In Yoff village, take a look at the Layen Mausoleum, a shrine to the founder of the Layen Muslim brotherhood. Residents of Yoff are noted for their strong Islamic culture – so smoking and drinking are not allowed and visitors should be appropriately dressed (meaning long skirts or trousers). It's right on the beach and its floors are made of sand.
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Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Île de N'Gor
2.54 MILES
For a quick escape from the frenetic streets of Dakar, head to peaceful Île de N'Gor, a tiny island just off Dakar's north shore. It has a few calm…
Maison des Esclaves
8.3 MILES
Set in a former grand home allegedly used as a departure point for slaves, this is one of the most important monuments to the slave trade and features the…
African Renaissance Monument
3.3 MILES
Allegedly Africa's highest statue, the African Renaissance Monument was unveiled in 2010 to commemorate Senegal's 50 years of independence from France. At…
Mamelles Lighthouse
3.37 MILES
A photogenic 1864 lighthouse graces the top of one of Dakar's few hills. It's worth making leisurely 20-minute walk, with sweeping views across the city…
Plage de N'Gor
2.57 MILES
Plage de N'gor is a small beach popular with families and football-playing youths, and there are a few snack spots with tables on the sands. It's not a…
Plage de Virage
1.61 MILES
Plage de Virage is a popular spot with surfers. This small beach gets packed on weekends with a mostly local crowd, though a few foreigners pass by,…
Place de l'Indépendance
6.95 MILES
Dakar's central square is the beating heart of the city. Symmetrically laid out and home to countless cars, crooks and 1960s concrete blocks, it also…
Nearby Dakar attractions
1. Plage de Yoff
1.36 MILES
Like all of Dakar's beaches, Yoff's stretch of sand isn't very clean. That doesn't stop beach-goers and surfers who come for the consistent waves. Aside…
2. Plage de Virage
1.61 MILES
Plage de Virage is a popular spot with surfers. This small beach gets packed on weekends with a mostly local crowd, though a few foreigners pass by,…
3. Village des Arts
1.7 MILES
An arts tour around Dakar is simply not complete without a visit to this famous art complex, where some of Senegal's most promising and established…
4. Île de N'Gor
2.54 MILES
For a quick escape from the frenetic streets of Dakar, head to peaceful Île de N'Gor, a tiny island just off Dakar's north shore. It has a few calm…
5. Plage de N'Gor
2.57 MILES
Plage de N'gor is a small beach popular with families and football-playing youths, and there are a few snack spots with tables on the sands. It's not a…
6. African Renaissance Monument
3.3 MILES
Allegedly Africa's highest statue, the African Renaissance Monument was unveiled in 2010 to commemorate Senegal's 50 years of independence from France. At…
7. Mamelles Lighthouse
3.37 MILES
A photogenic 1864 lighthouse graces the top of one of Dakar's few hills. It's worth making leisurely 20-minute walk, with sweeping views across the city…
8. Grande Mosquée
6.12 MILES
The impressive Grande Mosquée, built in 1964, sits in the heart of Médina, a lively neighbourhood where tiny tailor shops fight for space with improvised…