Capital: Bissau
Time zone: GMT
Telephone services: Country Code: 245
Outgoing Code: All outgoing calls must go through the operator
Emergency telephone numbers: Not present
Tourist information: Centro de Informação e Turismo, CP 294, Bissau, Guinea Bissau. Tel: 213 905 or 212 844
Passport information: Valid Passport required by all. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may be subject to change at short notice. Consult embassy before departure.
Visa information: Required by all (can be extended in central police station), except nationals of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo
Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: Falciparum the most serious variety exists throughout the year. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported. Protection from mosquito bites is the best defence, use a 33% deet based repellent.
Yellow Fever: Strongly recommended to all visitors. A vaccination certificate must be provided by visitors arriving from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia and Rabies.
Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.
Currency: Guinea Bissau Peso (GBP) = 100 centavos.
Travellers cheques can be cashed at major banks only. US dollars is the preferred currency. Credit cards are not accepted.
ATM availability: Unavailable.
Cost of living: Guinea Bissau is one of the poorest countries in the world. Some hotels are very expensive.
Languages: Portuguese. The majority of the population speak Guinea Creole.
Weather: Tropical climate. May – Nov = Wet season. Dec- Apr = Dry season. Temperatures vary with altitude.
Electricity: Limited electricity supply on 200 volts AC 50 Hz.
Post: Post to Europe will take over a week.
Transport: FLIGHTS: The national airline provides regular internal flights. SEA / RIVER: most towns are accessible by ship. Coast hopping ferries operate from the North coast to Bissau. ROADS: Only 1/5 are tarred and suitable for all weather conditions. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is recommended though not legally required. A temporary driving licence can be obtained on presentation of a valid British Driving licence.
Special information: EXTREME RISK: The Foreign & Commonwealth Office advise against all travel to Guinea Bissau