Gambia Travel Guide

Gambia Travel Guide: 61 tips from hotels to restaurants and fun things to do

Team YLBB

 

10 August 2017
Last updated: August 8, 2024

This is the Gambia Travel Guide with all the tips for your holiday

Are you looking for a winter sun destination where you can enjoy warm weather, sunshine, a lovely beach, and palm trees all year round? Then Gambia, the Smiling Coast of Africa, is definitely a country you'll want to visit. And the great thing is that, as a bonus, you'll also experience the country's hospitality and discover new, unique cultures, traditions, and food customs. I was in Gambia to experience this. Gambia Travel Guide to make and I must honestly say that the country stole my heart and I will definitely go back there again.

The Gambia has a lot to offer. Besides enjoying your resort all day with a big smile on your face, there are also plenty of fun things to do when you've had enough of lounging with a fresh coconut in your hand. Take a boat trip through the mangrove forests, visit the heart of The Gambia: the Tanji Fish Market, and learn more about the slavery that played a significant role in The Gambia by joining a Kunta Kinte boat trip.

Tip: If you haven't traveled outside Europe much yet, I recommend always going with a local guide. They know the area like no other and can tell you all sorts of interesting insider facts about the country and its customs. You can easily book most excursions through your hotel.

In this Gambia Travel Guide I have more than 61 tips Collected for anyone thinking about a trip to Gambia. Enjoy!

Tips for the best travel deals to Gambia:
⋙ Via Corendon book a package holiday including flight. The hotels Coco Ocean, balafon en Kombo are perfect for a beach holiday. View all offers for Gambia here >>
⋙ At Tui Book your 8 days from €359. Senegambia Beach is our absolute favorite! View all offers here >>

