Travel Smart
Honest, sourced guidance so you travel confident. Most of any country is calmer than the headlines suggest.
Safety
Countrywide advisory (Government of Canada)
Exercise increased cautionExercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories) Regional advisories apply; see the source for zone-level detail.
Source: Government of Canada · Verified 2026-07-26
Bissau and immediate surroundings
Exercise increased cautionThe capital is relatively safe in daylight and central areas, but armed robbery, carjacking, and political instability have occurred. Street crime is common after dark.
Avoid: Avoid traveling alone at night, avoid demonstrations and political gatherings, avoid driving outside Bissau after dark.
Common scams: Overcharging foreigners, fake guides, currency exchange fraud.
Source: UK FCDO · Verified 2026-07-06
Bijagos Islands
Exercise normal precautionsThe remote islands are safe and peaceful, with minimal crime. Isolation is the main challenge; basic services and medical care are absent.
Source: UK FCDO · Verified 2026-07-06
Interior regions and roads
Exercise increased cautionRoad travel outside Bissau is slow and hazardous due to poor road conditions. Checkpoints are common and officials may demand bribes. Travel overland to neighboring countries is possible but requires permits and patience.
Common scams: Bribery demands at checkpoints.
Source: UK FCDO · Verified 2026-07-06
4 zones rated separately against Government of Canada, UK FCDO. Oldest check on this page: 6 July 2026.
Emergency Contacts
Policia de Ordem Publica
police
The police number published by UK FCDO. Note that 112, which is often assumed to reach everything, is the ambulance and fire line here rather than the police one.
SourceBombeiros
fire
The fire number published by UK FCDO, which gives the same number for ambulance.
SourceRede Integrada de Ambulancias (RIA)
ambulance
The national ambulance network, built with WHO support after the previous fleet fell into disrepair. WHO describes it as operating around the clock nationwide on this toll-free line, though it is resource-limited rather than a guaranteed rapid response. UK FCDO separately gives 1313 for ambulance, so try both.
SourceHospital Nacional Simao Mendes
hospital · Bissau
Avenida Pansau Na Isna, Bissau
The main national referral hospital and the one a visitor would realistically be taken to in Bissau. The first number is listed as emergency and the second as administration, with outpatients on 95 694 90 90. These come from a national patient-information portal citing Ministry of Public Health documents rather than from a government or embassy page directly, so treat them as unconfirmed and check locally. UK FCDO states that medical facilities in Guinea-Bissau are extremely limited and hospitals are not fully operational.
Source