Guides
Dar es Salaam, for people who just landed
Most visitors pass through this city on the way to somewhere else. These are the things worth stopping for: the islands twenty minutes offshore, the market that starts before dawn, the ferry to Zanzibar, and what to sort out in your first hour.
Dar es Salaam6 min read
Where to Watch Football in Dar es Salaam
The Premier League, the Champions League and the Simba–Yanga derby in Dar es Salaam: which bars have the screens, who broadcasts what, what time the matches actually kick off here, and how to see a derby at the ground.
Read the guide →Itineraries
Day by day, for three, five and seven days. Where the time actually goes, and what a week will not fit.
Itineraries6 min read
A 3 Day Dar es Salaam Itinerary
Three days in Dar es Salaam without wasting one of them: the museums and the fish market, a full day on Bongoyo, and a third day out at Bagamoyo or up in the Pugu hills. Timings, costs and what to book ahead.
Itineraries6 min read
A 5 Day Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar Itinerary
Five days split between the mainland and the island: two days in Dar, the fast ferry across, two nights in Stone Town and on the north beaches, and back. What to book ahead, what the crossing costs, and how to avoid losing a day to logistics.
Itineraries7 min read
A 7 Day Tanzania Itinerary Starting in Dar es Salaam
Seven days that fit a city, an island and a national park without living on the road: two days in Dar, three at Mikumi or Nyerere, two on the coast. Which park to pick, what it costs, and the version that swaps the safari for Zanzibar.
Guides
The reference pieces: what to see, how to reach the island, and what to sort out on arrival.
Dar es Salaam6 min read
Where to Watch AFCON 2027 in Dar es Salaam
Tanzania co-hosts AFCON from 19 June to 17 July 2027, with matches at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium. Where to watch in Dar without a ticket, how to reach the stadium, and what is confirmed so far.
Dar es Salaam2 min read
Valentine's Day Dinner in Dar es Salaam
Valentine's Day 2027 falls on a Sunday. The most romantic places for dinner in Dar es Salaam, from ocean terraces to a revolving restaurant and a rooftop in Masaki, and when to book.
Dar es Salaam7 min read
What to Eat in Dar es Salaam: A Swahili Food Guide
Mishkaki, chipsi mayai, pilau, urojo and octopus curry: the dishes that define Dar es Salaam, what they cost on the street, and the places that have been cooking them for decades.
Dar es Salaam2 min read
Brunch in Dar es Salaam: The Best Weekend Spots
Where to brunch in Dar es Salaam: hotel buffets, ocean-view cafés, bakeries and a proper Swahili breakfast, plus the rooftop brunch at Midtown in Masaki.
Zanzibar3 min read
Sauti za Busara 2027: A Dar es Salaam Stopover Guide
Sauti za Busara runs 19–21 March 2027 in Stone Town. How to get there through Dar es Salaam, the ticket types, the refund deadlines, and how to spend a day or two in Dar either side.
Dar es Salaam7 min read
The Safest Neighbourhoods in Dar es Salaam
Where visitors, families and new arrivals actually live in Dar es Salaam: Masaki, Oyster Bay, Mikocheni, Upanga and Mbezi Beach compared on safety, rent and character, with what the official travel advisories say.
Dar es Salaam2 min read
Rum and Cocktails in Dar es Salaam
Where to drink cocktails in Dar es Salaam, what's on a typical list, and the rum-led bar on the Midtown roof in Masaki, with prices.
Dar es Salaam2 min read
Romantic Restaurants and Date Night in Dar es Salaam
The best date-night restaurants in Dar es Salaam, from rooftop sunsets and ocean terraces to a revolving restaurant, plus where to propose and how to plan the evening.
Dar es Salaam2 min read
What to Do in Dar es Salaam When It Rains
The long rains run from about March to May. Museums, the cinema, cafés, markets and covered dining: what to do in Dar es Salaam on a wet day.
Dar es Salaam2 min read
Group Dinners and Private Dining in Masaki
Where to book a big table in Masaki and the Msasani peninsula: team dinners, farewells and celebrations, with sharing platters, rooftops and ocean decks.
Dar es Salaam6 min read
New Year's Eve in Dar es Salaam: Where to Celebrate
Hotel galas, rooftop dinners, beach parties and the free crowd at Coco Beach. How New Year's Eve works in Dar es Salaam, what it costs, when to book and how to get home afterwards.
Dar es Salaam7 min read
The Most Dangerous Areas in Dar es Salaam, and How to Stay Out of Trouble
What the UK, Canadian and US advisories and Tanzania's own crime statistics actually say about Dar es Salaam: which places and situations carry risk, when, and the habits that remove most of it.
Dar es Salaam2 min read
Masaki vs Oyster Bay vs City Centre: Where to Go Out in Dar es Salaam
Which part of Dar es Salaam to base your evening in: Masaki's restaurants and rooftops, Oyster Bay's quieter bars and beach, or the city centre's hotels and history.
