Think twice.
No major changes since yesterday.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Guinea-Bissau
The advisories disagree by 2 level(s) — read all four before you decide who to trust.
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Think twice.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Required: Yellow Fever
Recommended: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Malaria, Measles, Meningococcal disease, Rabies, Typhoid
Source: CDC Travelers' Health →Getting in
What you'll need at the border
Visitors to Guinea-Bissau must obtain a visa, either on arrival or in advance at one of the Guinea-Bissau diplomatic missions, unless they are nationals of a visa-exempt country.
Source: Wikipedia →Real, not invented
Terrorism
Although there is no recent history of terrorism in Guinea-Bissau, attacks cannot be ruled out. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by foreign nationals. Stay aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of local authorities.
Source: UK FCDO →Real, not invented
Cultural & legal notes
LGBT+ travellers
Same-sex sexual relationships are not criminalised. However, Guinea-Bissau is a conservative society and same-sex couples showing affection in public may attract unwanted and negative attention. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers .
Source: UK FCDO →From people who've been there
Local know-how
Staying safe
- •Guinea-Bissau has one of the highest rates of petty and violent crime on the continent, which should not be underestimated, a lack of much law enforcement, and a very dysfunctional government.
- •Avoid any political demonstrations and stay clear of any large presence of military on the streets.
- •Guinea-Bissau is a violent country, and is considered by the UN to be a major port for drug shipments into Europe.
- •The country also has the lowest per capita productivity and income in the world.
- •White Europeans are especially vulnerable, and will be singled out by natives seeking to enact racial crime.
- •There is no US or UK embassy in GB. The US & UK embassies in Dakar, Senegal are accredited to GB. The US has a liaison at: Edifício SITEC, Rua José Carlos Schwarz 245, Bairro d’Ajuda ().
Staying healthy
- •Before visiting, make sure you have the yellow fever, hepatitis A, tetanus and typhoid vaccinations up to date.
- •HIV is prevalent, as are most major sexually transmitted diseases. The CDC in the US listed Guinea-Bissau as a groundswell point for new HIV infections.
- •If bitten by a dog, cat, monkey or bat seek a doctor as fast as possible, no matter if you've been vaccinated or not.
- •Always use a condom when having sexual relations with new partners.
- •Make sure you drink only bottled/filtered water.
Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.
Right now
In the news the last few days
Real talk
What travelers actually say
Guinea-Bissau presents a stark contrast to more structured travel environments. Travelers identify the primary dangers as a near-total lack of infrastructure and the genuine risk of armed robbery. The transit routes, particularly the overland journey from Ziguinchor to Bissau, are marked by unreliable transport systems that fail to provide the safety or convenience found in more developed regions. This is not a destination for the inexperienced traveler accustomed to paying for comfort or safety. If you lack experience navigating environments where systems are non-existent and violent crime is a documented threat, the risks of attempting this detour outweigh the benefits.
“infrastructure barely exists, armed robbery is a real risk, and transport is not fully reliable.
— r/travel
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
C / E / F · 220V
Driving side
right
Emergency
police: 112 / ambulance: 112 / fire: 112
Cash vs. Card
The West African CFA franc (XOF) is used by Guinea-Bissau. It is also used by Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo. While it is a separate currency from the Central African CFA franc (XAF), the two currencies are used interchangeably at par throughout all countries that use the CFA franc (XAF & XOF).
Show the receipts (9 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-09-09
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-09-09
- ca-gac — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-09-09
- cdc-health — observed 2026-09-09
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-09-09
- reddit — observed 2026-09-09
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-09-09