Arrival and Departure

Bissau Osvaldo Vieira International Airport (OXB) has no direct flights from many parts of the world. Common connections are via Lisbon (TAP Air Portugal), Dakar (Senegal), or Casablanca with onward regional flights. The Dakar–Bissau leg takes about 1 hour and is the most frequently used West African connection. Some land border crossings to Senegal’s Casamance region are open seasonally, but road conditions and safety are unreliable—land travel is not recommended.

Airport Transfers

The airport is about 8 km from central Bissau. A taxi takes roughly 15–20 minutes and costs 3,000–5,000 West African CFA francs. Taxis have no meters, so agree on the fare beforehand. Some hotels offer airport pickups; book in advance for late-night arrivals.

Local Transport

• Taxis: No meters. Short trips cost 1,000–2,000 CFA francs. Always negotiate the price before boarding.
• Shared Minibuses (Toca-Toca): Used by locals, these are cheap but crowded and not suitable for luggage.
• Walking: The old town and market areas are compact, making daytime walking the best way to explore.

Island Ferries

Tips

• Domestic flights and ferry tickets must be paid for in cash—arrange them in Bissau in advance.
• Communication signals are weak in the archipelago. Accept being offline during island hops and inform your hotel of your itinerary.
• When transiting through Dakar, check visa and baggage transfer policies. Allow at least 4 hours for connections.