One Day of Art in Dakar: Museums, Galleries, Village des Arts

To see the best of Dakar's art scene in a single day, combine three kinds of venue: an institution in the morning for historical context, the Village des Arts or a gallery around midday for living creation, and a lunch where you can also look at art, as at Ge'eza's gallery in Point E. Here is an itinerary for a full day, without rushing.

Morning: an institution to set the scene

Start with a major cultural institution, which gives you a historical base before moving on to contemporary work. The Museum of Black Civilisations, which opened in 2018, and the IFAN Théodore Monod museum, devoted to African arts and cultures, are two possible starting points. Opening hours and admission fees change over time, so check directly with each institution before travelling.

Mid-morning: the Village des Arts

Dakar's Village des Arts brings together artist studios where you can see work in progress and, in some cases, meet the artists themselves. It is a different kind of visit from a museum or gallery: you see the making happen, not just the finished result on a wall. If you want to visit a particular studio, it is worth checking visiting conditions ahead of time, since they can vary from artist to artist.

Between the two: leave some margin

Between the Village des Arts and Point E, it is worth building in margin for travel rather than a tight schedule. Traffic in Dakar varies a lot by neighbourhood and time of day, and a trip that looks short on a map can take longer in practice. If you are travelling as a group, that margin also lets everyone finish their look around the Village des Arts at their own pace, without anyone feeling rushed.

Midday: head to Point E

By midday, head to Point E for a lunch that doubles as a gallery visit. Ge'eza's villa, at 656 avenue Birago Diop, brings together an Ethiopian restaurant, a gallery lounge and a terrace under the trees in one place. You can eat, then walk through the works currently on show, available to buy with a price given on request from each artwork's page, without having to choose between the two. The house is open Tuesday to Sunday, 8am to 10pm, closed Mondays.

Afternoon: add another gallery

If the afternoon leaves you time, that is the moment to add another private gallery to your route. Dakar has several, each with its own programme: the best approach is to follow what is currently on show rather than any ranking. Our guide to art galleries in Dakar covers how to find these venues and build a longer route over several days if time allows.

Adjusting the itinerary to the time you have

If you have 48 hours rather than a single day, our article 48 hours in Dakar widens this itinerary to other neighbourhoods and other kinds of visits, for travellers with a bit more time.

• Short on time: focus on one institution in the morning and Ge'eza's gallery for lunch.
• Travelling in a group: build in regular breaks, a day of art takes more energy than it looks.
• Planning to leave with a piece: keep time at the end of the day for the practical questions, payment, certificate, shipping.

Adjusting the order to your own schedule

The order suggested here, an institution in the morning, the Village des Arts mid-morning, Point E at midday, another gallery in the afternoon, is not a fixed rule. If you would rather start the day with an Ethiopian breakfast at Ge'eza's gallery, there is nothing stopping you from reversing the order and ending the day at an institution instead. What matters most is keeping a thread between the stops, rather than a string of visits with no connection to one another.

What this day gives you

A day built this way gives a full sense of Dakar's art scene: the weight of history at an institution, work in progress at a studio, and work available to buy at a private gallery. It is also a good way to figure out what you respond to before any purchase, by comparing several kinds of venue in one day rather than relying on a single visit.

Planning your day

Distances in Dakar are measured in travel time more than in kilometres: build in margin between each stop, especially at busier hours. A three- or four-stop route like this one stays realistic for a single day as long as you are not trying to see everything at each venue.

Ending the day in Point E

To close the day, coming back to Point E for coffee or dinner gives a relaxed end to a full day, with another look at the gallery's works if you want. For any question about a piece that caught your eye, write on WhatsApp to +221 78 660 07 07 or email geezacultures@gmail.com.