Saint-Louis, known as Ndar in Wolof, was the Senegalese capital city until 1957. Having been founded by the French in 1659, its strategic location on an island in the Senegal River estuary adjacent to the Atlantic, helped the city grow into a major trade hub.
Although it no longer holds the same importance today, Saint-Louis remains a window into the past. A city rich with colonial architecture and history, with former taverns and stables, now converted into restaurants and hotels. It has also remained a go-to tourist destination and is still considered Senegal's music capital.
ÌýGood to know:
Saint-Louis is nicknamed the ‘Venice of Africa' due to its island location and many motorised pirogues.
Neighbourhoods in Saint-Louis
The city of Saint-Louis has extended beyond the limits of the main island and now encompasses parts of the mainland and the Langue de Barbarie. However, the central island - connected to the mainland by the magnificent Faidherbe bridge - is home to the majority of restaurants, hotels, museums, galleries and music spots. Only 2.4km long and 300 metres wide, everything on the island is within walking distance, although the upper-middle section of the island is where most of the night-time action takes place.
Over the bridge to the Langue de Barbarie, you will find local accommodation next to the ocean, but move further south down the spit, and there are several resort-style hotels and villas next to Hydrobase beach. On the mainland, the accommodation is much more local.
In total, the mainland accounts for 60% of Saint-Louis' 240,000 population, the Langue de Barbarie 25% and the island around 15%.
Renting accommodation in Saint-Louis
Being a tourist town, rent prices do not often reflect the standard of accommodation in Saint-Louis as owners are trying to entice short-term stays. Some landlords and real estate agencies often express prices in euros to try and appear more classy than they are, while pictures on displayed online can often be misleading.
That being said, there is long-term housing available. Given the small scale of the main island, it is advised to go for a recce and look to see what's available first-hand before making any final decision.
Finding accommodation in Saint-Louis
Finding long-term accommodation in Saint-Louis can be a difficult task, but registering with a real estate agency can help speed up and simplify the process. There are also usually apartments available on Airbnb, so do use the internet to search before you arrive, but try and see the place with your own eyes before making a decision.
ÌýGood to know:
The Saint-Louis international jazz festival takes place each year in April / May. During this time, it's considerably more crowded and very hard to find a room (some people book a year in advance).
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