Guinea-Bissau
Republic of Guinea-Bissau
Western Africa · GNB
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau suits travelers who want a low-key West African trip with island scenery, mangroves, and a slower pace. The best version is a Bissau base plus the Bijagos archipelago or one other nature-focused extension.
Popular For
Things To See
- Bissau
- Bijagos Archipelago
- Orango National Park
- Bubaque
- Cacheu
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- Plan around ferries and short domestic transfers rather than assuming easy overland travel.
- Bissau and the islands are the most rewarding starting points.
- This is a place where a slower itinerary pays off more than trying to cover a long list of stops.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Guinea-Bissau.
Guidebooks
📚Browse Guinea-Bissau Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Guinea-Bissau.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Bissau
- Population
- 1,781,308
- Area
- 36,125 km²
- Region
- Western Africa
Languages
- Portuguese
- Upper Guinea Creole
Currency
West African CFA franc (Fr)
XOF
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
32.3
Price level index (US = 100)
Safety & Peace
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Bissau (11.85°N, 15.58°W).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
15/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 2/100
- Lived safety
- 46/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal❌
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.514
Low human development
- 5-year change
- +0.021
- 10-year change
- +0.045
- Trend
- improving
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.878
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.632
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (1)
- 🌿
Coastal and Marine Ecosystems of the Bijagós Archipelago – Omatí Minhô
Inscribed 2025
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 26.2%
- Forest cover
- 69.5%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 15
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 15
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
24/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
67/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
There were no changes to the advisory level. The “Crime” indicator was removed. The “Other” indicator was added. The advisory summary was updated. Reconsider travel to Guinea-Bissau due to unrest, inadequate health infrastructure, and landmines. Advisory Summary There is no U.S. embassy or consulate in Guinea-Bissau. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens. Consular services are provided by the U.S. embassy in Dakar, Senegal. Unrest Guinea-Bissau has had periods of political instability for decades, including political unrest in November 2025. Large-scale demonstrations related to the local political situation may occur with little notice. Demonstrations may disrupt transportation and other essential services. Health Guinea-Bissau’s health infrastructure is inadequate. Health services, hygiene, and quality control do not meet U.S. standards of care. Pharmacies are not well regulated. Locally available medications are limited and may be unsafe. Even a minor health issue may require medical evacuation at your own expense. Landmines Landmines and unexploded ordnance from prior conflicts exist throughout Guinea-Bissau. Areas of greatest risk are Bafata, Oio, Biombo, Quinara, and Tombali. The locations of landmines and unexploded ordnance are often not known, marked, or easy to recognize. If you decide to travel to Guinea-Bissau: Review our information on Travel to High-Risk Areas. Have a plan to leave in an emergency that does not depend on U.S. government help. Review our information on Crisis and Evacuations. Be aware of your surroundings. Do not physically resist any robbery attempt. Avoid demonstrations and crowds. Use caution when walking or driving at night. Refer to our list of medical providers. Make sure your insurance includes medical evacuation coverage. Do not visit locations where landmines are known to exist. Be alert to signs that mark unexploded landmines. Stay on main roads and do not travel at night. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling helps the U.S. embassy or consulate contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Guinea-Bissau. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the latest Travel Health Information for Guinea-Bissau, including which vaccines are recommended prior to your travel. Whether you’re a first time or frequent traveler, use the International Travel Checklist. We highly recommend that you buy travel insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancelation coverage.
Read full advisory →Data current as of August 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data