Yellow-and-black metered taxis are the easiest way to get around. The meters are rarely used; agree the fare before getting in. Reasonable prices in 2026 are CFA 1,500–3,000 for most journeys within the central districts, more out to the Almadies or airport. Ride-hailing apps (Yango, Heetch) work well and remove the bargaining.
The most local way to move is by car rapide — battered Renault and Mercedes minibuses painted blue and yellow, hand-lettered with hopeful slogans, that follow set routes for a few hundred CFA per ride. They are uncomfortable, slow, and authentically Dakar; visitors enjoy doing it once. The newer Dakar Dem Dikk public buses are more comfortable but routes are not always obvious. The TER express train links the central station with Diamniadio and is the fastest way out toward the airport.
The peninsula is small enough that walking inside the Plateau is fine, but elsewhere distances are large and pedestrian infrastructure is patchy. The ferry to Île de Gorée leaves several times a day from the main port; tickets are bought at the small terminal at the foot of Boulevard de la Libération. The journey takes about 20 minutes.