Hotels in Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam is Tanzania's largest city and its commercial and cultural anchor, spread along the Indian Ocean coastline from the working harbour downtown to the leafy Msasani Peninsula. It pairs a fast-moving business centre with quiet, palm-lined beach neighbourhoods where most hotel pools sit.
Most travellers choosing a hotel in Dar es Salaam are really choosing between two cities in one. Downtown, near the harbour and the Zanzibar ferry terminal, the pace is fast, commercial and dense with traffic, useful for business trips and quick stopovers before catching a boat onward. North along the Msasani Peninsula, Oyster Bay and Msasani slow into embassy streets, beach clubs and boutique hotels with gardens rather than car parks, closer to Coco Beach and Msasani Beach. Nearly every hotel pool in the city runs year-round given the tropical climate, so the real decision is which side of Dar es Salaam suits the rest of the trip.
Dar es Salaam in numbers
Outdoor poolFig Tree Residences
Two minutes from the beach with a kitchen
Hot tub / jacuzziAura Suites
Infinity pool and hot tub on the terrace
Spa / thermal poolKingjada Hotels & Apartments
Pool and garden five minutes from the beach
Spa / thermal poolSea Cliff Hotel
Pool, casino and Swahili-inspired suites
Spa / thermal poolJohari Rotana
Largest hotel's pool, spa and wellness club
Outdoor poolHyatt Regency Dar es Salaam, The Kilimanjaro
Pool by the harbour, rooftop bar above it
Outdoor poolBlackwood Boutique Hotel and Apartments
Adults-only pool with full kitchens
Outdoor poolProtea Hotel by Marriott Dar es Salaam Courtyard
Pool views opposite the Presidential Palace
Outdoor poolSea Cliff Court Hotel & Luxury Apartments
Peninsula garden pool with self-catering apartments
Outdoor poolThe Amariah Hotel & Apartments Mikocheni
Garden pool with an outdoor fireplace
Outdoor poolDar es Salaam Serena Hotel
Garden pool, swim-up bar and golf course views
Spa / thermal poolElement by Marriott Dar es Salaam
Pool and spa steps from Yacht Club Beach
Outdoor poolColosseum Boutique Hotel & Spa
Roman-style pool, spa and squash courts
Outdoor poolMediterraneo Boutique Hotel
Family pool with a playground attached
Hot tub / jacuzziNo 33 Lodge
Hot tub steps from Coco Beach
Spa / thermal poolUrban by CityBlue Hotel, Dar es Salaam
Rooftop pool above the city
Outdoor poolFour Points by Sheraton Dar es Salaam New Africa
Harbour-view pool by the ferry terminal
Outdoor poolHarbour View Suites
Pool with Indian Ocean and Zanzibar views
Outdoor poolCrowne Plaza - Dar Es Salaam by IHG
Central pool bar built for business travellers
Hot tub / jacuzziTiffany Diamond Hotels LTD - Makunganya
Hot tub and sun terrace near the museum
Outdoor poolProtea Hotel by Marriott Dar es Salaam Oyster Bay
Pool and garden two kilometres from the beach
Spa / thermal poolSouthern Sun Dar es Salaam
Pool and hot tub by the Botanical Gardens
Outdoor poolHotel Totara
Pool, tennis and a short walk to Coco Beach
What to expect
- Msasani Peninsula: Oyster Bay's leafy embassy streets and beach clubs
- Zanzibar ferry terminal: a short hop to the spice island by boat
- Coco Beach and Msasani Beach: local weekend gathering spots on the sand
- Downtown business district: hotels near the harbour and convention centre
- Year-round tropical climate: hotel pools stay open in every season
Local tips
- Stay in Oyster Bay or Msasani if you want walking access to a beach, since Coco Beach and Msasani Beach both sit within a few minutes of several hotels there.
- Book downtown near the harbour if you are catching the Zanzibar ferry, since the terminal sits close to several hotels on that side of the city.
- Budget extra time for traffic between the city centre and the Msasani Peninsula, since the road connecting them gets congested during weekday rush hours.
- Carry cash in Tanzanian shillings for taxis and markets, since not every driver or vendor outside hotels accepts card payment.
- Pack light, breathable clothing year-round, since Dar es Salaam stays hot and humid regardless of season, with little relief even after sunset.
- Confirm airport transfer distances before booking, since travel time from Julius Nyerere International Airport ranges from under fifteen minutes downtown to closer to forty minutes on the Msasani Peninsula.
Where to stay
FAQ
Which neighbourhood should I stay in for a hotel with a pool in Dar es Salaam?
Oyster Bay and the Msasani Peninsula have the highest concentration of hotel pools, many paired with gardens or spas, and sit closest to Coco Beach and Msasani Beach. Downtown, near the harbour and Zanzibar ferry terminal, suits business travellers who need a shorter airport transfer instead.
Is Dar es Salaam a good base before travelling to Zanzibar?
Yes, the Zanzibar ferry terminal sits downtown near the harbour, with several hotels including Four Points by Sheraton and Harbour View Suites within walking distance, making the city a practical overnight stop before or after the ferry crossing.
What is the best time of year to visit Dar es Salaam?
Dar es Salaam stays hot and humid year-round with two rainy seasons, roughly March to May and November, so most travellers time visits around the drier months outside those windows, though hotel pools here run year-round regardless of season.
How far is the city centre from the beach hotels on the Msasani Peninsula?
It typically takes fifteen to thirty minutes by taxi between downtown Dar es Salaam and Oyster Bay or Msasani, depending on traffic, which tends to build during weekday morning and evening rush hours on the connecting roads.
Do Dar es Salaam hotels offer airport shuttles?
Many do, though policies vary: some hotels include a shuttle in the room rate, while others arrange one for an additional fee. Confirming directly with the hotel before arrival is worth doing, since Julius Nyerere International Airport sits at different distances depending on the neighbourhood.
What types of hotels are available in Dar es Salaam?
The city ranges from five-star business hotels like Johari Rotana and the Hyatt Regency downtown to boutique aparthotels and self-catering apartments on the Msasani Peninsula, with pool types spanning outdoor gardens, rooftop setups, spa pools and a handful of swim-up bars and jacuzzis.