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How to get from Dar es Salaam Airport to the City Centre

Travellers often head to Tanzania to embark on the country’s well-known safaris and while visiting, stopping by the hub of Dar es Salaam is a must. The city is located along the Indian Ocean coast and has grown from a small fishing village to a big industrial port city. Visitors can explore the Village Museum’s open-air replicas of traditional Tanzanian homes to learn more about the culture and history of the country, take a day trip to reach one of the nearby islands, or simply enjoy the local beaches, seafood, and music.

Dar es Salaam airport is about 11 kilometres from the Dar es Salaam city centre. After landing at the airport, you can reach the city centre by taxi or bus. Taking a private taxi to get from Dar es Salaam airport to the city is the most comfortable and quickest means of transportation. The journey takes 15 to 25 minutes by taxi, and the fare costs around €17.40 (TZS 40,000). You can also take a bus to cover the same journey; the bus journey takes about 40 minutes, not including wait times, and costs €0.20 (TZS 400).

Welcome Pickups offers meet and greet services and a friendly introduction to Dar es Salaam at the same price as a regular taxi. Click here to see the cost.

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS
OPTION PRICE DURATION AVAILABILITY
Welcome Pickups €35 15min 24/7 Book
Book
Taxi €17.40 15min 24/7
Bus €0.40 40min 24/7

How to get from Dar es Salaam airport to the city centre by taxi

Taking a taxi from Dar es Salaam airport to the city centre is the safest, easiest, and most comfortable transfer option. Several taxi companies serve the airport, and taxis are available 24/7. The trip from Dar es Salaam airport to the city centre typically takes 15 to 25 minutes, depending on traffic, and the taxi fare is negotiated with the driver, although you should expect to pay around €17.40 (TZS 40,000).

Nevertheless, you can book your Dar es Salaam taxi transfer in advance with Welcome Pickups for a flat rate with no additional charges.

Taxi fare from Dar es Salaam airport to the city centre

Dar es Salaam taxis typically do not base fares on taximeters; instead, the fare is negotiated with the driver ahead of time. You can generally expect to pay around €1.60 (TZS 3,750) for the base fare and €1.70 (TZS 4,000) per kilometre travelled. Fares may be higher at night. The taxi fare from Dar es Salaam airport to the city is estimated to cost around €17.40 (TZS 40,000) but that price isn’t guaranteed. If you wish to secure a fair set-fare for your trip, you can always pre-book and pre-pay your ride with Welcome Pickups.

Cost

€17.40

Trip Duration

15 min

Fares may vary unless booked in advance.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

Taxis from Dar es Salaam Airport are available 24/7.

Where do I get a taxi from?

After landing at Dar es Salaam airport and gathering your luggage, you can find airport taxis at the designated taxi rank just outside of the airport terminal.

Convenience

Taking a taxi is the quickest, most comfortable way to reach wherever you are headed. It is also considered the safest way to get around Dar es Salaam. If you take a taxi, you will be dropped off right at the front door of your accommodation, so you won’t lose any time or energy waiting or walking around.

Editor’s Note

The fare is not set if you are taking a standard taxi in the city. You will need to negotiate the fare with the driver before beginning your trip.

Useful Tips

Tipping is not required, but it is normal for customers to leave their taxi driver a small tip. Depending on the level of service, you may consider rounding up the fare, or for an excellent driver leaving a tip of up to 20%.
If you take a taxi from the street, the driver may not be able to accept payment by card. If you book your ride in advance, depending on the taxi company, you may be able to pre-pay using your preferred credit/debit card.

How to get from Dar es Salaam airport to the city centre by Bus

Another transfer option from Dar es Salaam airport to the city centre is to take the public bus. Buses are regulated by SUMATRA and although they run 24/7, they have a rather irregular schedule. The journey to the centre takes around 40 minutes. The standard bus fare is €0.20 (TZS 400).

How much is fare for the bus from Dar es Salaam airport to the city centre?

The fare for the bus is €0.20 (TZS 400). You can pay for your ticket in cash when boarding the bus.

Cost

€0.20

Trip Duration

40 min

Bus schedules are not fixed; departures are irregular.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

Buses at Dar es Salaam airport are available 24/7.

Where can I find the bus?

The bus picks up passengers outside of the airport terminals. You can find the bus stop 500 meters from Terminal 1 and 1000 meters from Terminal 2.

Convenience

Taking the bus from Dar es Salaam airport to the city centre is a great way to save some money. However, taking the bus does require more time for the transfer and you may have to do some walking or take another form of transport to reach your destination. Also, the bus can get quite crowded, so it may be challenging to transport large luggage with the bus. Lastly, due to the irregularity of the bus, if you need to get to your destination fast and efficiently, you’re better off taking a taxi, as bus departure times are not fixed and you may have to wait a long time before a bus arrives and leaves the airport.

Timetables

Editor’s Note

Minibuses (dala dalas) provide bus service throughout Dar es Salaam. You can catch a dala dala from the city’s bus terminals, or you can flag one down from the street.

Useful Tips

The buses in Dar es Salaam can get quite crowded. Be sure to keep your belongings secure while on board.
Bus schedules are irregular. Buses usually depart from the airport when they have reached capacity.

Welcome Pickups transfer

Welcome Pickups

Book a trained, English-speaking taxi driver to pick you up at the same price as a regular cab from the line

If you feel more relaxed knowing that somebody is waiting for you, you may as well book a Welcome Pickups transfer. As soon as you arrive at the airport you will be greeted by your driver. He will be waiting for you at the terminal of your arrival with a sign that has your name on it. Your driver will help you out with your luggage and together you will make your way to the vehicle. While he is driving you to your accommodation, the driver can give you some tips and recommendations on what to do during your holidays in Dar es salaam. Our drivers are hand-picked and speak fluent English. No need to worry about miscommunication issues that you may face with the local taxi drivers regarding your destination. Relax and enjoy your ride.

Best drivers

Hand-picked english-speaking drivers

Flight monitoring

Drivers are always on time

Quality support

24/7 email & phone support

Cancel up to 24 hours before the pickup and get an 80% refund

Edit or cancel transfers

Read more

Prices

DAYTIME
€32.0
NIGHTTIME
€38.0
Same price as a regular taxi from the line

PRICES FOR

Sedan Car

4 pax, 4 pieces of luggage

Book Welcome Pickups transfer

Welcome Pickups has a Net Safety Score of 99 of 100

We’ve introduced a metric indicating how safe travellers feel when using our services during the COVID-19 pandemic. After every ride, we ask each traveller to leave a review.

  • 20 minute gap between transfers

  • Regular Car Sanitisation

  • Contactless ride

  • Sanitiser in every car

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Frequently asked questions

What’s the average taxi fare from Dar es Salaam airport to the city?

In Dar es Salaam, taxi fares are negotiated with the driver before starting the drive. To go from Dar es Salaam to the city, you can expect to pay around €17.40 (TZS 40,000).

How far is Dar es Salaam airport from the city centre?

Dar es Salaam airport is 11 kilometres from the city centre. If you take a taxi, the journey takes around 15 to 25 minutes. By bus, the trip takes around 40 minutes, excluding wait times.

How do I get from Dar es Salaam airport to the city centre?

To transfer from Dar es Salaam airport to the city, you can take a taxi or bus. The taxi trip takes 15 to 25 minutes and costs around €17.40 (TZS 40,000). The bus journey takes around 40 minutes and costs €0.20 (TZS 400). Taxis and buses are available 24/7.

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