The best things to do in Saint-Louis are a walk around the UNESCO-listed island, the Pont Faidherbe at sunset, the pirogue beach at Guet Ndar and the CRDS and photography museums. Then get out on the water: the Langue de Barbarie by pirogue, the gazelles at Guembeul and the wintering birds of Djoudj from November to April. Three or four days covers it.
Saint-Louis is the old colonial capital of Senegal, a grid of balconied houses on a narrow island where the Senegal River meets the Atlantic. Give the island a day, then use it as the base for the river, the sand spit and the bird reserves around it.
About two kilometres of quays and balconied colonial houses in the Senegal River, on UNESCO’s list since 2000. Walk the north end at first light, before the traffic, and save the south end for the CRDS museum and the river views at the tip.
The 507-metre steel bridge, opened in 1897 and rebuilt span by span between 2008 and 2012, is the city’s front door. Walk it rather than drive it: the light drops behind the island and the pirogues come home underneath.
Lebou fishing families have worked this strip between river and ocean since the 1600s, and their painted pirogues line the beach as far as you can see. Come in the afternoon when the boats land, then walk south to the cemetery where nets cover the graves.
One of the great wetlands of West Africa, where up to three million migrant birds winter between November and April, pelicans and flamingos among them. Take the shared park boat in the morning and give it a full day from town.
The national park covers the end of the sand spit, its lagoon and the islets where terns and gulls nest. Go by pirogue from Mouit; the boatmen will also show you where the 2003 breach cut the spit in two and the sea took a village.
Founded in 1943 and now run by Gaston Berger University, the research centre keeps a history museum of about a thousand objects and one of the oldest libraries in francophone Africa. The best primer on the island before you walk it.
Senegal’s first public institution devoted to photography, opened in late 2017 in a city with a long studio tradition. Exhibitions rotate, so check what is on before you go and allow an hour.
Horse-drawn carriages wait at the island end of the bridge and run a loop of the island, Guet Ndar and the Langue de Barbarie with a local guide aboard. It is the quickest way to see how the three fit together.
A 720-hectare reserve where dama gazelles, oryx and African spurred tortoises are bred for reintroduction, with patas monkeys and waterbirds around the lagoon. Easy to pair with the Langue de Barbarie on the same morning.
The Aéropostale’s hotel, where Jean Mermoz stayed before flying the first non-stop transatlantic airmail from Saint-Louis to Natal on 12 May 1930. Take a drink in the bar, then walk to Le Flamingo for the river.
Up to three million wintering birds, November to April.
Senegal’s national day, with parades and flags across the island.
The documentary film festival: five days of screenings, debates and masterclasses.
The city’s signature festival, 34 editions in. The 2026 edition ran 13 to 17 May.
The end of Ramadan: prayers, new clothes and a round of family visits.
The Feast of the Sacrifice. Roads and buses fill for days on either side.
Mouride pilgrims mark Ahmadou Bamba’s 1895 prayer at the Gouvernance.
Up to three million migrant birds winter in the Djoudj wetlands.
The signares’ lantern parade, with paper lanterns of the city’s monuments, in the years it is staged.
Rebuilt and back in service since December 2023. Air Sénégal has flown it from Dakar since January 2024, about 30 minutes; check the current timetable.
Senegal’s long-haul gateway, outside Dakar. Most visitors land here and continue north by road, a drive of several hours.
Dem Dikk coaches and shared sept-place taxis cover the roughly 290 km in about four and a half hours, for around 5,000 CFA a seat.
The island is walkable end to end. Taxis and horse-drawn calèches cover Sor and Guet Ndar; agree every fare before you set off.
Rice and fish in tomato stock, said to come from Guet Ndar. UNESCO-listed since 2021.
The meat version: rice browned with lamb or beef and onion.
Grilled fish under lemon and slow-cooked onions.
Meat braised in a thick groundnut sauce, over rice.
A sharp fish broth with rice, lemon and chilli.
Black-eyed pea fritters with chilli sauce, the street breakfast.
Millet couscous in soured milk and sugar, served cold.
Hibiscus steeped, sweetened and served ice cold.
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