Place · Gorée Island
House of Slaves, Gorée
Go early on a Gorée morning: a memorial house on the island tied to the Atlantic slave trade; 30–60 minutes, quiet and heavy.
- Atlantic trade memorial
- Island morning
- Quiet and heavy
- Go early on a Gorée morning
- Hard in a wheelchair
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 11Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Carry an original yellow fever vaccination certificate on…Broken pavements and heavy traffic
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- West Africa ↗Carry an original yellow fever vaccination certificate on any West African trip: several countries on the coast road demand it of every arrival, and the rest demand it after you have passed through a neighbour.
- West Africa ↗Cross land borders and drive between cities in daylight only; plan each crossing as a full travel day with cash for fees and passport copies for checkpoints.
- Senegal ↗Check visa and entry rules for your passport on official Senegalese government sources before booking.
- Senegal ↗Dress modestly in towns and at religious sites: shoulders and knees covered.
- Senegal ↗Check your government's advice before travelling to parts of the Casamance region in the south.
- Dakar and Cap-Vert ↗Traffic is heavy at rush hours; build a buffer for every road leg and the airport.
- Dakar ↗Broken pavements and heavy traffic: large suitcases go from the car to the door, never on a walk.
- Dakar ↗Blaise Diagne airport is about 45 km from central Dakar: pre-book the ride, agree the fare first, and decline drivers who approach you inside the hall.
- Dakar ↗Dress modestly in the city and at religious sites: shoulders and knees covered; beachwear stays on the beach.
More
Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, best time to go, opening hours
Go now?
hours and prices: check on the day- Open
- Hours unknown
- Crowds
Go early on a Gorée morning
MonTueWedThuFriSatSunQuietest Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sun · busiest Fri, Sat · desk estimate
- Tickets
- Adult: XOF 1,000–2,000 (2026 estimate)
- Time to spend
- 45–60 min · up to 90 min if you linger
Best time to go
Quiet early; tour groups mid-morning.
By weekday: quietest Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sun, busiest Fri, Sat.
Opening hours
- Note
- Opening hours and days not printed until verified; the last boat back is the real limit.
- Hours note
- Desk estimate: daytime; confirm on the island and against the last boat.
Which month is quietest
- Janbusy
- Febbusy
- Marbusy
- Aprbusy
- Maylight
- Junlight
- Jullight
- Auglight
- Seplight
- Octlight
- Novbusy
- Decbusy
Quietest May–Oct · busiest Nov–Apr.
Estimate: desk reasoning from school-term and season patterns; not counted. Holidays and events move these weeks.
Weather here, next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
On the ground
Getting in, access, sensory load, what to bring, and where to go if it does not work
Getting in
- Stop
- Main lane near the island's centre
- Ticket
- on site · official site
- Stairs
- Not recorded
- Shoes
- Shoes on.
Accessibility
- PartialStep-free entrance
- NoLifts
- NoAccessible toilet
- NoWheelchair
- NoStroller · poor
Sensory load
- Sensory load3/5 Medium
Exposure: medium
What to bring and the rules
- Clothing that meets the dress rule · Modest, quiet clothing.
- A small bag · Small bags only; the island is on foot.
- Modest, quiet clothing.
- Small bags only; the island is on foot.
- Ask before photographing; some rooms restrict photos.
Rules and prices change: check the official site before you go.
Bailouts
- heat: Café terrace on Gorée
Nearest rescue anchor: A — Landing area benches (field-verify)
Problem
Red lines
- Dress modestly and keep your voice low.
- Ask before photographing people.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
Map and nearby
Where it is, how to get there from your hotel or from where you stand, and what is around it
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Nearby places
Eat nearby
More detail
Everything else we know about this place
Tickets, prices and entry
Know before you go
- Take the early ferry: the island is quiet before 10:00 and the light is kinder.Take the early ferry: the island is quiet before 10:00 AM and the light is kinder.
- Buy the ferry ticket at the ticket window, not from touts at the quay.
- Historians debate how many people were held in the house and how central it was to the trade; the museum tells one story and the wider records tell others.
- Sand and cobbles: closed shoes, water, a hat.
- Confirm the last boat back before you leave the quay.
Tickets & entry
- Where to buy
- Buy at the entrance on the day.
- Buy from the official site or the ticket desk; resellers add a fee for the same ticket.
- Dress code
- Modest, quiet clothing.
- Bags & lockers
- Small bags only; the island is on foot.
- Photos
- Ask before photographing; some rooms restrict photos.
- What's closed
- Monday and public holidayscheckConfirm before you cross; the last boat back is the real deadline.
“Check” dates move year to year: confirm on the official page for your date.
| Ticket | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | XOF 1,000–2,000 (2026 estimate) | Check at the door; the ferry fare is separate. |
Time on site, inside and your plan
Time on site
Minimum
30min
Worthwhile
45min
Typical
60min
p95
90min
How much time do you have?
Enough for a typical visit (60 min).
Nothing else in our notes is a short enough walk from here for the time that is left.
Visit times are typical figures, not promises; queues and closing times can change them.
Step-free check, who it suits, facilities
Step-free check
- Step-free entrance: partly · partly
- Lifts: no · no
- Accessible toilet: no · no
- Wheelchair: no · no
- Stroller: no · nopoor
Sand, cobbles and stairs inside the house; a step-free route is not confirmed.
Who it suits
| Traveler | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| History travellers | good | A defining memorial site of the Atlantic trade. |
| Families with young kids | caution | Heavy subject and sandy lanes. |
Skip it if
- You would arrive after midday with a short boat window.
- Heat and sun would make a slow morning hard.
With kids
- with kids
- A heavy subject; older children only, with an explanation beforehand.
- child price
- check
Combine with
Combine with
- 5 minTerrace lunch on Gorée · eat
- 8 minGorée Historical Museum
- —Gorée Island
Walk the Gorée Island area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes
Best photo time
Best photo time today
Sun times for today load in your browser.
Deep dive
Questions, photos, and where our facts come from
Questions and answers
Questions and answers
What should I wear?
Modest, comfortable clothes; closed shoes for sand and cobbles.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Can I go on a day trip only?
Yes; the boat is about 20 minutes each way (check the timetable).
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
How long do I need?
About 45 minutes in the house; a Gorée morning is 3–4 hours with the lanes and lunch.
Is it suitable for children?
Use judgement; the subject is heavy and the house is quiet and formal.
Photos
Deep dive
Sources
- officialUNESCO — Island of Gorée
- secondaryWikivoyage — Dakar
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Source: Price
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
Prices are 2026 estimates. The official site has the current price.
Source: Opening hours
Source: Best hour
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
The quietest window written into this guide. Crowd levels are desk estimates, not counts.
Source: Bag rating
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Rated for the whole walking cluster, from desk research, not for this entrance.