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City guide

Dar Es Salaam, Tazmania

Dar es Salaam is the largest city and financial hub of Tanzania and capital of the Dar es Salaam Region. It is located on the Swahili coast.

Type CityPopulation 7,000,000

Why go

  • Largest city in Tanzania and capital of Dar es Salaam Region.
  • Served by Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR).

History

Dar es Salaam is the largest city and financial hub of Tanzania and capital of the Dar es Salaam Region. It is located on the Swahili coast. With a population of over 7 million people, Dar es Salaam is the largest city in East Africa by population and the fifth-largest in Africa. Dar es Salaam remains an important economic centre and one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. Experts predict that the city's population will grow to over 10 million before 2030.

Airports

Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) 11 km to the centre
Dar es Salaam, 02, TZ — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 19 airlines (Precision Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Egyptair, Kenya Airways…) · direct flights to 22 destinations incl. Nairobi, Zanzibar, Amsterdam, Kilimanjaro, Entebbe… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 19 airlines, 22 direct destinations
  • Precision Air PW (ATR 72, AT4, CRJ, ATR 42, Embraer 190) · 9 routes: Arusha, Entebbe, Kilimanjaro, Mbeya, Moroni, Mtwara, Mwanza, Nairobi, Zanzibar
  • Ethiopian Airlines ET (737-800, DH8, 737-700) · 3 routes: Addis Ababa, Lilongwe, Zanzibar
  • Egyptair MS (737-800) · 2 routes: Cairo, Harare
  • Kenya Airways KQ (Embraer 190, ATR 72) · 2 routes: Nairobi, Zanzibar*
  • Lufthansa Cargo LH (A330-300, 737-700, DH8) · 2 routes: Nairobi*, Zanzibar*
  • Qatar Airways QR (A320) · 2 routes: Doha, Kilimanjaro
  • Rwandair Express WB (CRJ) · 2 routes: Kigali, Kilimanjaro
  • Air France AF (330) · 1 route: Amsterdam*
  • Air Mozambique TM (Embraer 190) · 1 route: Pemba
  • Delta Air Lines DL (330, A330-200) · 1 route: Amsterdam*
  • Emirates EK (777-300) · 1 route: Dubai
  • KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (330) · 1 route: Amsterdam
  • Northern Dene Airways U7 (CRJ) · 1 route: Entebbe
  • Oman Air WY (737-800) · 1 route: Muscat
  • South African Airways SA (A319, A320) · 1 route: Johannesburg
  • Swiss International Air Lines LX (A330-300) · 1 route: Nairobi
  • Turkish Airlines TK (737-900) · 1 route: Istanbul
  • United Airlines UA (A330-300) · 1 route: Nairobi*
  • Yemenia IY (737-800) · 1 route: Nairobi

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
Amani Beach Airport 28 km to the centre
Somangira, 02, TZ
Outdoor
Ras Kutani Airport 26 km to the centre
Dar es Salaam, 02, TZ
Outdoor

Regional airports

Further out, but often the cheapest way in — the airports the low-cost carriers use. Each links to its own town's guide for getting from there into the city.

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) 67 km to the centre
Zanzibar, 07, TZ — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 8 airlines (Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Precision Air, Condor Flugdienst…) · direct flights to 7 destinations incl. Dar Es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Frankfurt… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Feeder airport · 67 km from Dar Es Salaam · Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Precision Air · Getting around Zanzibar (Unguja), Tanzania →
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 8 airlines, 7 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor

Getting there by ferry

Ferry Terminal dsm
Ferry terminal · 0.3 km from the centre
Outdoor
Kigamboni Ferry
Ferry terminal · 1.1 km from the centre
Outdoor
Kigamboni
Ferry terminal · 1.6 km from the centre
Outdoor
Kigamboni Ferry Terminal
Ferry terminal · 1.6 km from the centre
Outdoor
Dar es Salaam Port Container Terminal II (Berth 8-11)
Ferry terminal · 2.1 km from the centre
Outdoor
Bongoyo Island Ferry
Ferry terminal · 8.2 km from the centre
Outdoor
Kigamboni Ferry
Ferry route
Outdoor
Bongoyo
Ferry route
Outdoor
Dar Mbudya Ferry
Ferry route
Outdoor
Mbudya
Ferry route
Outdoor
Dar es Salaam ⇔ Zanzibar
Ferry route · Azam Marine & Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries Ltd.
Outdoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping →
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
October – March

The warmer, longer-day half of the southern-hemisphere year.

Shoulder season
April – May, September

Milder and quieter, with better value.

Worth avoiding
June – August

The southern winter — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR); 2 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: DAR has direct flights to 22 destinations on 19 airlines (incl. Nairobi, Zanzibar, Amsterdam, Kilimanjaro, Entebbe…). By water: 6 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Ferry Terminal dsm, 0.3 km); routes include Kigamboni Ferry, Bongoyo, Dar Mbudya Ferry.

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Dar Es Salaam, Tazmania. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Trains & rail

Private aviation

On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.

Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Charter, management · Large-cabin & VIP airliners · Geneva-based operator known for large-cabin and VIP airliner charters.
Charter, management, FBO, MRO · Managed fleet worldwide · General Dynamics company: charter, completions and FBOs in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US.

Tours & experiences

Adventure