Major city · Guinea-Bissau
Gabú
Skip Gabú unless you have a specific reason (transit to Guinea or Senegal, or visiting family). One night is enough: see the colonial centre, eat at a local restaurant, then move on.
Gabú is the largest city in eastern Guinea-Bissau, a regional market and transport hub on the road to Senegal and Guinea. It has a small colonial centre, a Catholic church, and a lively nightlife scene that closes during Ramadan. Most travellers pass through on the way to the border, not as a destination.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- XOF
- Best months
- Nov–May (dry season)
- avoid Jun–Oct (rainy season, roads deteriorate)
- Airport
- Osvaldo Vieira (OXB)
- Nights
- 1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 7Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Carry an original yellow fever vaccination certificate on…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- West Africa ↗Carry an original yellow fever vaccination certificate on any West African trip: several countries on the coast road demand it of every arrival, and the rest demand it after you have passed through a neighbour.
- West Africa ↗Cross land borders and drive between cities in daylight only; plan each crossing as a full travel day with cash for fees and passport copies for checkpoints.
- Guinea-Bissau ↗Check visa and entry rules for your passport on official Guinea-Bissau government sources before booking.
- Guinea-Bissau ↗Political instability occurs; avoid gatherings and check your government's advice before and during the trip.
- Guinea-Bissau ↗A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required of all arriving travellers; carry the original with your passport.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Gabú117 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Gabú, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the West African CFA franc (XOF), shared with other West African states and pegged to the euro.Guinea-Bissau-wide
- SIM or eSIMcheckOrange and MTN (check operator names after rebrands) sell SIMs in Bissau; passport needed.Guinea-Bissau-wide
- Tap waterBottled only.Guinea-Bissau-wide
- TippingLodge staff: Tip box at the end, €5–10 (≈ US$6–12) a day per party.Guinea-Bissau-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Guinea-Bissau-wide
- SafetyGabú is generally safe, but avoid walking alone after dark.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsBasic outside hotels.Guinea-Bissau-wide
- Emergency numbers117 police · 118 fire · 119 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysLodges close in the rains; government offices close early.Guinea-Bissau-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportOXB Osvaldo Vieira International Airport (Bissau) (About 3 h by car from Gabú; shared taxi or bush taxi from Bissau).
- Getting aroundGabú is walkable.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeReal Italian Espresso (small / normal)XOF 100200
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Shared taxi Bissau–Gabú, one wayXOF 5,000
- Budget bedResidencial Djarama double room, a night, per roomXOF 12,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget XOF 12,000 · Mid XOF 20,000 · High XOF 35,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- OXB Osvaldo Vieira International Airport (Bissau) (About 3 h by car from Gabú; shared taxi or bush taxi from Bissau)
Map of Gabú
Where it is, and the guides within about 120 km.
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Feb
Best
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Mar
Best
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
Apr
Best
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
May
Best
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Jun
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jul
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Aug
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Sep
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Oct
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Nov
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Dec
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Best: Nov–May. Avoid: Jun–Oct. Month by month →
Warmest Mar (36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)), coolest Jan (18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C) low), wettest Aug (21 rain days), driest Jan (0). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Gabú: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
0 rd
Feb
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
0 rd
Mar
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
0 rd
Apr
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
1 rd
May
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
5 rd
Jun
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
12 rd
Jul
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
18 rd
Aug
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
21 rd
Sep
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
18 rd
Oct
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
10 rd
Nov
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
2 rd
Dec
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
0 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Gabú is walkable. For longer trips, shared taxis and bush taxis leave from the bus station near the market.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Pirada border (Senegal)
goDoor to door: About 1.5 h
Bush taxi from Gabú bus station, about 1 h
Dirt road; check border crossing hours.
Labé, Guinea
skipDoor to door: About 16 h
Shared taxi from Gabú, about 16 h on bumpy roads
Long, rough ride; only if you have time and patience.
Bafatá
goDoor to door: About 1.5 h
Bush taxi, about 1 h
Small town with colonial architecture.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
City centre
Hotels and guesthouses near the main road; most budget options have fans, no mosquito nets.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- XOF 12,000–20,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- XOF 20,000–35,000 excl. bed
- High
- XOF 35,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hotel Visiom double room1 × 1 night × XOF 12,000 | XOF 12,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries1 × 1 day × XOF 12,000 | XOF 12,000 |
| Shared taxi Bissau–Gabú, one way1 × XOF 5,000 | XOF 5,000 |
| Real Italian Espresso (small cup)1 × XOF 100 | XOF 100 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | XOF 2,900 |
| Trip total≈ XOF 32,000 per person per day, bed included | XOF 32,000 |
Fan, private toilet, no mosquito nets, electricity only at night (check).
2026 estimate in CFA francs; flights excluded.
Prices of common things
| Real Italian Espresso (small / normal) | XOF 100 / 200 |
| Printing black/white per sheet | XOF 200 |
| Shared taxi Bissau–Gabú, one way | XOF 5,000 |
| Shared taxi Gabú–Labé (Guinea), per person | XOF 15,000 + 3,000 per bag |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Nightlife closes during Ramadan: check the calendar.
- Roads to the border are dirt and can be bad after rain.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 117
- Fire
- 118
- Ambulance
- 119
Pocket card
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GabúGabú
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Pa es adres, pur favorTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police117
- Fire118
- Ambulance119
Embassy
Most embassies are in Bissau; check your country's list.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Shared taxi Bissau–Gabú: about XOF 5,000, about 3 h
- Shared taxi Gabú–Pirada border: about XOF 2,000, about 1 h
- Real Italian Espresso: XOF 100 small, 200 normal
Say or show
- Ola — Hello (oh-lah)
- Obrigado — Thank you (oh-bree-gah-doo)
- Kanto ki kusta? — How much? (kan-toh kee koos-tah)
- Onde ki stasaun di bus? — Where is the bus station? (on-deh kee stah-sa-oon dee boos)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Gabú. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–May (dry season) · avoid Jun–Oct (rainy season, roads deteriorate) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 2 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Gabú
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