Visas
Citizens of the EU, USA, Canada, Australia, and many other countries do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days. Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your entry date. Check current requirements with the Senegalese embassy before travelling, as rules can change.
Currency
The currency is the West African CFA franc (XOF), shared with seven other West African countries. Banknotes come in 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, and 10,000 CFA denominations. The rate is fixed to the euro at roughly 655 CFA per euro.
ATMs are readily available in Dakar and in larger towns. They often run out of cash or have connectivity issues, so carry a backup. Outside major towns, cash is essential — card payments are rare. Use ATMs at banks rather than standalone machines.
Health
Malaria is present throughout Senegal. Take prophylaxis (atovaquone/proguanil, doxycycline, or mefloquine) and use mosquito repellent and nets. Yellow fever vaccination is required for entry if you are arriving from a country with yellow fever risk. Typhoid and hepatitis A vaccinations are recommended.
Medical facilities in Dakar are adequate for most needs; outside Dakar they are limited. Bring any prescription medicines you require. Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is strongly advised.
Tap water is not safe to drink. Bottled water is cheap and widely available.
Safety
Senegal is one of the more stable and safe countries in West Africa. Street crime does occur in Dakar — petty theft, bag-snatching — so standard city precautions apply: don't flash expensive items, be alert in markets and crowded areas, take registered taxis at night. Political demonstrations have increased in recent years; avoid crowds gathering around protests, which can turn unpredictable.
The Casamance region has historically had low-level separatist activity. The situation has been calm for some years, but it is worth checking current travel advisories before going off the beaten path in the south.
Money and Costs
Senegal is not an expensive country by global standards, but it is one of the pricier destinations in West Africa. Budget travellers can get by on €25–35 per day with street food, public transport, and simple guesthouses. A comfortable mid-range trip (decent hotel, meals in restaurants) runs €60–100 per day. Dakar and beach resorts like Saly cost more.
Bargaining is expected in markets. Fixed-price shops and supermarkets exist in Dakar.
Communication
The international dialling code is +221. Local SIM cards are easy to buy from Sonatel (Orange), Free, and Expresso. Registration requires a passport. Data is cheap and 4G coverage is good in urban areas.
Language
French is the official language and widely used in government, education, and signage. Wolof is the real lingua franca — spoken as a first or second language by around 80% of Senegalese. A few words of Wolof go a long way: nanga def (how are you), mangi fi (I'm fine), jerejef (thank you). In Casamance, Diola and other local languages are more common than Wolof.