Guinea-Bissau: main airports
Guinea-Bissau is served by Osvaldo Vieira International Airport, the country's only real air hub, in the capital Bissau. It is directly connected with Portugal (TAP Air Portugal, about 4 hours and a quarter of flight from Lisbon) and with several West African destinations.
Guinea-Bissau: recommended activities
Guinea-Bissau: visa and entry requirements
Citizens of the European Union, including Italy, must apply for an e-visa before departure: the indicative cost is about 61 euros for a single stay of up to 30 days, or 70 euros for a 3-month multiple entry, with processing times of a few business days. Visa on arrival is available only for a limited number of nationalities, which generally do not include EU citizens.
Given the country's political context (see the safety section), always check the updated procedures with the relevant embassy or consulate before organizing the trip.
Guinea-Bissau: safety
On 26 November 2025, a group of military officers overthrew President Umaro Sissoco Embaló in a coup, suspending the electoral process the day before the results of the 23 November presidential election were to be announced. Land, air and sea borders were closed and a curfew was imposed immediately after the coup, but they were reopened the very next day by the same military. General Horta N'Tam was installed as interim president for a 12-month transition, with new elections set for 6 December 2026.
The United States classifies Guinea-Bissau at Level 3 ("Reconsider Travel"), for political instability, inadequate healthcare infrastructure and the presence of residual landmines in various regions (Bafatá, Oio, Biombo, Quinara, Tombali). There is no US embassy or consulate in the country: consular assistance is handled by the US embassy in Dakar, Senegal. Guinea-Bissau has a long history of political instability, with 5 successful coups since independence in 1973. This is not a tourist page in the ordinary sense at present: always check your country's official updated travel advisories before any travel consideration, given the situation still being fluid after the coup.
Guinea-Bissau: health situation
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory for entry into the country for all travelers. Malaria is present throughout the territory with a high risk year-round: antimalarial prophylaxis is strongly recommended, to be arranged with a doctor specializing in travel medicine. Healthcare infrastructure is inadequate according to US authorities.
Guinea-Bissau: currency, payments and connectivity
The currency is the West African CFA franc (XOF), shared with other countries in the region. The official language is Portuguese, while Portuguese Creole (Kriol) is the everyday lingua franca of commerce and entertainment.
