Bissau walking tour & city guide

Bissau Velho and the port

Bissau Velho, the old town near the harbour, is a grid of colonial houses with balconies and arcades, some restored and some crumbling. Down at the waterfront, the Pidjiguiti dock and its memorial recall the 1959 dockworkers' strike that began the independence struggle.

The Fortaleza d'Amura, an old Portuguese fort, holds the mausoleum of independence leader Amílcar Cabral.

A classic walk

Start at the Pidjiguiti memorial on the port, then wander the streets of Bissau Velho. Walk up Avenida Amílcar Cabral, the main avenue, to the Praça dos Heróis Nacionais, and finish at the huge Bandim Market, full of fruit, fabrics and fish.

Good to know

The dry season from December to May is the best time to visit; the rains from June to October are heavy. The carnival in February or March fills the streets with masks and music. Boats to the Bijagós Islands leave from the port, and shared taxis are the easiest way around the city.