Holiday in Dar es Salaam

City in Tanzania — tips, highlights & best time to visit 🇹🇿

Country

Tanzania

Type

City

Best time to travel

June to October — cooler dry season. January/February hot but dry. March-May avoid heavy rainy season.

Budget/day

Getting there from Germany

Direct flight with Condor from Frankfurt to Dar es Salaam (DAR), approximately 9 hours. Also via Addis Ababa or Nairobi.

About Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's largest city and economic heart, is located on the Indian Ocean and serves as the gateway to some of Africa's greatest natural wonders: Serengeti, Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro Crater, and the Spice Island of Zanzibar. The former capital (the government seat has been moved to Dodoma) pulses with East African energy: the Kariakoo Market is an overwhelming hustle and bustle of spices, fabrics, and tropical fruits. The Slipway and Oysterbay beaches offer waterfront restaurants with fresh seafood. The architecture tells of the German and British colonial era — the Askari Memorial and the Lutheran Church date back to the German East Africa period. The National Museum houses the oldest hominid finds in Africa. Dar es Salaam means "Harbor of Peace" in Arabic and combines African, Arab, and Indian influences into a unique urban culture.

Urban
85
Winter
85
Nightlife
80
Culture
65
Safety
60

Top 5 highlights in Dar es Salaam

The places you absolutely must not miss.

1

Kariakoo Market

East Africa's busiest market — spices, fabrics, Kanga cloths, and tropical fruits in overwhelming abundance.

2

Ferry to Zanzibar

In just 2 hours by fast ferry to the Spice Island — Stone Town, beaches, and spice plantations.

3

Oysterbay Beach

Popular city beach with restaurants, bars, and the best sunset over the Indian Ocean.

4

National Museum

Hominid fossils, German colonial history, and contemporary Tanzanian art under one roof.

5

Village Museum

Open-air museum with 16 traditional houses from various ethnic groups in Tanzania — including dances and crafts.

Hotels in Dar es Salaam

Vergleiche tausende Hotels, Apartments und Resorts auf Expedia – mit Bestpreis-Garantie, kostenloser Stornierung und Bonuspunkten.

Über 700.000 Hotels
Kostenlose Stornierung
Bestpreis-Garantie
Hotels in Dar es Salaam vergleichen

* Weiterleitung zu Expedia.de. Es gelten die dortigen Nutzungsbedingungen.

Reise-SIM für Dar es Salaam

Günstig surfen im Urlaub mit travSIM

Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen

Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie

Best time to travel for Dar es Salaam

Recommended travel time

June to October — cooler dry season. January/February hot but dry. March-May avoid heavy rainy season.

Summer

28-33°C, humid, rainy season March-May

Winter

23-30°C, dry and pleasant

How much does a holiday in Dar es Salaam cost?

Average costs per person per day

🎒

Budget

20-35 €

Hostel, Street food, Public transport

🏨

Mid-range

Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions

🌟

Luxury

100-250 €

Boutique hotel, Fine dining

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4 travel tips for Dar es Salaam

Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.

Zanzibar Ferry: Azam Marine is the most reliable ferry — book Business Class for air conditioning and snacks.

Dalla Dalla: The local minibuses are adventurous and cheap. For comfort, better use Bajaj (Tuk-Tuk) or Uber.

Safari Gateway: Flights to Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Selous/Nyerere depart from the small Julius Nyerere Airport.

Dress code: Tanzania is conservative. In the city, cover shoulders and knees, especially in Muslim neighborhoods.

Food & drink in Dar es Salaam

These specialties you must try!

Ugali na Nyama — maize porridge with stewed meat — the staple food of Tanzania, eaten daily.
Chips Mayai — fries omelette — Tanzania's most popular street food: fries fried in egg, simple and genius.
Zanzibar Mix — street food platter with samosas, bhajias, kachori, and spicy chili sauce — Indian-African fusion.
Mishkaki — grilled meat skewers with spice marinade — available at every street stand in the evening, served with fries and salad.
Vitumbua — sweet coconut rice cakes — fried in ball pans, the perfect breakfast snack.
Suitable for:Safari GatewayZanzibarIndian OceanMarketAfricaColonial HistoryCulture

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