Dakar & Goree Island: Full-Day Tour with Slave House & Lunch

Summary

Walk Dakar’s markets ferry to Goree Island feel history at the Door of No Return

You’ll wander Dakar’s lively streets with an English-speaking guide who knows every shortcut, ferry across to historic Goree Island, stand at the Door of No Return inside the House of Slaves, and share lunch overlooking pink-and-blue rooftops. Expect laughter, quiet moments, unexpected warmth — some memories will stick longer than you think.

What’s the experience like?

You know that feeling when you wake up somewhere totally new and for a second you forget where you are? That was me in Dakar, stepping out into the street — bright colors everywhere, women balancing baskets on their heads like it’s nothing, the air thick with a mix of sea breeze and grilled fish. Our guide — Ibrahima — just grinned and waved us toward the van. He’d lived in the US for years, so his English was easy and he had this way of explaining things that made even traffic jams interesting. We zipped past colonial buildings, mosques with green domes catching the sun, then stopped at a market where I tried (and failed) to bargain for fabric. The seller just laughed and shook her head.

The ferry to Goree Island was packed — people chatting in Wolof, kids eating mangoes. There was this salty tang in the air and honestly I felt a little nervous. The island is beautiful, pastel houses with peeling paint, bougainvillea everywhere, but there’s this weight too. At the House of Slaves our guide paused by the Door of No Return and went quiet for a moment before telling us what happened here. The walls felt cold under my hand. It’s strange how you can stand in a place like that and hear only your own breath for a second.

Lunch was simple but good — grilled fish with spicy sauce and rice, eaten outside while cats circled underfoot hoping for scraps. Someone played music nearby; it mixed with voices from another table and drifted up over the old rooftops. On the way back we stopped by monuments I hadn’t even heard of before: the African Renaissance statue (it’s huge), an old cathedral gleaming white against all that blue sky. By then my head was spinning from stories and sun — I kept thinking about those rooms on Goree Island long after we left. Still do sometimes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Dakar city and Goree Island tour

• Visit Slave House on Goree Island
• See Door-of-No-Return
• Explore colonial architecture landmark
• View Islamic architecture example
• Pass by former French Governor's residence
• Enjoy panoramic city view at monument
• Shopping stop in Dakar city
• Visit impressive Cathedral

Top questions

Is lunch included on this Dakar & Goree Island tour?

Yes, lunch is included as part of your day trip experience.

Do I need to bring my passport for Goree Island?

Yes, you should bring your passport with you for this tour.

How do we get to Goree Island from Dakar?

You’ll take a public ferry across to Goree Island; tickets are included.

Is entry to the House of Slaves covered?

Yes, admission fees for the House of Slaves are included in your booking.

Is this tour suitable for wheelchair users?

The tour is wheelchair accessible according to provided information.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The entire tour is conducted in English by your guide.

Are infants allowed on this tour?

Infants are welcome but must sit on an adult's lap during transport.

Does this day trip include hotel pickup?

The tour includes pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle as part of your day.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle, all ferry tickets between Dakar and Goree Island, entry fees for sites like the House of Slaves, guiding services fully in English throughout the day, plus a local lunch before heading back into town together.