Dar Es Salaam is a huge metropolitan port city with more than 4 million inhabitants. Although, while it is the biggest, most populous and prominent city in Tanzania, it is not the capital. That honour falls in a smaller city in the center of the country called Dodoma. Despite its size, it has still somehow maintained a more down to earth type of atmosphere to it.
We had a chance to spend 3 days in Dar Es Salaam, where we got to explore the city while doing some work in between. Based on this, we made this recommended itinerary if you have just 1 day to explore this city.
Accommodation
We spent quite some time trying to figure out where to stay in Dar Es Salaam. In one of the beaches, the rural areas, the fancy areas of the city, or the city center.
We ended up booking a hotel somewhere in the city center and did not regret this. If you want to explore the city and get a feel of its vibe, then we recommend you find a place in the city center. It’s so much more convenient and you can easily walk out and around the city from there. And the area has lots of local shops, local markets, and restaurants.
We stayed at a hotel called Chelsea Hotel which was nice, somewhat midrange in price. The main reason was that we were dependent on good internet, so we searched a lot for the best hotel internet based on reviews and this is what we found where the price wasn’t crazy. The internet was not super great but it worked and overall the hotel was nice.
Getting Around
In the city center, the best way to get around is walking. For us, that is the best way to get to know a new city anywhere. It allows you to blend in with the locals and get a feel of the hustle and bustle on every corner. And walking around in Dar Es Salaam was no problem at all, but of course, be aware of the usual pickpockets, and don’t flash out your valuables like the camera, expensive watch, etc. Otherwise, you will be fine.
Another great way to get around is Uber. It works throughout the city and they even have this local Uber called Uber POA, a 3 wheeled motorized vehicle, small but way more fuel-efficient. Expect that after you order your Uber, you will be called by the driver to confirm your location.
We found this a bit weird and annoying in the beginning actually, cos they can see it right there in the app. At least that’s what we have been used to anywhere else in the world where we used Uber. But the mobile GPS signal in Dar Es Salaam doesn’t work well apparently so while the app may show a location, it is often wrong and so they always call you to confirm your location.
Take a Walk Around the Center of Dar Es Salaam
If you’re staying in the city center, we recommend you start by exploring the city on foot. As mentioned, this is a great way to get to know the city and feel its vibe. You will find lots of small shops and cafes and restaurants around Dar Es Salaam.
Luckily, our hotel was conveniently located somewhat in the western part of the city center. From there, we were relatively close to the Kariakoo Market, so that’s where we started.
Pass by Kariakoo Market
The entrance of Kariakoo Market
Kariakoo Market is the biggest and busiest market in Dar Es Salaam. To be honest, we weren’t super impressed really, there wasn’t that much of interest to see. But it still gives a good impression of the more local life in Dar Es Salaam and the hustle and bustle of a local market in Africa. So if you haven’t had a chance to visit a local market in Africa before, this should make it on your list.
Apart from the usual pickpocket that you should be careful about anywhere, it seemed safe and we could easily walk around to explore. But expect the place to be full of people, inside and on the streets next to it.
Chaiwala Cafe
Chaiwala Cafe reception area
From there, head towards the seafront. On the way, a good stopover for a coffee/tea and snack or even breakfast or lunch is Chaiwala Cafe. It’s pretty much on the way anyway and a super nice cozy small cafe that serves good snacks and good coffee.
They have internet and generally a nice ambiance, you almost feel like your in a cafe in any European city. We had our lunch there and the food was delicious.
Zanzibar Ferry Terminal
Zanzibar Ferry Terminal
Afterwards, we suggest you head down to the Zanzibar ferry terminal. Although, that is mainly if you are planning to take a ferry from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar because then it is a good idea to buy your ticket and see where you need to go beforehand. Expect the place to be full of people, especially porters who want to carry your bag for a fee.
“Read more in our Border Crossing Between Dar Es Salaam to Zanzibar”
St. Joseph’s Cathedral
Almost across the Zanzibar ferry terminal is the St. Joseph Cathedral, one of the usual mentions of places to see in Dar Es Salaam. We didn’t visit as we felt we have seen plenty of churches and cathedrals in the past, but if your in the area anyway it’s easy to pass by and on the way anyway.
Next, you can walk along the seafront heading North East. That will take you to a more quiet part of the city with less hustle and bustle everywhere. This will also take you to where the National Museum is, which is our next recommended stop.
The National Museum
Don’t expect a huge museum that you will spend hours and hours to explore. The national museum in Dar Es Salaam is quite small actually, but very interesting and we would recommend it, even if we are not huge fans of museums. It explains very well the background of Tanzania’s history, its slave trade in Zanzibar and much more. Ahh, and then they have an awesome section explaining the entire history of humans called The Cradle of Life. We really enjoyed that one.
Even if your not a huge fan of museums, this is worth a visit. Again, it’s quite small and most can endure the 1-2 hours visit it will take.
From the National Museum, you can easily head almost next door to the Botanical Garden. We decided not to go inside though, but on photos, it seems quite nice, a bit like a green oasis inside the city. Then, walk down Samora Avenue for less than a kilometer until you reach a roundabout.
Askari Monument
At the center of that roundabout, you will find the Askari Monument, a memorial site in remembrance of the askari soldiers who fought during the British Carrier Corps in World War I. It’s just a quick pass by for a photo, but right there in the roundabout, there is a nice small coffee shop called Mokka City Cafe and Lounge where you can take a quick coffee stopover.
For the next place, you need to get an Uber as your heading to Oyster Bay. Make sure to get a proper Uber car to go there since it’s a bit of a drive.
Visit Coco Beach at Oyster Bay
Oyster Bay Beach
Coco Beach is not a beach where you just walk around and find plenty of restaurants and cozy areas to relax. We expected to find more activity, more restaurants, cafes, etc. The beach is not bad, though don’t expect the same quality you have in Zanzibar. But it’s nice to go for a walk on the beach, who doesn’t like that? 🙂 Depending on where you are dropped off, head North and get a snack or a drink at the beach restaurant in Hotel Coco Beach. There is only one on the beach with a nice view of the sea and the beach itself.
News Cafe
From here, we took another Uber, this time we tried the Uber POA. We went to a cafe nearby called News Cafe for a coffee. The coffee was nice, but it’s in one of the nicer hotels there and a bit too fancy for us 🙂 If you head further north on that same street, there seems to be an area with more options for restaurants and cafes which I think we might have enjoyed more.
Go Shopping of Fancy Dining at The Slipway shopping center in Oyster Bay
The Slipway shopping center
Next, we took another Uber going to the Slipway Shopping Center. Not that we were going shopping, but we wanted to find a restaurant and read somewhere that it was a nice place to go for dinner while enjoying the sunset. And..? Ohh yes! It was a nice ambiance there. It’s not a big mall, it has some shops and a small inside area, but otherwise, it’s more of a seafront walk with various restaurants, cafes, and bars. And you get to enjoy the sunset from there which is super nice.
It is also a more upscale place though, and I doubt it’s one of the cheapest places you will find in the city. So if you’re not into that this isn’t the place for you. But they have a nice coffee shop and some bars and restaurants where you can get a drink or some food, and even a Thai restaurant. We liked it and enjoyed a nice walk as a relaxing end to our day.
Nightlife Or Hotel
From there, you have the option of heading out into the Dar Es Salaam nightlife, or back to your hotel. Unfortunately, we don’t have any advice on the nightlife as we were tired and had to get up early for the Zanzibar ferry the next day.
