Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover, or you are just quickly passing through, our Dakar Blaise Diagne Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit. Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport - including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.
Photo of Dakar Blaise Diagne Airport
DSS Airport Overview
To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Dakar Blaise Diagne Airport.
What to Expect
Dakar Airport (code: DSS) is newly built and opened in late 2017. Its terminal offers regional and international flight service. Facilities include a cafeteria, two cafes, and a couple of shops. We can confirm that WiFi is available in three airport lounges, which economy-class passengers can pay to enter.
Overnight campers seem to have no issue staying here. Landside, head to the baggage claim area for some floor space, as benches are limited. Stay safe by sleeping near others and watching your bags. Airside is more comfortable, with carpeted floors and comfortable armchairs near a few gates, but security may not allow passengers to stay overnight. Common complaints are bright lights and noise, but nothing that an eye mask and ear plugs can’t combat. For uninterrupted sleep, nearby hotels offer shuttle service.
Read also: Senegal Facts & Insights
Read the latest traveler airport reviews for more tips. For more airport information, continue scrolling down to explore more in our Dakar Airport Guide. To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos.
In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security.
Airport Hours
As of this update, we cannot confirm the airport’s hours of operation. We recommend reading a few reviews before deciding to sleep in the airport overnight. If you know the airport hours, click here to update this airport guide.
Rest & Relaxation Zones
There are no dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.
Cots
The airport does not provide cots to stranded travelers. If this has changed, click here to update the guide.
Read also: Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority
Airport Hotels
There seems to be one decent hotel option halfway between the airport and the city centre: Radisson Hotel Dakar Diamniadio. A reader tells us, “You can buy a day pass there and use the pool in case of a long layover and still avoid most of the traffic you’d get coming from Dakar. Plus the hotel has a shuttle.” (June 2024)
For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels in Dakar, search for deals and read traveler reviews.
Airport Lounges
Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there are lounges that you can enter by paying at the door, purchasing a lounge pass or through a lounge membership program. Visit the individual lounge page for more details about the lounge itself and learn how to gain access with just an economy class ticket!
- Infinite Lounge - Location: Airside, Departure Level, Gate 1. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.
- Salon Top Kapi - Location: Airside, Departure Level, Gate 6. Lounge Access: Pay at the door • Prepaid lounge pass • Lounge membership programs.
- Salon Odyssee - Location: Airside, Departure Level, Gate 1. Lounge Access: Pay at the door • Prepaid lounge pass • Lounge membership programs.
- Salon Signare - Location: Main Terminal, Airside. Lounge Access: Pay at the door (€30.00).
Full Guide To Airport Lounge Access 2024 | FREE
Food & Drinks
At the time of this update, we do not have any information about 24-hour food concessions, but you will find these open during flight operational hours:
- Landside: Seco Cafeteria (Arrivals and Departures)
- Airside: MIA Bakery and Cafe • LEO Bistro Bar
A reader tells us, ” It is not recommended to drink the water at the airport. Bottles of water can be purchased from any of the cafes, and an airport shop sells it.’ (June 2024)
Read also: Amazing Facts About Africa
Other Services & Facilities
Luggage Storage & Lockers
Unavailable. If this is incorrect, click here to update this guide.
Mobile Charging
A reader tells us, “There are about a dozen charging ports next to a cafe on the second floor, landside. There is a seating area with rows of seats there or you can sit in the cafe area to reach the outlets. There is no cost to use them and only one other person was using them when I was there. The ports are the standard European 220 volt style. ” (January 2020)
Showers
Unavailable. If this is incorrect, click here to update this guide.
WiFi/Internet
WiFi is available at Blaise Diagne Airport inside the lounges. At the time of this update, we had no information about WiFi availability elsewhere in the terminal.
Security & Safety
Sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when traveling alone. It’s important to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:
- Safety First: It’s a good idea to know where the security office is located and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
- Don’t Seclude Yourself: If you’re traveling alone, we recommend you stay near other travelers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
- Hide Your Valuables: It’s also important to hide your valuables. Don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who woke up without their phones and laptop bags. The travelers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
- Stay Alert: It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay awake, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight.
These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.
More Airport Information
More Services, Facilities & Things To Do On A Layover
- ATMs / Cash Machines - Need cash? ATMs are available. Location: unknown. Fees may apply, so check your bank’s fee schedule and daily withdrawal limit if you are travelling internationally. You may also want to notify your bank of your travel plans.
- Baggage Trolleys - Need a hand with your luggage? Baggage trolleys are available free of charge at the airport. Find them in the arrival hall, car park area, and check-in area.
- Banking Services - A bank is available at the airport. Location: unknown.
- Duty-Free & Shopping - Two duty-free shops and a relay convenience store are available. Hours: Unknown.
- Information Desk - If you have any questions, there is an Information Desk to provide assistance. Location: Main Hall.
- Luggage Wrapping - Two luggage wrapping stations are available landside in the Check-In area. Fee: 1500 FCFA per piece of luggage.
- Medical Services - A staffed medical center is available on-site. Location and Hours: Unknown.
- Pharmacy - A pharmacy is available outside of the terminal, near the parking lot.
- SIM Cards - A reader has asked us to include where to buy SIM Cards. If you know, click here to update this airport guide.
Airlines
Blaise Diagne Airport is served by the following airlines:
Air Algérie • Air Burkina • Air Côte d’Ivoire • Air France • Air Italy • Air Senegal • Arik Air • ASKY Airlines • Binter Canarias • Brussels Airlines • Camair • Corsair • Delta Air Lines • Emirates • Ethiopian Airlines • Eurowings • Fly Mid Africa • Iberia • Kenya Airways • Lufthansa • Mauritania Airlines • Royal Air Maroc • South African Airways • TAP Portugal • Transair • Tunisair • Turkish Airlines • Vueling.
Airport Transportation: Getting To/From The Airport
Bus
Shuttle buses are available at the airport. Buses run between the airport and several hotels throughout the city.
Hotel Shuttles
See also Airport Hotels above.
Taxis
Taxis are readily available.
We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or write a review.