Guinea-Bissau uses the West African CFA franc (XOF), shared with seven other countries in the West African Economic and Monetary Union. The currency is pegged to the euro at a fixed rate of 655.957 XOF to one euro. Most transactions occur in cash. Automated teller machines exist in Bissau but frequently run empty or malfunction. Credit cards are not widely accepted outside a handful of hotels and international airline offices in the capital. Travelers should bring euros for currency exchange rather than US dollars, which receive less favorable rates. Banks in Bissau include Ecobank, Banque Régionale de Solidarité, and Banco da União. Banking hours are typically Monday through Friday mornings only.
The official language is Portuguese. Approximately 11 percent of the population speaks Portuguese as a first language. Kriol, a Portuguese-based creole, functions as the lingua franca and is understood by roughly 90 percent of the population. Kriol developed during the Portuguese colonial period as a contact language between traders and local populations. In rural areas, ethnic languages predominate—Balanta in central regions, Fula in the east, Manjaco in the northwest, Mandinka in the northeast, and Papel around Bissau. The Bijagó people of the Bissagos Archipelago speak their own distinct language. French is not widely spoken despite Guinea-Bissau's neighbors being Francophone countries.
Visa requirements for Guinea-Bissau changed in 2018 when the government introduced an electronic visa system. Citizens of Economic Community of West African States member countries do not require visas. All other nationalities must obtain a visa either electronically before arrival or at the airport in Bissau. The official government website for electronic visa applications is www.rgb-visa.com. Airport visas cost more than pre-arranged electronic visas. Processing time for electronic visas is stated as 72 hours but can extend to a week or longer. Travelers have reported instances where electronic visa approvals were not recognized at the airport, requiring a second payment. Overland border crossings from Senegal and Guinea require additional navigation of local officials who may or may not recognize electronic authorizations.
Entry points into Guinea-Bissau are limited. Osvaldo Vieira International Airport in Bissau is the sole international airport. Royal Air Maroc operates flights from Casablanca. TAP Air Portugal flies from Lisbon. ASKY Airlines connects through Lomé. Senegal Airlines operates service from Dakar. Road entry is possible from Senegal via the border crossing at São Domingos in the northwest or from Guinea via crossings near Gabú in the east. The border crossing from Senegal's Casamance region requires passage through areas where landmines remain from the Casamance conflict, though main roads are considered cleared. No railway service exists in Guinea-Bissau. The road network consists of approximately 3,500 kilometers of roads, of which only about 10 percent are paved. The main paved road runs from Bissau northeast to Gabú.
Electrical supply in Guinea-Bissau operates at 220 volts with a frequency of 50 hertz. Socket types are European standard two-pin round plugs, Type C. Power outages occur daily throughout the country including in Bissau. Many hotels and businesses rely on diesel generators that operate only during certain hours, typically evenings. Travelers requiring consistent electricity for medical devices should bring battery backup systems. Internet connectivity is available in Bissau through mobile data networks operated by MTN and Orange. Speeds are slow by international standards and coverage outside the capital is unreliable. Fixed broadband internet is extremely limited. Mobile phone coverage extends to major towns but not to remote areas or much of the Bissagos Archipelago.
Water from taps in Guinea-Bissau should not be consumed without treatment. Bottled water is available in Bissau and major towns. Outside urban areas, water purification tablets or filters are necessary. The public water system in Bissau functions intermittently. Many residents rely on wells or water delivered by truck. Medical infrastructure is minimal. The national hospital in Bissau, Simão Mendes Hospital, has limited supplies, unreliable power, and shortages of trained staff. Private clinics in Bissau offer slightly better conditions but still lack equipment common in Western medical facilities. No functioning ambulance service exists. Travelers requiring serious medical attention are evacuated to Dakar in Senegal, approximately 400 kilometers by road or 250 kilometers by air. Malaria is endemic year-round throughout the country including in Bissau. Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for entry and proof is checked at the airport.