Some of the most memorable experiences in Dar es Salaam involve watching the city at work. Arrive early at Kivukoni Fish Market to see the morning catch auctioned to restaurant buyers and residents, then eat fried fish from the stalls. Kariakoo, the city's main trading district, is the place for kanga and kitenge fabric, spices and everyday goods, and its central market has been rebuilt after the 2021 fire. Both are crowded, so carry small notes, keep valuables secure and bargain with good humour.
For something more relaxed, head to the Tingatinga Arts Cooperative Society in Oyster Bay, where artists paint in the bright, flat style created by Edward Saidi Tingatinga and you can buy or commission a painting directly. If you have a spare day, the drive north to Bagamoyo, a former caravan port and the first capital of German East Africa, takes in the Catholic mission, the Livingstone Tower and the medieval Kaole Ruins. Leave early to beat the traffic. Guided options are useful for the markets and Bagamoyo: city tours from local operators such as Daigle Tours and Afri Roots cover markets and neighbourhoods that are harder to navigate alone.
4 places · Updated November 12, 2026
Our top 3 things to do in Dar es Salaam
Thing to do
The Oyster Bay home of Tingatinga painting, where a cooperative gallery sells work and artists paint in studios lining the road near Morogoro Stores.
View details — Tingatinga Arts Cooperative SocietyThing to do
A large harbourside fish market on Kivukoni Front where the morning catch is auctioned to restaurants and residents, with stalls frying fish to eat on the spot.
View details — Kivukoni Fish MarketThing to do
Dar es Salaam's main trading district, with a rebuilt multi-storey central market and surrounding streets selling fabrics, spices, produce and household goods.
View details — Kariakoo MarketThing to do
A day trip to the historic coastal town 75 km north, once a caravan port and the first capital of German East Africa, with the Kaole ruins nearby.
View details — Bagamoyo Day Trip