Guinea-Bissau Travel Guide

Browse the Guinea-Bissau Photo Gallery

Shopping

Locally-made artifacts and carvings can be found in the markets. There are also some modern shops in Bissau.

Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1230 and 1430-1830.

Currency

CFA (Communauté Financière Africaine) Franc (XOF) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of XOF10,000, 5,000, 2,500, 1,000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of XOF250, 100, 50, 25, 10 and 5.

Guinea-Bissau is part of the French Monetary Area. Only currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (Bank of West African States) is valid; currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale (Bank of Central African States) is not. The CFA Franc is tied to the Euro.

Currency Exchange

US currency in small denominations is the most useful for exchange. Inter-bank fund transfers are frequently difficult and time-consuming to accomplish.

Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and ATMs

Accepted in the capital, but very limited use outside of Bissau.

Travelers Checks

These are rarely accepted. They can sometimes be cashed at banks. There is a fixed rate of commission on all transactions.

Currency Restrictions

There are no restrictions on the import of local currency and the import or export of foreign currency. Export of local currency is limited to CFA200,000.

Banking Hours

Mon-Fri 0730-1430.

Exchange Rate