Major city · Tanzania
Dar es Salaam
Give Dar 1–2 nights as a stopover or business base, not a beach holiday: use it for Kariakoo market, the waterfront and a Bongoyo Island day.
Dar es Salaam is Tanzania's largest city and main port, and most travellers pass through it between a flight and Zanzibar or the safari circuit. It is flat, hot and humid, with a Swahili, Arab and South Asian mix in the old centre and Kariakoo market. One or two nights covers the city; add a day for Bongoyo or Mbudya island, or use it as a base for Bagamoyo.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- TZS
- Best months
- Jun–Sep (drier, cooler)
- avoid Mar–May (long rains), Dec–Feb (hot and humid)
- Airport
- DAR
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 9Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Carry the yellow fever certificate on every leg of a mult…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- East Africa ↗Carry the yellow fever certificate on every leg of a multi-country trip: Uganda and Burundi check it for all arrivals, and a stop in Kenya or Ethiopia makes the next border ask for it.
- East Africa ↗Advice for Ethiopia, Somaliland, Eritrea, Somalia, South Sudan and the Congo border areas can change within days; read your government's page the week you fly and before every regional flight.
- East Africa ↗Price park, reserve and permit fees before comparing lodges: they are charged per person per day, often with VAT, and are fixed whatever bed you choose.
- Tanzania ↗Apply for the Tanzania e-visa only on the official immigration portal; Zanzibar and, from 1 October 2026, mainland Tanzania each require their own US$44 inbound insurance bought from the state insurer's site.
- Tanzania ↗Carry a yellow fever certificate if you arrive from or connect through a risk country such as Kenya or Ethiopia; see a travel clinic about malaria several weeks ahead.
- Tanzania ↗Plastic carrier bags are banned; leave shop and duty-free plastic bags behind before you arrive.
- Tanzania ↗Light aircraft between parks and to Zanzibar have strict baggage limits, usually soft-sided bags only and a low total weight (often around 15 kg); confirm the limit with your operator.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Dar es Salaam112 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Dar es Salaam, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TZS).Tanzania-wide
- SIM or eSIMVodacom, Airtel, Yas (Tigo) and Halotel sell SIMs at airports; registration takes fingerprints and a passport.Tanzania-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap; lodges provide filtered water.Tanzania-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 5–10% where no service charge.Tanzania-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets D/G. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): fits · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Tanzania-wide
- SafetyDar is generally safe for visitors by day in the centre and Msasani, but petty theft, taxi overcharging and ferry-ticket scams are common…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern in hotels and lodges; long-drops at some gates and picnic sites; squat toilets at bus stops.Tanzania-wide
- Emergency numbers112 police, fire, ambulance · 114 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysGovernment offices close public holidays; on Zanzibar many local restaurants close by day in Ramadan.Tanzania-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportDAR Julius Nyerere International Airport (About 10 km (6.2 mi) west of the centre; taxi to town from TSh 30,000, more at night.DAR Julius Nyerere International Airport (About 6.2 mi (10 km) west of the centre; taxi to town from TSh 30,000, more at night.
- Getting aroundCentral Dar is walkable but has few pavements.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or teaTSh 2,000–5,000
- BeerBeer in a barTSh 3,000–6,000
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi across the centreAgree the fare first.TSh 15,000–30,000
- Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per personTZS 25,000
- Mid-range bedDouble room, mid hotel, a night, per roomTZS 160,000
- High-end bedDouble room, mid hotel, a night, per roomTZS 350,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget TZS 60,000 · Mid TZS 130,000 · High TZS 300,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- DAR Julius Nyerere International Airport (About 10 km (6.2 mi) west of the centre; taxi to town from TSh 30,000, more at night. Evening traffic can add an hour.)DAR Julius Nyerere International Airport (About 6.2 mi (10 km) west of the centre; taxi to town from TSh 30,000, more at night. Evening traffic can add an hour.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Feb
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Mar
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Apr
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
May
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Jun
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Jul
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Aug
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Sep
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Oct
not flagged
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Nov
not flagged
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Dec
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Best: Jun–Sep. Avoid: Dec–May. Month by month →
Warmest Feb (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jul (19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C) low), wettest Apr (17 rain days), driest Sep (3). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Dar es Salaam: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
6 rd
Feb
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
5 rd
Mar
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
12 rd
Apr
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
17 rd
May
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
13 rd
Jun
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
5 rd
Jul
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
4 rd
Aug
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
4 rd
Sep
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
3 rd
Oct
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
5 rd
Nov
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
9 rd
Dec
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
9 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Central Dar is walkable but has few pavements. DART (BRT) buses run on dedicated lanes on the main corridors and are the fastest cheap option; dala-dala minibuses are cheaper still but slower and crowded. Taxis and ride-hailing are the easy fallback; agree the fare before you get in. No BRT station at the airport yet.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Bongoyo Island
goDoor to door: About 30 min by boat
Boat from the Slipway, Msasani Peninsula
Reef snorkelling and a beach; go early, take cash for the marine park fee and boat.
