IFAN African Art Museum (Institut Fondamental d’Afrique Noire)

The basics

IFAN is one of the oldest and best-regarded centers for African art, particularly of the modern variety, with permanent exhibits featuring art and items from different sub-Saharan African cultures along with temporary exhibits from time to time. The museum hosts the Dakar Biennale, also known as Dak’Art, which was originally conceived to promote all sorts of art forms but has since shifted its focus to showcasing and promoting arts from Africa’s post-independence era.

Things to know before you go

• IFAN African Art Museum is a must-visit for fans of contemporary and modern art.

• Most signage in the museum is only in French. Consider downloading a translation app if you don’t speak French and aren’t visiting with a guide.

• Foreign visitors should be prepared to pay a higher ticket price than domestic visitors.

How to get there

IFAN Museum of African Arts is located in the heart of Senegal, between Rue Place 14 and Avenue Jean XXIII. It’s a short walk or taxi ride from city center hotels and just a couple of blocks from the massive Cathédrale Notre Dame des Victoires. Book a private, customizable tour of Dakar and ask to include the museum if you’re worried about finding your way.

When to get there

The museum is open every day of the week except for Monday and tends to get busier with visitors on weekdays than on weekends. Arrive in the morning when the museum first opens up to avoid the crowds. For an extra dose of art, coordinate your visit with the Dakar Biennale, which typically occurs in the spring.

Island of Gorée

Don’t leave Dakar without taking a day trip out to the island of Gorée, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that once was used as a port for human trafficking during the transatlantic slave trade. Today, it serves as a somber reminder of this harrowing era of history. Guided tours show visitors important landmarks, including the Door of No Return, from which enslaved people were sent onto ships headed west.