What you actually do on Gorée
A guided tour, to understand rather than file past. The island is explored on foot, but without some keys to read it you miss the essentials: who lived in these balconied houses, who the signares were, why there are so many forts on so little land. Booked in advance, the tour spares you the haggling at the landing stage. It is Gorée’s top activity on QFS.
The museums. The House of Slaves opens Tuesday to Sunday; come early, before the groups arrive, to take it in quietly. In the north of the island, the Fort d’Estrées, a round fortress at the water’s edge, houses the Historical Museum of Senegal, part of IFAN: it sets the slave trade within a long history, from prehistory to independence, and is the ideal companion to the House of Slaves.
The Castel. Climb to the island’s highest point through the lanes on the south side. Up there you will find old cannons, a modern memorial and the finest view on Gorée: the red roofs below, the ocean, and the city of Dakar opposite. It is also a lived-in place: a Baye Fall community has settled in former military works and runs workshops there. This is where the island makes sense at a glance.
The artists. Gorée has long drawn painters, sculptors and craftspeople. The speciality you can watch taking shape is sand painting, where naturally coloured sands take the place of paint. The workshops, on the Castel and in the lanes, often keep their doors open. Chat with the artist before buying; when approached, a polite no is enough.
The beach. Just to the right of the landing stage, a small sheltered beach welcomes swimmers, families and the island’s children. The water is calm: bring a swimsuit and a towel. The grilled-fish terraces are right next to it.
A night on the island. Several guesthouses and homestay rooms welcome visitors, often in old courtyard houses. Staying over changes everything: once the groups have left, Gorée returns to village life, and in the morning the island is yours before the first boat. There are few places to stay: book early.
Respecting a lived-in place of memory
Gorée is fragile in two ways: it is a place of remembrance and a real village, where people live, work and pray. In the House of Slaves, lower your voice, avoid selfies and give visitors from the diaspora room for their emotion. In the lanes, do not photograph residents without their consent and do not wander into open courtyards. The municipal tax pays for waste management and upkeep of the island: even so, take your packaging back to the mainland.
Getting there: the ferry, step by step
The ferry leaves from the maritime terminal, inside the port of Dakar, a short walk from the Plateau. The boats carry foot passengers only and run every day, from early morning until late in the evening, with a different timetable at weekends. Tickets are bought at the counter; advance booking is not possible. Times change with the season and the state of the fleet: check the board on site.
| Departure | Maritime terminal in the port of Dakar, near the Plateau |
| Crossing | Short, under half an hour; foot passengers only |
| Return ticket | At the counter; 1,500 FCFA for a Senegalese adult, a higher fare for residents of other countries and non-residents, reduced for children |
| Municipal tax | 500 FCFA per visitor, on top of the ticket |
| On the island | Entry fees charged at the House of Slaves and the Historical Museum, depending on your category |
These amounts are official fees: they are payable on site, not included in the price of activities, and no discount applies to them.
When to go
From November to May, the dry season is the most comfortable for walking. The rainy season (hivernage), July to October, is hot and humid. But the day matters more than the season: on weekdays and outside school holidays, Gorée breathes; at weekends, the boats fill up. Avoid Mondays if the House of Slaves is the reason for your trip. During the day, there are two good slots: early morning for the memorial and the museums, late afternoon for the Castel and the sunset.
Nearby
Gorée pairs well with the Plateau and the Museum of Black Civilisations, described on the Dakar page. For a more beach-oriented island, see Ngor; to plan your stay, our three-day Dakar itinerary and the Dakar Region page.
Book an activity on Gorée with QFS
Gorée’s activities are listed under guided cultural tours and island excursions; to take the creative side further, see crafts & traditional skills and painting & visual arts. You pay 20% to secure your booking (the booking fee), and the balance is paid on site, on the day. The ferry, the municipal tax and site entry fees are official fees, payable on site and not included in the price. If you live in Senegal, you get the resident rate: up to 30% off depending on the activity.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to get to Gorée?
The return ferry ticket costs 1,500 FCFA for a Senegalese adult; it is higher for other categories and shown at the counter. On top of that comes a municipal tax of 500 FCFA per visitor, then the entry fees for the sites you visit.
Can you book the ferry in advance?
No, tickets are bought on the day at the counter of the maritime terminal in the port of Dakar. At weekends, arrive early: the queues can be long.
Is the House of Slaves open every day?
No, it is closed on Mondays. Come early in the morning on a weekday instead, to visit it in peace.
Can you swim and stay the night on Gorée?
Yes to both. A small sheltered beach lies just to the right of the landing stage, and several guesthouses take visitors for the night; book early, as places are limited.
Is a guided tour worthwhile on such a small island?
Yes: the island is quick to cross, but its history is dense and debated. A tour booked in advance gives you a thread linking the House of Slaves, the forts and the merchants’ houses, and spares you the haggling at the landing stage.
