Gorée Island
Île de Gorée
A car-free island just off the port of Dakar. It is a witness to the Atlantic slave trade and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Gorée Island lies about 3 km off the port of Dakar and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1978. Between the 15th and 19th centuries it was controlled in turn by Portugal, the Netherlands, England and France, and it became a symbol of the Atlantic slave trade. No cars are allowed on the island. A walk around it takes 2 to 3 hours, passing colourful colonial buildings, bougainvillea-lined alleys, fortresses and galleries. Ferries take about 20 minutes from the Gorée ferry terminal at the Dakar port. Foreign visitors pay higher fares, so check the current price on site. Weekends are crowded, so weekday mornings are recommended.
Opening hours
Open all day (ferries roughly every 1–2 hours)
Nearby sights
- House of Slaves
- Le Castel, Gorée
- Kermel Market
- Place de l'Indépendance
- Presidential Palace, Dakar
- Museum of Black Civilizations
- Sandaga Market
- Dakar Cathedral