Door to door: 1.5–2 h from Mwenge
Bus or dala-dala from Mwenge station along the coast road
Old Swahili trading town and slave-route history; a half or full day.
Mbudya Island
goDoor to door: About 30 min by boat
Boat from the Slipway or White Sands
Quieter beach and snorkelling than Bongoyo; check boat times on arrival.
Door to door: About 2 h
Ferry from the Zanzibar ferry terminal
A crossing, not a day trip; book the official ferry and sleep in Stone Town.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
City centre (Posta, Kivukoni)
Walk to the ferry, National Museum and waterfront; best for one night with bags.
Msasani Peninsula
Hotels, restaurants and embassies; quieter evenings, about 20 km (12 mi) from the city centre.Hotels, restaurants and embassies; quieter evenings, about 12 mi (20 km) from the city centre.
Kariakoo
Market district, cheap guesthouses; busy and basic, not for light sleepers.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- TSh 60,000–110,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- TSh 110,000–250,000 excl. bed
- High
- TSh 250,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room, mid hotel1 × 2 nights × TZS 160,000 | TZS 320,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × TZS 130,000 | TZS 520,000 |
| Airport taxi, both ways1 × TZS 70,000 · From TSh 30,000 each way, more at night. | TZS 70,000 |
| Bongoyo Island boat and marine park fee2 × TZS 40,000 | TZS 80,000 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × TZS 25,000 | TZS 50,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | TZS 104,000 |
| Trip total≈ TZS 286,000 per person per day, bed included | TZS 1,144,000 |
2026 estimate in shillings; flights, safaris and the Zanzibar ferry excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee or tea | TSh 2,000–5,000 |
| Plate of pilau or chipsi mayai | TSh 5,000–12,000 |
| Bottle of water (1.5 L) | TSh 1,000–2,000 |
| Beer in a bar | TSh 3,000–6,000 |
| Dala-dala ride | TSh 400–1,000 |
| Taxi across the centreAgree the fare first. | TSh 15,000–30,000 |
| Zanzibar ferry, one way | about US$35 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Agree taxi fares before departure; airport and Ubungo stands charge the highest prices.
- Keep bags with you on buses and never leave valuables on an overhead shelf.
- Buy Zanzibar ferry tickets only at the official counter; touts sell fake tickets.
- Petty theft happens around Kariakoo and the ferry terminal; carry little and keep phones out of sight.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 112
- Fire
- 114
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Dar es SalaamDar es Salaam
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Kwa anwani hii, tafadhaliTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance112
- Fire114
Embassy
Most embassies are in Dar es Salaam; check your country's listing for the address and hours.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Airport → city centre, taxi: from TSh 30,000, more at night
- Airport → Posta, dala-dala: under TSh 1,000
- Zanzibar ferry, one way: about US$35
Say or show
- Jambo — Hello (JAM-bo)
- Asante — Thank you (a-SAN-te)
- Bei gani? — How much is it? (BAY GAH-nee)
- Choo kiko wapi? — Where is the toilet? (CHO kee-ko WA-pee)
- Sitaki — I don't want it (see-TAH-kee)
- Nisaidie — Help (nee-sah-EE-dee)
Carry small shilling notes for dala-dala, market stalls and tips.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Dar es Salaam. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Jun–Sep (drier, cooler) · avoid Mar–May (long rains), Dec–Feb (hot and humid) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares