Flights from Dakar to Spain from 192USD*

Flights to Spain from Dakar

From Dakar, Vueling flies direct to 17 destinations in Spain. Flights to the mainland take around 4 and a half hours, while the Canary Islands are much closer, out in the same stretch of the Atlantic.

Spain is not one single destination. The choice that shapes your trip is which of its four sides you head for: the big cities, the Mediterranean coast, the Moorish south of al-Andalus, or the Atlantic Spain of the islands and the north.

What documents you need to travel to Spain

Spain is part of the Schengen Area, and for Senegalese citizens that means an application process before travelling, one that is best started several weeks ahead.

What usually applies to a Senegalese national:

• A Schengen visa, applied for before the trip at the Spanish consulate or embassy in Senegal. Processing times vary, and they are what decides when you need to start planning the trip.
• A valid passport, valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended date of departure from the Schengen Area and issued within the previous 10 years.
• Proof of accommodation: a booking, a letter of invitation or a contract.
• Proof of sufficient funds for your stay.
• Travel insurance with medical cover, required in order to apply for the visa.

Requirements change and depend on individual circumstances. Check the current information on the travel documents page and with the relevant consulate before you book.

As this flight departs from outside the Schengen Area, you will go through passport control before boarding. Allow for that extra time at the airport.

What to know when you land in Spain

From the airport into town. The main gateways have good public transport, so there is no need to book a transfer. In Madrid, the metro and Cercanías commuter trains link the Barajas terminals with Atocha. In Barcelona, metro line 9 Sud and the Aerobús reach the centre in under half an hour. In Malaga, the commuter train serves both the city centre and the Costa del Sol.

Mealtimes. Lunch in Spain is between 14:00 and 16:00 and dinner from 21:00, and many kitchens stay closed until then. Small shops also shut in the middle of the day, so afternoons start late and run well into the evening.

High-speed rail. Madrid and Barcelona are around 2 and a half hours apart, and lines run from Madrid to Seville, Malaga and Valencia. Stations sit in the city centres, so arriving in one city and leaving from another works better than going back the way you came.

Climate by region. The south and the Mediterranean have mild winters and very hot summers, with the interior topping 40°C in August. The north is rainy and cool all year round, with temperatures that catch out anyone arriving from the Sahel. The Canary Islands stay at a steady temperature.

Spain’s currency is the euro. Cards are accepted almost everywhere and there are cash machines in every city. Plugs have two round pins, types C and F, at 230V.

What to do in Spain

The Canary Islands, the closest option

They are the nearest Spanish destinations to Dakar, just 3 hours away by air, and the only part of the country in the African Atlantic. Gran Canaria has the Maspalomas dunes and a city beach in Las Palmas, while Tenerife has Mount Teide, Spain’s highest peak, and a steady temperature all year.

Andalusia and its Moorish legacy

Granada has the Alhambra and the Generalife. Seville has the Real Alcázar, the Giralda, which was a minaret before it became a bell tower, and the flamenco of Triana. Malaga adds the Picasso Museum, the Alcazaba and the Costa del Sol, with Ronda an hour and a half away.

City breaks: Madrid and Barcelona

Madrid packs the Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen into less than a kilometre, with the Retiro next door and street life that goes on late into the night. Barcelona brings together the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell and the Mediterranean, 10 minutes from the centre.

The Atlantic north

Same ocean, opposite climate: green, damp and rainy all year. Bilbao has the Guggenheim and the pintxos of the Casco Viejo, and Santiago de Compostela marks the end of the Camino with a World Heritage cathedral.

Luggage for your flight to Spain

What you can take depends on the fare you choose when booking. The simplest fare includes a personal item that fits under the seat in front, and from there you can add cabin or checked luggage.

For a long trip, or if you are visiting family, working out your luggage while you book avoids surprises at the check-in desk. Check the current conditions in Vueling’s luggage policy.