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**Rotterdam is a vibrant city: Rotterdam is a vibrant city** As a child I came there with my parents to shop, as a teenager and in my twenties to club. Now I love coming there for a weekend escape characterized by good food, nice wine bars and that typical Rotterdam down-to-earth attitude. Rotterdam is buzzing with creativity and has a real IT factor. In this mini-guide, I share my favorite hotspots that you'll really want to know. 📌𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘇𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 for your next trip to Rotterdam. 𝗖𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗘 ⦁ @parqiet_parkcafe ⦁ @dunerotterdam ⦁ @wollyaandewaterkant ⦁ @nice.neighbourhood 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗬 ⦁ @morganandmees ⦁ @hotelame ⦁ @roommate_bruno ⦁ @thejameshotelrotterdam 𝗡𝗘𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗗𝗦 ⦁ Noord ⦁ Katendrecht ⦁ Dijkzigt (Museum Park) ⦁ Scheepvaartkwartier 𝗗𝗢 ⦁ Take the Watertaxi ⦁ @boijmans ⦁ Walk & unwind at de Kralingse Plas ⦁ @nlfotomuseum ⦁ Visit @stationbergweg 𝗘𝗔𝗧 ⦁ @tresrotterdam ⦁ @barbertarotterdam ⦁ @hinoki_rotterdam ⦁ @barbistroloevetdie ⦁ @oxrotterdam ⦁ @restaurant_rotonde ⦁ On my to-visit list, the new @lioncitybistro 𝗗𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗞𝗦 ⦁ @walsjerot_nl ⦁ @cafeverward ⦁ @spikizibar ⦁ @lenselinq 💌What's your favourite spot in Rotterdam? ✖️✖️✖️ 🖊️ @anne_de_buck
Maybe the last weekend with ice and snow ⛄️❄️ Are you cocooning indoors or preferring to go outside? In our Snowy Amsterdam Guide, I share my favorite winter tips for this weekend in the city. Save it – because snow days like this are rare 🥰 Do you have a nice winter tip for Amsterdam? I'm reading along 👀 ✖️✖️✖️ 🖊️ @anne_de_buck #snow #amsterdam #winter snow in amsterdam, things to do winter in amsterdam
I have always been part of the family and have always been proud of my work. NEW DATE AND EVENTS IN AMSTERDAM 🗝️👀 Mark your calendars! Because on January 17 & 18 Hotelnacht is back in Amsterdam with an edition full of health & wellness events and of course legendary parties that you will be talking about all year long. I got a sneak peek at The Art of Balance theme at the luxurious Anantara Krasnapolsky and arranged a similarly special experience for you as a YLBB follower. AND YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: • overnight stay for 2 people in a luxury room on January 17, 2026 • access to the spa & wellness (based on availability via the wellness desk) • pre-dinner cocktail at Bar The Tailor • fully catered chef's dinner • passe-partouts for the Hotelnacht parties • extensive breakfast in the Wintergarden • participation in the unique Ice Experience in the Summergarden of Krasnapolsky 𝗭𝗢 𝗠𝗔𝗔𝗞 𝗝𝗘 𝗞𝗔𝗡𝗦: • let us know who you would like to check in with at Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky during the Mastercard Hotelnacht • download the Mastercard Hotelnacht app where you can find the See the full program • and check out @hotelnacht and @anantarakrasnapolsky for the latest updates and to get the fun started! The winner will be notified on January 5th via a comment from @hotelnacht that I'll share in my stories. Fingers crossed for you! Love, Anne #hotelnacht #amsterdam #yourlbbcollab #winactie #giveaway
Merry Christmas 🎄❤️ I wish you very happy holidays. Curious what you are going to do today ✨. ✖️✖️✖️ @anne_de_buck PS: who recognizes this Christmas tree? 👀
I hope you enjoy it and have fun! 🎄 Send a message to that one friend you want to grab one with this weekend. 𝗭𝘂𝗶𝗱-𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 – Royal Christmas Fair – The Hague (until 23 Dec) @royalchristmasfairthehague – Winter Wonder Weeks – Leiden (12–14 & 18–21 Dec) – Green Christmas Market – Rotterdam (12–14 Dec) – Dordrecht December Days Christmas Market – Dordrecht (13–14 Dec) – Rotterdam Harvest Christmas Edition – Rotterdam (13 & 20 Dec) 𝗚𝗲𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 – Winter Festival Zutphen – Zutphen (14 Dec) 𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗴 – Christmas City Valkenburg – Valkenburg (until 4 Jan) Christmas Market – Delden Christmas Market – Delden (13 Dec) – Dickens Festival – Deventer (13–14 Dec) – (H)onest Christmas Market – Deventer (13–14 Dec) Christmas Market – Museumplein Christmas Market – Amsterdam (until 28 Dec) – Haarlem Christmas Market – Haarlem (12–14 Dec) – Funky Xmas Sunday Market – Amsterdam (21 Dec) – Pure Markt Winter Market – Amsterdam (21 Dec) 𝗨𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗵𝘁 – Winter Market Molen de Ster – Utrecht (13–14 Dec) – The Utrecht Winter Spectacle – Utrecht (18 Dec–4 Jan) Have fun! Nothing is as much fun as spontaneous plans in December. ✖️✖️✖️ 🖊 @anne_de_buck #yourlittleblackbook #christmasmarketnetherlands #christmasmarkets2025 christmasmarketamsterdam christmasmarketthehague christmasoutings thingstodointhenetherlands
𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗪𝗘𝗥𝗣𝗘𝗡 𝗚𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗬 👀 This is the coolest new hotel for a night away! Meet @viaantwerp , the newest boutique hotel in Antwerp on the border of Zurenborg and Borgerhout (yep, voted 2nd coolest neighborhood in the world by Time Out). I recently stayed at this gem and this hotel really has it all: a lively bar with a cozy atmosphere, walls full of creative art, beautiful bright rooms and it's within walking distance of great hotspots. And I haven't even mentioned @mea.antwerp! The delicious restaurant with a chef behind the pans who previously cooked at The Palomar in London. If you know, you know! And now the best news: I can surprise one of you with a dream night away at VIA Antwerp. 💛 𝗪𝗔𝗧 𝗝𝗘 𝗞𝗨𝗡𝗧 𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗡 • Overnight stay for 2 people • Breakfast included • Chef's dinner at MEA 𝗭𝗢 𝗠𝗔𝗔𝗞 𝗝𝗘 𝗞𝗔𝗡𝗦 • Let us know in the comments which friend you would like to stay here with • Of course, also take a look at @viaantwerp & @mea.antwerp to dream away and follow their updates The winner will be notified personally via DM on December 10th. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you and will soon share a mini guide with more great tips for Antwerp! 🖤 ​​✖️✖️✖️ 🖊️ @anne_de_buck #antwerp #antwerp #zurenborg #antwerpencity #borgerhout

28 X Good and fun to know ABOUT Gambia

The Gambia is a small country with about 1,8 million inhabitants. It's about three times smaller than the Netherlands, and everyone knows each other. Doesn't your mother know their mother? Then their mother knows your father, or their mother knows your mother.

Malaria mosquitoes are present in Gambia. However, they are most active during the rainy season (August, September, and October), and often only after sunset. Ideally, use mosquito repellent containing DEET year-round, but especially during these months, keep the air conditioning on, and wear long-sleeved clothing in the evenings. Whether you actually get malaria also depends on your immune system. The decision to take malaria tablets is yours.

Don't be alarmed if a cow suddenly follows you on the beach, this is quite normal here!

Going back to the Netherlands? Shake hands with your left hand; it means you'll see each other again someday. Great!

Want to know more about Gambia? Read the blog below 28 facts in this Gambia Travel Guide!

