Gorée Island

Gorée is a small, car-free island lying a short ferry ride off Dakar's harbour, and it is the place most visitors to the city make time for. UNESCO inscribed it on the World Heritage List in 1978 as a symbol of the Atlantic slave trade, describing it as the largest slave-trading centre on the African coast between the 15th and 19th centuries. The island measures only about 900 metres by 350 metres, and fewer than 2,000 people live there.

Its history is one of changing European control. Portuguese traders arrived in 1444, and the Dutch, English and French held it in turn, with France in charge for most of the period from 1677 until Senegalese independence in 1960. The safe anchorage made it valuable, and its trade included enslaved people as well as goods such as beeswax, hides and grain. The founding of Dakar on the mainland in 1857 gradually drew its importance away. UNESCO notes the contrast between the slave quarters and the elegant houses of the traders, and today the island is a place of pilgrimage for the African diaspora and of reflection for everyone.

The main sights are within a few minutes' walk of the jetty. The Maison des Esclaves (House of Slaves) is the best known; the Historical Museum of Senegal, run by IFAN, occupies the 19th-century Fort d'Estrées; the Musée de la Mer looks at fishing and marine life; and the Castel, a rocky plateau covered with old fortifications, dominates the island and makes a good viewpoint. Between them are quiet sandy lanes lined with colonial-era houses, and there is a small beach beside the harbour.

Ferries are run by the Liaison Maritime Dakar-Gorée from the port of Dakar, near the Plateau, and the crossing takes around 20 minutes. Departures run from early morning to late evening, tickets are bought on the spot rather than reserved, and fares are higher for visitors who are not resident in Africa. A small municipal tax for the island is also collected. Timetables change, so check the schedule at the terminal and note the time of the last boat back.

Allow at least half a day, or a full day if you want to visit every museum and have lunch on the island. Mornings are cooler and quieter. Wear comfortable shoes for the uneven lanes and the climb to the Castel, and expect guides offering their services at the jetty; agree what is included before setting off. It suits families, couples and solo travellers, but the subject matter of the slave house can be difficult for younger children, so prepare them in advance.