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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.

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
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
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.

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.

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.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

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 kmTaxi 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 →

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.

Kariakoo marketWaterfront and ferry to ZanzibarBongoyo and Mbudya islandsNational Museum and Village Museum
Airports
DAR Julius Nyerere International Airport (About 10 km west of the centre; taxi to town from TSh 30,000, more at night. Evening traffic can add an hour.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

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

25°C

6 rd

Feb

33°C

25°C

5 rd

Mar

32°C

24°C

12 rd

Apr

31°C

23°C

17 rd

May

30°C

22°C

13 rd

Jun

30°C

20°C

5 rd

Jul

30°C

19°C

4 rd

Aug

30°C

19°C

4 rd

Sep

31°C

20°C

3 rd

Oct

32°C

21°C

5 rd

Nov

32°C

23°C

9 rd

Dec

32°C

24°C

9 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

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.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Bongoyo Island

go

Door 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.

Bagamoyogo

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

go

Door 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.

Zanzibar (Stone Town)overnight

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 & 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 from the city centre.

Kariakoo

Market district, cheap guesthouses; busy and basic, not for light sleepers.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
TSh 60,000–110,000 excl. bed
Mid
TSh 110,000–250,000 excl. bed
High
TSh 250,000+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Double room, mid hotel1 × 2 nights × TZS 160,000TZS 320,000
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × TZS 130,000TZS 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 40,000TZS 80,000
eSIM, about a week of data2 × TZS 25,000TZS 50,000
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeTZS 104,000
Trip total≈ TZS 286,000 per person per day, bed includedTZS 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 teaTSh 2,000–5,000
Plate of pilau or chipsi mayaiTSh 5,000–12,000
Bottle of water (1.5 L)TSh 1,000–2,000
Beer in a barTSh 3,000–6,000
Dala-dala rideTSh 400–1,000
Taxi across the centreAgree the fare first.TSh 15,000–30,000
Zanzibar ferry, one wayabout US$35

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Dar is generally safe for visitors by day in the centre and Msasani, but petty theft, taxi overcharging and ferry-ticket scams are common; avoid walking alone at night and keep valuables out of sight.
  • 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

One page · print or save as PDF

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 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

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep (drier, cooler) · avoid Mar–May (long rains), Dec–Feb (hot and humid) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to Tanzania

Sources