Places / Africa / Guinea Bissau
Bissau
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At a glance
- Country
- Guinea Bissau
- Region
- Bissau Autonomous Sector
- Population
- 490,000
- Best time to go
- November to May
- Main airport
- Osvaldo Vieira International (OXB)
- Coordinates
- 11.86°N, 15.60°W
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Overview
Bissau is one of West Africa's most laid-back capitals, a low-rise city on the estuary of the Geba River with a faded Portuguese colonial quarter and a strong Creole culture.
Few visitors stay long, as most are heading out to the Bijagós Archipelago, but the city deserves a day or two. Expect crumbling façades, cashew trees, cold beer and grilled fish, and some of the warmest welcomes in the region.
Things to see
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Photo: Jcornelius, CC BY-SA 4.0 Bissau Velho
The old colonial quarter by the port, a few streets of pastel buildings with wrought-iron balconies in gentle decay.
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Photo: Joehawkins, CC BY-SA 4.0 Fortaleza de São José da Amura
An 18th-century Portuguese fort, still a military site, which holds the mausoleum of independence leader Amílcar Cabral.
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Photo: Jcornelius, CC BY-SA 4.0 Pidjiguiti Memorial
A monument by the docks marking the 1959 dockworkers' strike that became a turning point in the struggle for independence.
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Photo: Joehawkins, CC BY-SA 4.0 Bandim Market
The city's biggest market, a maze of fabric, fish, fruit and everyday goods.
Things to do
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Photo: Adrian Turner, CC BY-SA 2.0 Boat to the Bijagós
Take the ferry or a chartered boat to Bubaque, the main island of a remote archipelago of beaches and mangroves.
Find tours -
Photo: Odile RAPEAU, CC BY-SA 4.0 Carnival
Bissau's carnival brings costumed groups and masks from across the country to the streets each February or March.
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Photo: Nicolas PHULPIN, CC BY-SA 4.0 Try caldo de mancarra
A rich peanut stew, usually with chicken or fish, best eaten at a family-run restaurant in town.
Where to stay
City centre
Most hotels and restaurants sit around the main avenue, within walking distance of the old quarter.
Hotels in City centreBissau Velho
Atmospheric guesthouses near the port, handy for early boats to the islands.
Hotels in Bissau Velho
Getting around
Shared blue-and-yellow taxis run along fixed routes and are cheap; private hire costs more. The centre is easy to walk.
The airport is around 15 to 20 minutes by taxi from the centre.
When to go
The dry season from November to May is the best time to visit, with the cooler months at its start. The rainy season from June to October brings heavy downpours, and Carnival falls before Lent.
Plan your trip to Bissau
Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.