Rated Tourist Attractions in Dar es Salaam

The name means "haven of peace" in Arabic and was more fitting of Dar's former status as a sleepy fishing village than this now booming metropolis. Straddling some of the most important sea routes in the world, Dar es Salaam harbor is Tanzania's main port. On the northern section of the harbor is Kivukoni Front, with a bustling fish market where dhows sail in every morning at dawn to offload the night's catch.

With its red-tile belfry rising above the surrounding rooftops, Azania Front Lutheran Church is a major landmark in Dar es Salaam. German missionaries built it in 1898.

The affluent expat enclave of Oyster Bay is one of the best hangout places in Dar es Salaam — especially on the weekends. Locals and tourists alike come here to stroll Coco Beach, savor street food, and listen to live music.

Built by German missionaries from 1897 through 1902, this Gothic-style Roman Catholic church looks a little incongruous amid the steel and glass skyscrapers bristling along the harbor front. But it's a cool and calming place to sit and reflect on a hot day.

If you want to soak up a slice of daily life in Dar es Salaam, head to Kivukoni Fish Market. Visiting this busy harbor front is one of the most popular things to do in Dar es Salaam — especially if you love seafood.

Looking for souvenirs for your friends and family while you're visiting the city? You'll find plenty of diverse places to shop in Dar es Salaam.

Lying off the Msasani Peninsula, Bongoyo Island makes an idyllic day trip or half-day trip from the city. Popular things to do here include relaxing under the shade of thatched umbrellas on the white-sand beach and cooling off in the clear waters.

Beautiful Mbudya Island, in the Dar es Salaam Marine reserve, seems a world away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Dar es Salaam.

About 10 kilometers north of the city center, the Village Museum showcases traditional dwellings from some of Tanzania's 120 ethnic groups. You can wander through replicas of tribal homesteads, scattered across 15 acres, and learn about traditional customs and crafts.

The National Museum & House of Culture takes you on a journey through Tanzania's colorful past. Originally opened in 1940 as a memorial to King George V, the museum displays important fossils of some of the earliest human ancestors unearthed during the Leakey digs at Olduvai Gorge.