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Home > Travel Guide > Countries > Guinea Bissau People rated this page:

Travel Guide Countries

Travel Guide Guinea-Bissau

Geography

The motto of Guinea-Bissau, a country in west Africa, translates to ‘small in size – big in reputation’. Guinea-Bissau is still rebuilding after the war which devastated the country during the late 1990s, but its tranquil beaches and friendly locals are helping it live up to its motto.

Capital and Important places

The presidential palace which was bombed during the civil war, the former Portuguese colonial centre of Bissau Velho, and the Portuguese fort of Fortaleza d’Amura are among the sights worth seeing in Bissau, the country’s capital and largest city. Mercado de Bandim is the best place to find wood carvings, batik, and other unique souvenirs. Guinea-Bissau’s former capital of Bolama is also worth visiting for its impressive colonial buildings.

Tourist Attractions

The small city of Cacheu is home to the swampy Tarafes de Cacheu Natural Park and a former slave fort, while laid back Varela contains the best beaches on the mainland. Each of the 10 Bijagos islands has its own unique beauty, and hippos are frequently spotted on the island of Orango.

Accommodation

Many Bissau hotels are overpriced, but budget alternatives are widely available. The Hotel Marazul in Quinhamel is a recommended daytrip for fishing, swimming and touring the town’s weaving factory, while the Hotel Rural de Uaque provides another relaxing escape from urban surroundings. Bissau’s international airport (Osvaldo Vieiro International Airport), the only one in the country, offers a weekly flight to Lisbon, Portugal, as well as regular flights to and from Dakar, Senegal. Visas are required, but can be difficult to get for Americans as the American embassy in Bissau remains closed. The British embassies in Dakar and Lisbon are the most reliable places to obtain visas. Guinea-Bissau is an ideal cycling country because of its flat terrain and low traffic roads, but most bicycles sold in the country are poor quality.