Choosing where to stay in Dar es Salaam depends on what you plan to do, because traffic makes cross-city journeys slow. The city centre suits business travellers, sightseers and anyone catching the Zanzibar ferry. Here the Hyatt Regency Dar es Salaam, The Kilimanjaro and the Johari Rotana overlook the harbour, the Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel has gardens and a large pool on Ohio Street, the Four Points by Sheraton New Africa stands on the site of the city's oldest hotel, and the Southern Sun on Garden Avenue overlooks the Botanical Gardens.
The Msasani Peninsula puts you closer to restaurants, nightlife and island trips. Hotel Slipway is part of the waterfront complex where boats leave for Bongoyo and Mbudya, and it offers good value for an upmarket area. For a beach holiday, White Sands Resort on the north coast has a private beach and trips to Mbudya Island, while Mikadi Beach Camp in Kigamboni offers simple beach bandas and camping a short ferry ride from the centre. Ask for sea or harbour views when booking, check whether breakfast and airport transfers are included, and allow plenty of time to reach the airport.
8 places · Updated November 12, 2026
Our top 3 hotels in Dar es Salaam
Hotel
A 180-room harbourfront hotel on Kivukoni Front with an infinity pool, the Level 8 rooftop bar, an Anantara spa and views over the port and the old city.
View details — Hyatt Regency Dar es Salaam, The KilimanjaroHotel
A five-star garden hotel on Ohio Street with 230 rooms and suites, a large outdoor pool, the Jahazi seafood restaurant, a spa and views over gardens and a golf course.
View details — Dar es Salaam Serena HotelHotel
A five-star harbourside hotel on Sokoine Drive with 193 rooms, 60 serviced apartments, an eighth-floor infinity pool and five restaurants and lounges.
View details — Johari RotanaHotel
A 174-room, four-star hotel at Azikiwe Street and Sokoine Drive, on the site of the city's oldest hotel, with harbour views, an outdoor pool and a 24-hour grill.
View details — Four Points by Sheraton Dar es Salaam New AfricaHotel
A business hotel on tree-lined Garden Avenue next to the Botanical Gardens, with a pool, gym, free Wi-Fi and the Baraza café, grill and bar.
View details — Southern Sun Dar es SalaamHotel
A good-value hotel in the Slipway waterfront complex on the Msasani Peninsula, overlooking Msasani Bay, with restaurants, shops and boats to Bongoyo and Mbudya.
View details — Hotel SlipwayHotel
A relaxed beach camp in Kigamboni, a few minutes from the ferry, with beach bandas, camping, a bar and restaurant, a pool, kayaks and island boat trips.
View details — Mikadi Beach Camp and BackpackersHotel
A 146-room beach resort on the north coast, about 25 km from the city centre, with a private beach, pool and jetty bars, watersports and trips to Mbudya Island.
View details — White Sands Resort and Conference Centre