The Most Beautiful Beaches in Senegal

With over 700 km of Atlantic coastline, Senegal is blessed with an incredible diversity of beaches. Whether you're looking for remote, wild stretches of sand, family-friendly lagoons, or surfer waves, this guide covers the most beautiful beaches in the country.

1. Cap Skirring

📍 Casamance · 7h from Dakar by car, 1h by plane

Often called the most beautiful beach in all of West Africa, Cap Skirring is a paradise of fine golden sand stretching for miles. The water is warm and surprisingly calm for the Atlantic. This beach has a real end-of-the-world feeling, backed by palm groves, with colorful fishing pirogues dotting the shore. Luxury resorts and budget eco-lodges coexist here, making it accessible to all travelers.

2. Saly

📍 Petite Côte · 1h30 from Dakar

Saly is Senegal's most popular seaside resort and the country's tourism capital. The beach is lined with restaurants, beach bars, and hotels. While busier than other options on this list, Saly offers great infrastructure: water sports, horse riding on the beach, golf courses, and an incredible nightlife. It's an ideal base for day trips to Bandia Reserve and the Somone lagoon.

3. Somone Lagoon

📍 Petite Côte · 1h30 from Dakar

The Somone lagoon is a breathtaking natural reserve where the river meets the ocean, creating a unique ecosystem of mangroves, birds, and calm, shallow waters perfect for families. Take a pirogue tour through the mangroves, spot pelicans and herons, and relax on the sandbar where fresh and salt water meet. It's one of the most photogenic spots in all of Senegal.

4. Ngor Island

📍 Dakar · 5 min pirogue from Ngor village

Just off the tip of Dakar, Ngor island is a tiny, car-free paradise accessible by a 5-minute pirogue crossing. The protected beach has calm, crystal-clear water ideal for swimming. The island also has a legendary right-hand surf break. On the beach, you can eat grilled fish straight from the fisherman's catch for a few euros.

5. Langue de Barbarie

📍 Saint-Louis · 5h from Dakar

A narrow sand peninsula stretching between the Atlantic and the Senegal River delta near Saint-Louis, the Langue de Barbarie is a wild, raw, and untouched beach. The national park is home to thousands of nesting seabirds. Stay in one of the eco-lodges built right on the sand for a truly unique experience — falling asleep to the sound of the ocean on both sides.

6. Carabane Island

📍 Casamance · Accessible by pirogue from Elinkine

At the mouth of the Casamance River, this tiny island is a hidden gem. Its beaches are deserted and beautiful, lined with baobabs and giant silk-cotton trees. The island has a fascinating colonial past, with an abandoned church and a cemetery in the forest. Time seems to stand still here — there are no cars, no paved roads, and very few tourists.

7. Yoff Beach

📍 Dakar · North of Dakar, near the airport road

Yoff is the beating heart of Dakar's Lebu fishing community. The beach itself is vibrant and chaotic — colorful pirogues line the shore, fishermen bring in daily catches, and the atmosphere is pure, raw Dakar. While not a resort beach, it's one of the most authentic coastal experiences in the capital and a must-see for photographers.

8. Nianing

📍 Petite Côte · 2h from Dakar

Located further south on the Petite Côte, Nianing is Saly's quieter, more authentic neighbor. The beach is wide and uncrowded, the village retains its local charm, and the rates are lower. It's perfect for travelers who want a beach experience without the tourist crowds.