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Accra ⇄ Dakar · One-stop connections · Senegal · Checked October 2026

Dakar from Accra: Africa's westernmost capital and the island of Gorée

Dakar sits on a peninsula at the very western tip of Africa, a city of ocean winds, mbalax music, fishing boats, fierce wrestling matches and the quiet island of Gorée just offshore. For Ghanaians it is a natural partner: a fellow ECOWAS capital, visa-free, on the same clock, and home to one of the most important memorials of the Atlantic slave trade. There is no daily nonstop flight from Accra, but one stop gets you there. Here is how.

Senegal in brief

Key facts

  • Capital: Dakar.
  • Airport: Blaise Diagne International Airport (DSS) at Diass, opened in December 2017, about 45 to 50 km from central Dakar. The old Léopold Sédar Senghor airport in the city no longer takes passenger airlines.
  • From Accra: one stop, usually via Abidjan, Lomé or Banjul.
  • Time: GMT, the same as Ghana.
  • Currency: West African CFA franc (XOF), the same as in Côte d'Ivoire, Togo and Benin.
  • Languages: French (official), Wolof spoken almost everywhere, plus Pulaar, Serer, Diola and others.
  • Independence: 1960, from France. National Day is celebrated on 4 April.
  • Entry for Ghanaians: visa-free as ECOWAS citizens, for up to 90 days.

Flights from Accra to Dakar

RouteAirlinesNotes
Via AbidjanAir Côte d'IvoireAccra–Abidjan is about an hour; Air Côte d'Ivoire connects on to Dakar.
Via LoméASKY AirlinesASKY's hub connects much of West Africa, including Dakar.
Via BanjulASKY, then road or a short flightCombine The Gambia and Senegal on one trip.
Senegalese carriersAir Senegal and othersRoutes to Accra have changed over the years; check whether a direct service is on sale for your dates.

Read this before booking

West African connections change often, and some itineraries involve long waits. Compare the total travel time, not only the price, and check every leg on the airline's own website before you buy.

Abidjan Lomé Banjul West Africa from Accra

Ghana and Dakar right now

Local time in both cities, the weather at this moment, and a converter between cedis, CFA francs and the main currencies.

Say it in Wolof

  • Nanga def? How are you? The answer is Maa ngi fi rekk, I'm fine.
  • Jërëjëf: thank you.
  • Waaw / Déedéet: yes / no.
  • Teranga: Senegal's word for hospitality, and its national pride.

Dakar is cooler and drier than Accra for much of the year, thanks to the Atlantic winds. The short rainy season runs from about July to October.

Entry and arrival

  • No visa for Ghanaians: as ECOWAS citizens, Ghanaians can stay up to 90 days with a valid passport or ECOWAS travel document.
  • Yellow fever: carry your vaccination card.
  • A long way from town: Blaise Diagne airport is far from Dakar. Allow 45 minutes to over an hour by road, depending on traffic.
  • Into town: airport shuttle buses, official taxis and the express train (TER) towards the city are the main options. Agree taxi fares before you set off.
  • Money: CFA francs are easy to get from ATMs. Your leftover CFA works in Togo, Benin and Côte d'Ivoire too.

Dakar and Gorée: what to see

  • Gorée IslandA UNESCO World Heritage Site, twenty minutes by ferry. The House of Slaves and its "Door of No Return" echo Ghana's own Cape Coast and Elmina.
  • Museum of Black CivilisationsOpened in 2018, one of Africa's most ambitious museums of the continent and its diaspora.
  • African Renaissance MonumentThe giant bronze statue on its hill above the city, and the views over Dakar.
  • IFAN Théodore Monod MuseumThe classic museum of West African art, masks and textiles.
  • Markets and the CornicheKermel and Sandaga markets, the HLM fabric market, and sunset along the ocean road.
  • Lac RoseLake Retba, whose water turns pink in the dry season, north-east of the city.

Senegal in depth on SenegalVibes.com Cape Coast Castle Elmina Castle

Beyond Dakar

  • Saint-LouisThe old colonial capital on its river island in the north, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Sine-Saloum DeltaMangroves, shell islands and fishing villages, south of Dakar.
  • The Petite CôteBeaches and resorts at Saly, Somone and Mbour, close to the new airport.
  • CasamanceGreen, Diola country in the south, beyond The Gambia. Check current advice before travelling there.

Tours in Senegal and The Gambia: Gorée, Dakar, the Saloum delta and the river. Entrance fees are included in the tour price; tips are not included but always welcome.

Onward from Dakar

Honest tips for Senegal

  • The airport is far: a late-night arrival at Blaise Diagne means a long drive. Book your first night and a pickup in advance.
  • French helps: English is not widely spoken outside tourist areas. A few words of French and Wolof go a long way.
  • Gorée early: take an early ferry to see the island before the day-trip crowds.
  • Persistent sellers: on Gorée, the Corniche and around the markets, vendors and "guides" can be insistent. A firm, friendly "no, merci" works.
  • Dress: Senegal is mostly Muslim. Dress modestly away from the beaches, especially when visiting mosques and religious towns such as Touba.
  • Ramadan and Tabaski: during religious holidays, travel and businesses slow down. Check dates before you plan.

More flights from Accra

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Updated and fact-checked: 28 October 2026. Flight routings from airline networks as published; entry rules under the ECOWAS protocol on free movement. Schedules change; always confirm with the airline before travelling. Text and research by Remo Kurka for GhanaFlights.info. This website carries no Google advertising.