Major city · Senegal
Saint-LouisSaint-Louis-du-Sénégal
Give Saint-Louis 2–3 nights: one full day on the Île de N'Dar on foot, one for Guet N'Dar and the beach, one for Djoudj or the Langue de Barbarie.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- XOF
- Best months
- Nov–May
- avoid Jun–Oct (heat, humidity, rain)
- Airports
- DSS · SLS
- Nights
- 2–3
Rules in force · 7Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Carry an original yellow fever vaccination certificate on…
- 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.
- West Africa ↗Carry an original yellow fever vaccination certificate on any West African trip: several countries on the coast road demand it of every arrival, and the rest demand it after you have passed through a neighbour.
- West Africa ↗Cross land borders and drive between cities in daylight only; plan each crossing as a full travel day with cash for fees and passport copies for checkpoints.
- Senegal ↗Check visa and entry rules for your passport on official Senegalese government sources before booking.
- Senegal ↗Dress modestly in towns and at religious sites: shoulders and knees covered.
- Senegal ↗Check your government's advice before travelling to parts of the Casamance region in the south.
Saint-Louis is a UNESCO World Heritage colonial island town at the mouth of the Senegal River, 260 km north of Dakar, split across the mainland (Sor), the 2 km-long Île de N'Dar and the Langue de Barbarie peninsula. There is no working airport or rail link as of 2026, so you arrive by road. The old town is small enough to walk in an afternoon; the fishing quarter, the beaches and the bird parks are what fill a second and third day.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Saint-Louis, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the West African CFA franc (XOF), shared with seven other West African states and pegged to the euro (655.957 XOF = €1).Senegal-wide
- SIM or eSIMOrange, Free and Expresso sell SIMs at the airport and shops; passport registration required.Senegal-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap for visitors.Senegal-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 5–10% where no service is added.Senegal-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/D/E/K. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Senegal-wide
- SafetySaint-Louis is calm by West African city standards; the real issues are road transfers after dark, petty theft in crowded Guet N'Dar…
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels and restaurants; squat toilets and buckets on the road.Senegal-wide
- Emergency numbers17 police · 18 fire · 1515 SAMU (ambulance) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysFriday lunchtime prayers slow business; Tabaski, Korité and the Magal close most shops; many coastal lodges close Jul–Oct.Senegal-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportDSS Blaise Diagne International (Dakar) (The practical gateway: about 260 km by road, 4–6 h.).DSS Blaise Diagne International (Dakar) (The practical gateway: about 162 mi by road, 4–6 h.).
- Getting aroundThe island is walkable end to end in about 20 minutes.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or Café Touba from a street vendorunder 100 XOF
- BeerBeer, mainland bar vs island barcheaper on the mainland
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 miTaxi inside town500 XOF (600 XOF at night)
- Budget bedGuesthouse or hostel bed, a night, per personXOF 8,000
- Mid-range bedDouble room, island guesthouse, a night, per roomXOF 35,000
- High-end bedDouble room, island guesthouse, a night, per roomXOF 70,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget XOF 15,000 · Mid XOF 30,000 · High XOF 55,000
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.
- Airports
- DSS Blaise Diagne International (Dakar) (The practical gateway: about 260 km by road, 4–6 h.) · SLS Saint-Louis Airport (No scheduled passenger flights as of 2026.)DSS Blaise Diagne International (Dakar) (The practical gateway: about 162 mi by road, 4–6 h.) · SLS Saint-Louis Airport (No scheduled passenger flights as of 2026.)
Weather and climate
Saint-Louis: 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
29°C84°F
16°C61°F
0 rd
Feb
30°C86°F
16°C61°F
0 rd
Mar
31°C88°F
17°C63°F
0 rd
Apr
31°C88°F
18°C64°F
0 rd
May
31°C88°F
19°C66°F
0 rd
Jun
32°C90°F
22°C72°F
1 rd
Jul
32°C90°F
24°C75°F
3 rd
Aug
32°C90°F
25°C77°F
6 rd
Sep
33°C91°F
25°C77°F
6 rd
Oct
34°C93°F
24°C75°F
2 rd
Nov
33°C91°F
20°C68°F
0 rd
Dec
30°C86°F
17°C63°F
0 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The island is walkable end to end in about 20 minutes. Taxis inside town run a fixed rate of about 500 XOF (600 XOF at night or from the gare routière); car rapide minibuses cost about 100 XOF. Calèche (horse cart) rides on the island are aimed at visitors: agree the price first. Scooters rent for about 10,000 XOF/day and bicycles about 5,000 XOF/day from the corner of Rue Blanchot and Quai Roume.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary
goDoor to door: Half to full day
Car or organised tour from Saint-Louis, about 60 km north-eastCar or organised tour from Saint-Louis, about 37 mi north-east
Best Nov–Mar for pelicans and migrants; pirogue trips run from the park entrance. Arrange transport in advance.