Dar es Salaam3 min read
Living in Masaki, Dar es Salaam: A Guide for New Arrivals
What it is like to live in Masaki: rents, safety, internet, getting around, where to eat and work, and how it compares with Oyster Bay and Mikocheni.
Dar es Salaam3 min read
Live Music in Dar es Salaam: Where to Hear a Band
Where to hear live music in Dar es Salaam: garden bands, beach bar reggae, cultural centres, a hip-hop festival, and live music on the Midtown roof in Masaki.
Dar es Salaam2 min read
Late-Night Food in Dar es Salaam: What's Open After Dark
Where to eat late in Dar es Salaam: a 24-hour coffee shop, charcoal grills that start at dusk, chipsi mayai stalls, and the peninsula kitchens that stay open late.
Dar es Salaam2 min read
Ladies' Night in Dar es Salaam: Where to Go
Where to find ladies' nights in Dar es Salaam, which nights they run, and how to plan a safe, easy night out with friends on the Msasani peninsula.
Dar es Salaam6 min read
Jamaican and Caribbean Food in Dar es Salaam: Where to Eat
Jerk chicken, rice and peas, oxtail and rum in Dar es Salaam. The three places actually cooking Caribbean food in this city, what they charge, and why it sits so easily on the Swahili coast.
Dar es Salaam3 min read
Happy Hour in Dar es Salaam: Where to Drink Before Sunset
Where to find happy hour in Dar es Salaam, what the local beers are, what a drink costs, and why the hour before sunset is the one to plan around.
Dar es Salaam3 min read
Halloween in Dar es Salaam: Parties, Costumes and Where to Go
Halloween falls on a Saturday in 2026. Where to celebrate in Dar es Salaam, how to get a costume made in a few days, and how to get home safely afterwards.
Dar es Salaam2 min read
Getting Home Late in Dar es Salaam: Bolt, Taxis and Staying Safe
How to get home safely after a night out in Dar es Salaam: why ride-hailing is the answer, Bolt's safety features, what to avoid, and the habits that keep the end of the night easy.
Dar es Salaam1 min read
A Friday Night Out in Masaki
How to spend a Friday night in Masaki, Dar es Salaam: sunset drinks, dinner, live music and the clubs, hour by hour.
Dar es Salaam3 min read
Festivals in Dar es Salaam: The Year's Calendar
Music, food, fashion, arts and trade fairs in and around Dar es Salaam: Swahili Fashion Week, the Bagamoyo arts festival, Sabasaba, Hip-Hop Asili, the Nyama Choma Festival and Sauti za Busara, with dates.
Dar es Salaam6 min read
Christmas in Dar es Salaam: Where to Eat and What to Do
Christmas Day falls on a Friday in 2026. Hotel lunches, beach day passes, island trips, carols and what the city is actually like over the holiday, with the weather you should plan for.
Dar es Salaam2 min read
Where to Celebrate a Birthday in Dar es Salaam
Birthday dinners in Dar es Salaam: rooftops, ocean terraces and group-friendly restaurants, how to sort the cake, and how to book for a big table.
Dar es Salaam7 min read
The Best Workspaces for Remote Workers in Dar es Salaam
Coworking spaces, cafés with real wifi, what the internet and power are actually like, and where the visa rules stand. A practical guide to working remotely from Dar es Salaam.
Dar es Salaam2 min read
Bachelorette and Bachelor Parties in Dar es Salaam
How to plan a bachelorette or bachelor party (a send-off or kitchen party) in Dar es Salaam: a day on the islands, a rooftop dinner, and a night out on the peninsula.
Dar es Salaam10 min read
Things To Do in Dar es Salaam: A First-Timer's Guide
Islands, markets, museums and the ocean road. What to actually do with two or three days in Dar es Salaam, written for visitors arriving from abroad, with costs, timings and how to get around.
Dar es Salaam5 min read
Zanzibar From Dar es Salaam: Ferry, Flights and Whether a Day Trip Works
How to get from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar by ferry or plane, what the crossing is actually like, and an honest answer on whether a single day is enough. Timings, booking, the resident-versus-visitor fare, and what to do when you land.
Dar es Salaam6 min read
The Best Rooftops and Sunset Spots in Dar es Salaam
Where to watch the light go over the Indian Ocean: rooftop bars, revolving restaurants and ocean terraces across Masaki, Msasani and the city centre, with the view, the vibe and when to book.
Dar es Salaam7 min read
Arriving in Dar es Salaam: Visa, SIM Card, Money and Getting Into Town
The practical arrival guide for Dar es Salaam: visa on arrival versus e-visa, yellow fever rules, where to change money, which SIM to buy, what a taxi from Julius Nyerere airport should cost, and the mistakes visitors make in the first hour.