How To Reach

The Julius Nyerere International Airport is the principal airport serving the country.

National Museum & House of Culture

Originally opened in 1940 as a memorial to King George V, the National Museum & House of Culture takes visitors on a journey through Tanzania's colorful past. The museum displays important fossils of some of the earliest human ancestors unearthed during the Leakey digs at Olduvai Gorge. Visitors can learn about Tanzania's tribal heritage and the impact of the slave trade and colonial periods. Other highlights of the museum include ethnographic displays on traditional crafts, customs, ornaments, and musical instruments.

Village Museum

About six miles north of the city center, the Village Museum showcases traditional dwellings from some of Tanzania's 120 ethnic groups. Visitors can wander through replicas of tribal homesteads scattered across 15 acres, and watch local artisans demonstrate their traditional painting, weaving, and carving skills. The museum also hosts Ngoma, tribal dances, and other cultural activities.

St. Joseph's Cathedral

Built by German missionaries from 1897 through 1902, this Gothic-style, Roman Catholic church dominates the Dar es Salaam harbor front. Its most striking features include a shingled spire, vaulted interior, and stained-glass windows. The cathedral contains many of the original German inscriptions and artwork, including a carved relief above the main altar. It is the seat of the Dar es Salaam archdiocese.

Azania Front Lutheran Church

German missionaries built Azania Front Lutheran Church in 1898. The red-tile belfry rises above the surrounding rooftops, and the whitewashed building is still an iconic landmark in Dar es Salaam. Tiled canopies over the windows provide shade and the gardens are a welcome retreat for weary tourists. At one time Azania was the center of the original nineteenth century German mission; it is now the cathedral for the diocese.

Bongoyo Island

Bongoyo Island, a much-loved island getaway, lies off Msasani Peninsula, about four miles north of the city. On the northwest tip of the island, day-trippers can relax under the shade of thatched umbrellas on the white-sand beach or cool off in the clear waters. Angelfish, starfish, clownfish, and sea urchins, are just some of the marine species snorkelers might spot among the coral. Behind the beach, nature trails wind between baobab trees to the island's opposite shore. The open-air snack bar serves cold drinks and fresh barbecued seafood. Bongoyo is perhaps the most frequently visited of the four islands in the Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve.

Mlimani Shopping Centre

Mlimani Shopping Centre (University of Dar es Salaam, Mwalimu Nyerere Campus) is Tanzania’s largest shopping centre and is located in northwest Dar es Salaam. It mainly contains outlets for South African brands. While there isn’t enough here to make the trip worthwhile on its own, as a hassle-free place to shop for clothes or swimwear, it’s worth considering.

Opening hours:
Dar es Salaam opening hours are typically 0900 to 1730, though some shops stay open until 1800.

Alcove

A restaurant that dishes up two different cuisines at the same time might not inspire confidence, but the Msasani Peninsula’s Alcove works well with its mix of Indian and Chinese dishes. One side of the menu is decent pan-Indian fare, while Alcove’s Chinese chef specialises in Cantonese and Szechuanese dishes. Housed in the Sea Cliff Hotel, Alcove is also a good place for a pre-dinner drink overlooking the water, but don’t expect a sunset on this East-facing coast.

Épi d'Or

This Lebanese café-cum-bakery sells cakes, pastries and a variety of breads in addition to light breakfast, brunch or lunch snacks and Middle Eastern influenced food such as fresh salads, houmous and baba ghanoush.

Nawabi Khana

Thanks to Dar’s large South Asian community, the city’s Indian food has an authenticity rarely found outside India itself. This restaurant on the Msasani Peninsula’s southern edge, popular with well-heeled locals, is one of the city’s better Asian spots – the juicy, herb marinated fish tikka is particularly recommended.

Mediterraneo

When you realise that there are probably more visitors from Italy along the Swahili Coast than from any other western country, finding this fine Italian restaurant makes perfect sense. Serving good seafood, home-made pasta and wood oven-baked pizza, the Mediterraneo Hotel’s restaurant also benefits from a great waterside setting. A little further out of town, its wooden beamed bar and dining room spill out onto the beach, with views over to Bongoyo Island.