Langue de Barbarie National Park
goDoor to door: 2–4 h
Taxi or pirogue south along the peninsula
Birdlife and mangroves; go early morning.
Guembeul Fauna Reserve
cautionDoor to door: Half day
Car south of town toward the N2
Small reserve; combine with Djoudj rather than making it the trip.
Podor
overnightDoor to door: 3–4 h
Road north-east along the Senegal River
Too far for a return day; sleep one night.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Île de N'Dar (the island)
The old town: guesthouses in colonial buildings, walkable to everything, quiet at night. Best for a first visit.
Sor (mainland)
Cheaper, the big market and the gare routière; 10–15 min walk over the bridge to the island.
Langue de Barbarie / Hydrobase
Beach-side hotels south along the peninsula; you need a taxi or a long walk to reach the island.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- 15,000–25,000 XOF excl. bed
- Mid
- 25,000–45,000 XOF excl. bed
- High
- 45,000 XOF+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room, island guesthouse1 × 2 nights × XOF 35,000 | XOF 70,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × XOF 30,000 | XOF 120,000 |
| Sept-place Dakar → Saint-Louis, one way2 × XOF 5,000 | XOF 10,000 |
| Djoudj day tour with transport and pirogue2 × XOF 25,000 | XOF 50,000 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × XOF 8,000 | XOF 16,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | XOF 26,600 |
| Trip total≈ XOF 73,200 per person per day, bed included | XOF 292,600 |
2026 estimate in CFA francs; flights and the Dakar transfer excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee or Café Touba from a street vendor | under 100 XOF |
| Pastry at a patisserie on Rue Blanchot | from 400 XOF |
| Plate of yassa poulet or a Senegalese dish | 1,500–2,500 XOF |
| Pizza at a small island restaurant | from 2,500 XOF |
| Beer, mainland bar vs island bar | cheaper on the mainland |
| Taxi inside town | 500 XOF (600 XOF at night) |
| Car rapide minibus ride | about 100 XOF |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- No working airport or train as of 2026: plan the road transfer from Dakar in daylight.
- The beach at Ndar-Toute doubles as a rubbish dump: don't swim or sunbathe there.
- Plage Hydrobase has plastic and waste in the sand; check conditions before swimming.
- North of Plage de Sal Sal the beach crosses into Mauritania: don't walk too far north, and tell police you are going to the beach if stopped.
- Guet N'Dar is crowded with poor sanitation; keep valuables close and don't photograph people without asking.
- Sept-place and minibus drivers at Dakar's Gare Pompier may overstate free seats: count them before paying.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 17
- Fire
- 18
- SAMU (ambulance)
- 1515
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Saint-LouisSaint-Louis-du-Sénégal
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police17
- Fire18
- SAMU (ambulance)1515
Embassy
Most embassies are in Dakar; check your country's embassy there for consular help in Saint-Louis.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Sept-place Dakar → Saint-Louis: about 5,000 XOF, 4–6 h
- Private taxi Dakar airport → Saint-Louis: about 60,000 XOF, up to 4 people
- Taxi inside Saint-Louis: 500 XOF, 600 XOF at night
Say or show
- Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
- Merci — Thank you (mair-SEE)
- C'est combien ? — How much is it? (say kom-BYEN)
- Où sont les toilettes ? — Where is the toilet? (oo son lay twa-LET)
- Je n'en veux pas — I don't want it (zhuh non vuh PAH)
- Au secours — Help (oh suh-KOOR)
French is the working language; Wolof is widely spoken. Carry small notes for taxis and markets.
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 Saint-Louis. 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: Nov–May · avoid Jun–Oct (heat, humidity, rain) · month by month →
- 2 airports 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
- 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for the Dakar road transfer: sept-place, Demm Dikk bus and private taxi options with daylight cutoffs.
- Four walking clusters on the island with rescue anchors: Quai Roume, Rue Blanchot, the cathedral and the mosque, the bridge.
- Place pages for the Musée de l'Aéropostale, the cathedral, the Grand Mosque and Guet N'Dar with verified hours and entry.
- Eat pages with last orders and price bands for island restaurants and mainland tangana shacks.