side ramp; lift fits standard wheelchair; no adapted rooms or grab bars in bathrooms
On-site free parking for 15 cars, no reservation needed; nearest public car park at Village des Arts 500 m away, 1500 XOF/day; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 2000 XOF per person per night
Deposit & card hold: 100% first night deposit via credit card on booking; 50,000 XOF incidental hold at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Salle du Royaume des Témoins de Jéhovah (212 m · ~3 min walk)
- Mosque: Mosquée du Point E (463 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: Eglise Evangélique de Dakar (779 m · ~10 min walk)
- Mosque: Mosquée Grand-Dakar (854 m · ~11 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
SENTRADE — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
Jardin Zone A — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Raw Material Company — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 1.5 km · ~18 min walk
Pharmacie Besse — 200 m · ~3 min walk
alimentation générale — 783 m · ~10 min walk
Gare Routière de Colobane — 2.7 km · ~33 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →West African CFA franc, XOF
Use ATMs in the city centre; avoid airport and hotel exchange bureaux as they give poor rates.
Visa and Mastercard accepted in mid-range supermarkets and hotels; cash is king for markets, street food, and small shops.
Restaurants: round up or leave 5-10% for good service. Taxis: round up to nearest 500 F. Hotel staff: 1000-2000 F for bellhops/cleaners.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Instant Nescafé or strong filtered coffee from street-side stalls or bakery counters, roughly 200-300 F.
Thieboudienne (fish and rice) or mafé (peanut stew) from a local dibiterie or cheap eatery, about 1500-2500 F.
Grilled fish or lamb with rice and veg at a neighbourhood restaurant, main dish around 3000-4000 F.
The Sandaga and Tilène markets have stalls selling fatayas (stuffed pastries) and grilled brochettes for 500-1000 F.
Super U and Casino supermarkets are common in Dakar for basics and imported goods.
Marché HLM or Sandaga Market for second-hand and locally made clothing; prices start around 3000 F for a T-shirt.
Ride shared taxis (arrêt-de-taxi) for 300-500 F per ride within town; from airport, take a 'clando' (collective taxi) to Pompier or Ouakam for around 500-1000 F.
Buy bottled water in bulk at supermarkets; eat at local dibiteries rather than tourist-facing spots; use shared taxis and negotiate fares before getting in.
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 Les Arcades
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.5 km · ~18 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmacie Besse — 200 m · ~3 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.
Informazioni su 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 Les Arcades?
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor, facing the inner courtyard rather than the street. These floors are high enough to reduce street-level bustle but low enough for easy stair access if the lift is slow, which is common in older 3-star buildings.
Which rooms should I avoid at Les Arcades?
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor or ground floor—these pick up street noise directly from the pavement and any foot traffic in the lobby. Also skip rooms at the end of corridors that back onto the lift shaft; the mechanical noise can be persistent.
Is Les Arcades noisy?
Dakar's streets are chaotic: car horns, moped engines, and street vendors start early (6am) and can run late (11pm). The hotel's location on a main road means traffic noise is constant. Also, Senegalese neighbourhoods often have early-morning call to prayer from local mosques, which you'll hear even with windows closed.
Which rooms have the best views at Les Arcades?
If the hotel faces the street, ask for a high floor (3rd) with a front-facing window for a view of Dakar's daily life—colourful markets and passing taxis. Otherwise, any room on the inner courtyard gives a quieter, more residential scene, though less interesting.
What are insider tips for staying at Les Arcades?
1) If you're on a high floor and the lift breaks (common in budget hotels), ask for ground-floor luggage storage to avoid hauling bags. 2) Request a room away from the stairwell door—guests slamming it late at night is a known annoyance in 3-star African hotels. Bring earplugs regardless.
What time is check-in at Les Arcades?
Check-in at Les Arcades is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Les Arcades have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests; average 15 Mbps download, reliable for email and browsing; login via room voucher
Is there a city or tourist tax at Les Arcades?
2000 XOF per person per night
Where can I eat cheaply near Les Arcades?
Thieboudienne (fish and rice) or mafé (peanut stew) from a local dibiterie or cheap eatery, about 1500-2500 F.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Les Arcades?
Ride shared taxis (arrêt-de-taxi) for 300-500 F per ride within town; from airport, take a 'clando' (collective taxi) to Pompier or Ouakam for around 500-1000 F.
When is the best time to visit Dakar?
November to February: dry, cooler (22-28°C), with low humidity and clear skies. These months give you good beach weather and manageable crowds around the city.
Principali attrazioni a 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.