The guided tour of Gorée Island starts at the port of Dakar, a twenty-minute ferry ride away, and continues on foot through the lanes of the UNESCO-listed island. With a guide, you take in the memory of slavery, the colonial architecture and the calm of an island without cars; departures are from Dakar, Saly, Mbour or your hotel, from 2 people.

The route on the island

The guide tells the history of the place, passes the Door of No Return, shows the coloured houses and the craftsmen’s workshops, then climbs to the Castel plateau for the view over Dakar and the sea. Depending on the option, the visit includes the House of Slaves, the Historical Museum housed in Fort d’Estrees, a local lunch or breaks on the beaches. The visit itself generally lasts 2 to 4 hours.

The opening days are as follows: the House of Slaves is closed on Mondays, and the Historical Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday.

Which option, from where?

There are many options, and you choose first according to the starting point:

• Meeting at the Dakar landing stage, for a half day, with or without the House of Slaves.
• Full day from Dakar, with a guide and the House of Slaves, with or without lunch, or with the museums and lunch.
• From Saly or Mbour, as a private half day or a full day with guide and lunch, with transport.
• From your hotel in Dakar, with private transport and a guide, or from the Petite Côte with a guide and transport.

The price is a flat rate for the group, reduced as the number of people grows, with the service running from 2 people; a single per-person option also exists, as well as a child rate for ages 3 to 11. A reduced resident rate is mentioned, depending on the operator.

What is paid on site

The ferry crossing, the municipal tax (at the ticket office at the Dakar landing stage) and the museum entrance fees are not in the price: they are official fees, payable on site, with rates that vary by status (Senegalese, African resident, non-resident). Bring photo ID, comfortable shoes, a hat, sun cream and water.

Gorée from Dakar, Saly or Mbour

If you live in Dakar, Gorée is a half day twenty minutes by boat from the port, worth repeating with guests or family. If you are staying in Saly, Mbour or on the Petite Côte, the options with transport spare you from organising the trip to Dakar. Once there, the Gorée Island page and the House of Slaves page give you your bearings before the visit.

To extend the day

Heading back towards the centre, the Museum of Black Civilisations continues the visit with another perspective on African history. To see more islands, the island excursions and guided cultural visits offer other outings.