Dakar hotels and tours

Shopping in Dakar

Dakar is a shopper's paradise, with virtually the whole city being a marketplace. Vendors can be seen peddling their wares in every direction. Your shopping experience starts the minute you reach the street with markets and road stalls on every corner. Put your wahale (haggling) skills to practice purchasing everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to woodcarvings, art and jewellery.

Immerse yourself in the hustle and bustle of the local marketplace to truly experience the cultural richness of this wonderful city.

[read more]

Shopping Places

St Joseph Medina

The community  of Catholic sisters of St Joseph Medina make themselves Manjaku Panos (stuff piece that African women roll over around their waste and legs, in french "Pagnes", on Wolof "Sërr").

Medina neighbourhood, next to the big crossroads where takes place the Score Sam (long time been the biggest supermarket and unique mall of Dakar), go 100m in direction of University Cheikh Anta Diop : the church is on your left. If you are comig from the North area, just go to Cheikh Anta Diop University and the take the South direction towards Medina and downtown? The chruch is 500 m on the right side of the road.

Soumbedioune Fishermen Market

Next to the "village des Arts" is the seafood market, the only downtown market with direct, immediate sale from the sea. Myriads of pirogues (traditional boats) leave or come back everyday, and in the middle of the afternoon, most fishermen are coming back from the sea and their wives (not always as before, but still many of the selling women are) sell to customers.

same address as Village des Arts : right upper MEDINA on the West Corniche

Soumbedioune Village des Arts

Located on the west corner of the bay of "Soumbédioune" and just seven kilometres from the city centre city is this art and craft village, created in 1961 by "la chambre de commerce" of Dakar and inaugurated in 1963, at the World Negro Art Festival by President of Senegal Leopold Sedar Senghor and Lyndon Johnson of USA. President Senghor was the initiator of the creation of the village, because of his fondness for African culture and his will to gather Africans for the custody of our cultural heritage.

Established on over 1.3 hectares, this complex gathers 1,700 persons from maters, companions and apprentices. Their activities encompass different artistic divisions from jewellery, fine leather goods, binding, sewing, wood carving, weaving, and basket work. All the shop owners of Soumbédioune are professionals and have certificates, proving the craftsmanship with which they create unique works of art.

It also has a night club called Kilimanjaro where great local artists perform and a bar/restaurant named "Le Soumbé".

On the West Corniche (costal road of the Peninsula), just upper MEDINA (from South End going to the North : PLATEAU, REBEUSS, MEDINA)

Sandaga Market

Sandaga Market is Dakar's largest and most traditional market. Inside the marketplace you can find a variety of fresh seafood, meat, fruit, vegetables and spices. Spilling out into the sunny streets you will be tempted by a selection of local arts and crafts, textiles, shoes, jewellery and electronics.

From Independance Square : take PONTY (avenue Georges Pompidou).After 400 m it ends at a big crossroad with Avenue Lamine Gueye : Sandaga Market starts here.

Kermel Market

A genuine and calm market in which well-off locals enjoy shopping for everyday fresh food needs or weekly fantasy inspiration. Kermel is really worth seeing, even (and above all) if you don't buy anything. Located in the heart of Dakar is the charming place that shelters Kermel Market. Sitting between the port and Sarrault Avenue, the markets are surrounded by some beautiful colonial houses. Here you will find items such as flowers, seafood, wooden sculptures, spices and cane baskets.

East of Independance Square : take the Avenue Albert Sarrault and trun left after 250 m.





Reset Search

Local time: 09:51:25 AM

+221 77 548 89 69My status

Your Local Connection

Welcome to Dakar!

Dakar hotels team

Welcome to Dakar, where we are your local connection! At Réalirêves, we look after you and handle your bookings in Dakar and Saly. We are passionate about Senegal and the culture of this region. We encourage authentic interactions with local people and places and we hope to bridge the gap between the visitor and the Senegalese way of life. We create genuine exchanges and adventure for you.

[more about us]



Cape Verde hotels & tours Gambia hotels & tours Senegal hotels & tours