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Guinea-Bissau flagTransportation & Infrastructure Guide · Guinea-Bissau

Transportation & Infrastructure Guide in Guinea-Bissau

Public transit, airports, and getting around

Guinea-Bissau's transportation landscape is underdeveloped, characterized by a sparse paved road network (only ~800-453 km of 2,700-4,400 km total), no railways, and reliance on minibuses (toca-tocas), shared taxis (sept-places), ferries, and pirogues for mobility. Key strengths include ongoing World Bank and EU-funded projects enhancing road resilience and connectivity along the TAH-7 corridor. Challenges persist with poor maintenance, climate vulnerabilities like flooding, and institutional hurdles. Residents and visitors navigate via informal bus services, boats to islands, and the single international airport in Bissau, with private vehicles rare outside the capital.
Public Transport
Below Average
Road Infrastructure
Below Average
Public Transport
2.5/10

Limited to informal minibuses (toca-tocas), sept-places, and candongas with no fixed schedules; buses depart when full from stations in Bissau. No metro, rail, or integrated systems; ferry services to islands are irregular and tide-dependent. Coverage is basic in cities, absent in rural areas.

Road Infrastructure
2.8/10

Of 4,400 km total roads, only 453-800 km paved (~10%), mostly in poor condition outside Bissau; no highways, extensive unpaved rural tracks vulnerable to flooding. Ongoing rehab of 115 km N2 (Safim-Mpack) on TAH-7 improves resilience, but maintenance lags due to funding and data gaps.

Internet Speed
3.2/10

Basic internet with limited broadband; mobile dominates as fixed lines <1/100 people. Speeds average under 20 Mbps amid rural-urban gaps and low investment.

Avg: 12.5+ Mbps • Negligible fiber; mostly mobile 3G/4G, urban-focused

Airport Connectivity
3.1/10

7 airports total, 3 paved; Osvaldo Vieira International (Bissau) is sole commercial hub with limited regional flights. No major carrier hubs; domestic access via unpaved strips. Basic connectivity to West Africa.

Hubs: Osvaldo Vieira (OXB)

Transportation Costs

Metro Pass
N/A
Bus Trip
Informal; ~500-1000 CFA (~€0.75-1.50) per ride
Taxi
Shared ~200-500 CFA (€0.30-0.75); private ~1000 CFA start (€1.50)
High-speed Train
N/A (no trains)

Mobile Network

5G Coverage: No 5G deployment as of 2026; none planned imminently
4G Coverage: Urban areas covered by Guinetel/Spacemobile; limited rural 4G, widespread 3G

Mobile penetration >70% but reliability poor outside cities; frequent outages, slow data due to weak infrastructure and power issues.

Driving License

IDP requiredConversion needed

Foreign licenses valid short-term with IDP (required for non-Portuguese); temporary local permit needed from authorities in Bissau. Long-term residents must convert to Guinea-Bissau license. Drives on right.

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