Bissau Travel Guide, Guinea-Bissau

Bissau, the quiet little capital of Guinea-Bissau, sports a unique colonial charm of its own. Free from the insistent bustling of street peddlers and noisy merchants, the city is a memento of by-gone colonial days. Its crumbling buildings still retain much of their former beauty, and even Bissau’s atmosphere recalls the old days.

Despite the calm of the palm tree trimmed streets, there are plenty of things to do in Bissau:sit and relax in a sidewalk café watching passers-by, visit a museum or local landmarks such as the port or the marketplace. The French and Portuguese influences still run strong in Bissau, and you can see plays and concerts organized by the cultural centers. All in all, Bissau is a great holiday destination for a bit of cultural tourism. Planning your holiday to this wonderful little African gem will be a piece of cake with the help of this Bissau Travel Guide.

Bissau Travel Guide - Transport

The only airport in the Guinea-Bissau is located in Bissau. Osvaldo Vieira International Airport has a single runway, but there are several international flights to and from Banjul, Dakar or Bamako. There is a direct flight from Lisbon to Bissau with Air Portugal. If you are planning to travel from America or Asia to Bissau, the best route would be via Lisbon. From Senegal, you can travel to Bissau by bush taxi, a popular means of transport in the sub-Saharan countries.

Once you are in the city, you can get from one part of the city to another using a shared taxi. There are a several toca-toca, or minibuses that connect the different neighborhoods of the city. The surest way to catch a toca-toca is to wait at paragem, or station, near the Mercado de Bandim, the largest marketplace in the city. Bissau is a great departure point for journeys around the country. To get to other cities, just take a sept-place, or a car with seven places. If you want to visit the Bijagos Islands, just get a ticket on a cheap pirogue or a more expensive fishing boat in the port.

Bissau Travel Guide - Accommodation

You should be warned that hotels in Bissau are not exactly cheap. If you are on a budget, this Bissau Travel Guide recommends that you rent a room in a hotel on the Bijagos Islands, since Bissau is only a short pirogue-trip away. If you prefer to lodge in the city, Bissau Palace hotel will satisfy your craving for luxury. Hotel Malaika and Pensao Central are set in beautiful colonial buildings where you can fully appreciate the city’s quiet charm.