READ 23 MORE GAMBIA FACTS HERE >>

7 X THE Best Hotels in Gambia

If you're planning a beach holiday to Gambia, you're probably overwhelmed by the number of beach resorts available. Each one boasts beautiful private beaches, palm trees, and a lovely pool. But what are the best hotels in Gambia for complete relaxation during your well-deserved beach holiday? To help you plan your holiday, I've compiled a list of nine great beach resorts. resorts and hotels in Gambia have listed for you.

Senegambia Beach Hotel: This hotel gives you a true African feel with its tropical garden, featuring exotic birds, numerous palm trees, and monkeys that will join you for some much-needed me-time by the pool. The hotel is located in the heart of Kololi, about 15 km from Banjul Airport, right on the beach. Don't feel like lounging on the beach? Cool off in one of the pools or sip a cocktail at the pool bar while enjoying the sunset. In the evening, you can quickly reach the Senegambia Strip from this hotel.

Ngala Lodge: This hotel is small, stylish, and once again surrounded by a tropical garden teeming with beautiful birds. Ngala Lodge is one of my favorite hotels in Gambia! You can completely unwind here; there are no children, it has a lovely private beach, and it's situated on a clifftop, offering stunning views. Feel like exercising? Then you can head to the golf course next door or swim laps in the pool as the sun sets. Want to explore? Then you can head to Cape Point, about 3 km from the hotel.

DISCOVER 7 MORE GREAT HOTELS IN GAMBIA HERE >>

SENEGAMBIA BEACH

16 Fun Things to Do // Gambia Travel Guide

Gambia is three times smaller than the Netherlands, yet you can see, do, or experience something different every day, for months on end. I've compiled a list of the best things to do for you in this Gambia Travel Guide.

Tanji Fish Market: One of my favorite things to do in Gambia is browsing the Tanji Fish Market. Here you get a taste of the real Gambia. The market in Gambia where it all happens. The abundance of people, the smells, colors, sounds, and countless other stimuli are all here. My tip: sit down for fifteen minutes and soak it all in, look around, and observe. Leave your camera in your bag for a moment and enjoy the organized chaos and "The Smiling Coast of Africa."

Senegambia Strip: Want to experience Gambia's nightlife? Then head to the Senegambia Strip and grab a bite to eat at one of the excellent restaurants, enjoy live performances, and then head to a café or even a club. It's the place where the locals love to dance!

Kunta Kinteh Beach: One of the finest spots in Gambia for dining, relaxing, and strolling along the beach is Kunta Kinteh Beach. This resort features a restaurant, comfortable lounge chairs, and a palm-fringed beach that instantly gives you that tropical feeling. The food here is not only delicious, but the atmosphere is even better!

Want more tips? Read on below.

13 MORE THINGS TO DO IN GAMBIA >>

kunta kinteh beach

8 X Delicious Food and Drinks // Gambia Travel Guide

Believe it or not, you can eat really well in Gambia! I'm in love with the Gambian cuisine And I would do anything to be able to eat domoda (rice with peanut sauce) again (on the beach, of course ;-)). From rice with chicken to sweet snacks like wonjo and baobab, these are the dishes, snacks, and drinks you'll definitely want to try in Gambia.

Domoda: My favorite Gambian dish is Domoda from the Madinka tribe. It's a rice dish based on peanuts, tomatoes, chicken, or beef. Basically, rice with peanut sauce, but tastier than we know it ;-). Honestly, I've eaten it every day and can't wait to order it again!

Pancakes: With your coffee, which incidentally comes with a fair amount of sugar, you get pancakes. And no, these aren't the pancakes we know. They're fried, crispy balls with a fluffy center that you can't get enough of. Think of an oliebol! Ask the locals if you can try one; they're (probably) much fresher, crispier, and tastier than the ones at your hotel.

Want to try more in Gambia? Read the blog below with 8 dishes, snacks, and drinks not to miss during your holiday.

TRY THESE 8 DISHES TOO

food and drink in Gambia

Pancakes

GAMBIA TRAVEL TIPS

How to get there: with Tui en Corendon You can fly from Amsterdam to Gambia every few days, either directly or with a short stopover in Senegal. Did you know that the flight takes only about six hours and that in our winter, it's summer there? This makes it the perfect winter sun destination for us!

Tips for the best travel deals to Gambia:
⋙ Via Corendon book a package holiday including flight. The hotels Coco Ocean, balafon en Kombo are perfect for a beach holiday. View all offers for Gambia here >>
⋙ At Tui Book your 8 days from €359. Senegambia Beach is our absolute favorite! View all offers here >>

Discover more travel guides

Have a safe trip!  

TIP: discover more great addresses and travel tips in the Yourlbb books THE AMSTERDAM CITY GUIDE & WANDERLUST!

LOVE,

RENEE

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