Sleeping in Airports

Dakar Blaise Diagne Airport Guide

sleeping in dakar airport
(photo courtesy of a guest reviewer / February 2023)

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.

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 guideDakar 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. See Airport Lounges in the guide below for location and access information.

Sleeping in Dakar Airport

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. See our Airport Hotels section below for more info, or read some traveller airport reviews for more tips.

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. For more airport information, continue scrolling down to explore more in our Dakar Airport Guide.

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.

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 traveller reviews.

Airport Lounges

Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships

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).

Related Pages: Dakar Airport Lounges

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

Drinking Water

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)

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.

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.

Last updated: 2024-08-26

This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning.  All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice.   The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. 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.