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🇬🇼Things to Do in Guinea-Bissau
From the Bijagos Archipelago's untouched islands to saltwater hippos on Orango Island - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.
Travel guide - last updated September 2026
Guinea-Bissau remains one of the least-visited countries in West Africa, and the Bijagos Archipelago - a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of roughly 88 islands, most uninhabited - is its clearest reason for that changing. Orango Island's population of saltwater-adapted hippos is a genuine ecological rarity found in almost no other coastal setting. Here are 4 places worth building a trip around.
Top attractions
The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.
Bijagos Archipelago
A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of roughly 88 islands off Guinea-Bissau's coast, most uninhabited, with mangroves, beaches and traditional island communities largely untouched by mass tourism.
📍 Bijagós Archipelago
🚉 Boats and small ferries leave Bissau's port for Bubaque, the main island, taking three to five hours - the service is irregular, and inter-island travel is by pirogue arranged locally.
Orango Island
Home to a population of hippos that have adapted to swim in saltwater, a genuine ecological rarity, alongside sea turtle nesting beaches.
📍 Orango Island, Bijagós Archipelago
🚉 Orango is reached by pirogue from Bubaque, about two hours, and the national park lodge arranges the crossing - the saltwater hippos are seen on guided walks from there.
Bissau Old Town (Praca)
Guinea-Bissau's capital, with a Portuguese colonial old quarter around the Presidential Palace and a fortress overlooking the Geba River estuary.
📍 Bissau
🚉 The Portuguese colonial centre around the Praca dos Herois Nacionais is walkable, and shared taxis and toca-toca minibuses cover the rest of the capital.
Bolama Island
A former Portuguese colonial capital, now largely abandoned and reclaimed by nature, with crumbling colonial architecture offering an unusual, atmospheric stop within the Bijagos.
📍 Bolama Island, Bijagós Archipelago
🚉 The former colonial capital is a two-hour boat ride from Bissau, with irregular services - the abandoned Portuguese buildings are the reason to go, and there is minimal accommodation.
Mark Guinea-Bissau, get the stamp
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Open MyPassportStoryPlanning questions
How many days do you need in Guinea-Bissau?
A week suits Bissau plus a multi-day trip into the Bijagos Archipelago, given how much travel time reaching and moving between islands takes.
What's the best time to visit Guinea-Bissau?
December-May is the dry season and the most comfortable time to visit, including for sea turtle nesting season on Orango's beaches.
Is Guinea-Bissau good for a first-time visit?
It's genuinely undeveloped for tourism - an organized tour or local guide is strongly recommended, particularly for reaching and navigating the Bijagos Archipelago.
Do I need a visa to visit Guinea-Bissau?
Most nationalities need a visa, arranged in advance through an embassy or an e-visa application. Check the official visa information for your nationality: embaixadaguinebissau.pt.
What are some things to do in Guinea-Bissau on a tight budget?
Local food is inexpensive, and joining a shared boat to the Bijagos Islands costs considerably less than a private charter, though overall trip costs can add up given the country's limited transport infrastructure.
Can I rent a car in Guinea-Bissau, and what licence do I need?
Rental is very limited and mostly pointless: the Bijagos islands, which are what visitors come for, are reached by boat and have almost no roads. On the mainland, hiring a vehicle with a driver is the normal arrangement. A foreign licence with an International Driving Permit is accepted on paper, and the minimum age is 25. Roads deteriorate quickly outside Bissau and the rainy season from June to November makes many impassable. Confirm current requirements with a Bissau-Guinean embassy before travelling.