text:
Guildford

Guildford is a large town in Surrey in the South East of England. It has retained much of its historical charm. A short walk up the cobbled high street shows many buildings which are hundreds of years old. The medieval castle was used by the King of England in the 1400s and because of this Guildford is the only royal town in Surrey.

Understand
Guildford grew up into a large town because of its location at roughly the halfway point between England's main naval port at Portsmouth and the admiralty in Greenwich, London. People travelling by horse-drawn carriage between the two would stop at inns in Guildford (such as The Angel and The Lion) to swap horses over and to refresh themselves. With the advent of the steam train in the 19th century, Guildford was no longer needed for this purpose, and it fell into decline. But as more and more people started to commute into work in London in the early 20th century, Guildford became more and more rich and popular.

Guildford is the county town of Surrey, but not the administrative centre (that is Kingston upon Thames, which is actually in a London borough). It is the economic and cultural centre of the whole of West Surrey.

Although under 30 miles away from Central London Guildford has its own individuality and is not similar to boroughs in London or other commuter towns in Surrey. Guildford is a large town with all the amenities of a city.

Visitor information

 * Visit Surrey website

By bus
Guildford is served by many bus routes from Woking, Aldershot, Godalming and other local places. Prices can be fairly expensive and buses can be unreliable particularly after 6:30PM.

The main bus station, which is the terminus for all routes heading into Guildford, is on Commercial Road (off the bottom of North Street). From here, one can pick up details about bus services and buy cheaper long term tickets.

Park and ride
Guildford has several park and ride carparks, and at the weekend they are the easiest way to get into the town centre. They are situated at Artington (on the Portsmouth Rd heading out towards Godalming, about 3 miles south of Guildford), at the Spectrum Leisure Complex, at Merrow on the A246 Epsom Road, east of Guildford, and at Onslow near to the RSCH and Surrey Sports Park, west of Guildford. At all four sites, the car parking is free and you just pay for the bus fare to get into the town centre. The park and ride system is good for the environment and also it allows the city to stay congestion free!

 * Onslow - buses run every 15 minutes between 7:30AM and 7PM on Mondays to Saturdays. The park and ride from Onslow costs £1.50.
 * Spectrum Leisure Complex – buses run every 12 minutes Mondays to Fridays from 7:27AM to 11:10PM, reduced to every 20 minutes after 7:30PM. The park and ride from the Spectrum costs £2.40 return.
 * Artington – buses run every 10-12 minutes from Mondays to Saturdays from 7:30AM to 7:30PM. The park and ride from Artington costs £2.20 return.
 * Merrow – buses run every 15 minutes between 7:30AM and 7:33PM from Mondays to Saturdays. The park and ride from Merrow costs £1.80 return.

By plane
Guildford is well served by London's collection of airports. For travellers coming directly to Guildford, the most convenient (in reducing order of convenience) are:
 * Heathrow Airport is about 40 minutes drive along the M25 motorway and the A3 trunk road. It is also linked directly to Woking rail station by the RailAir express bus service.
 * Gatwick Airport is about an hour's drive away via the M23 (northbound), M25 (clockwise) and A3 (southbound) roads. There is a through train service to Guildford from a rail station in the airport terminal complex, running twice an hour and taking less than an hour.

By train

 * Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in Great Britain

From London, you should travel from London Waterloo station and catch a train whose first stop after Woking is Guildford (there are several of these an hour), the travel time will be about 35 minutes. There are also a few Portsmouth-bound trains that go non-stop to Guildford. There are other stopping services from Waterloo via Cobham, but these take so much longer that it isn't normally worth considering them.

Train times can be found on the National Rail Planner or by calling (high cost) from anywhere in the UK.

By coach
National Express serve Guildford with express bus (UK English:coach) services from around the country including London Victoria; advanced ticketing is necessary. They serve a stop called Guildford Park Barn, which is a slightly out-of-town location near a Tesco supermarket. You will have to catch a local bus or taxi (if you can find one) to take you to Guildford.

By car
Guildford is served by the A3 trunk road which runs from London to Portsmouth. It is about an hour's drive from central London.

If you are visiting for the day by car, consider using the Park & Ride site at the Spectrum leisure complex just off the A3 southbound, Onslow just off the A3 northbound, Merrow to the east of Guildford or the site on the Old Portsmouth Road at Artington (on the way to Godalming) and catching the dedicated express bus from these locations.

By foot
The central area of Guildford is easily walkable, but hilly. From the railway station you must cross the river Wey in order to reach the town centre and the bus station.

By bus
Buses not only provide a good way of getting around the central district of Guildford itself, but are adequate for the local community. Buses are operated mainly by Arriva Kent and Surrey, Stagecoach South and Safeguard.

By taxi
Taxis are by far the most expensive way to get around Guildford. If you do wish to travel by taxi, there are taxi ranks at the front of the railway station, and at the bottom of North Street on the other side of the road from the Electric Theatre. You can also get taxis from various places around the city centre.

Taxis can also be booked by phone and will usually pick up from most locations within a 5-mile radius of the town centre. Popular operators include:
 * 5 & 6's +44 1483 565656
 * A-Line Cars +44 1483 564656
 * Beeline Cars +44 1483 566666
 * City Cabs +44 1483 888666
 * GTA Taxis 0800 502250
 * Surrey Cars +44 1483 577677

By car
Whilst not as bad as either London or Oxford, Guildford's roads can get very congested at peak periods, especially at the hogs back. Especially if you are not used to driving on the left, central Guildford is probably best avoided.

On the other hand, a car is the one (possibly along with cycling) of the only really practical ways of seeing a lot of the local countryside and villages. Out here the roads are a lot quieter.

Maps
If you are planning to do any visiting or exploring beyond central Guildford, you will probably want to obtain a decent map of the area. You should ensure that any map you buy clearly shows the national grid reference lines, and explains how to use them, as grid references are frequently used to indicate out of town locations. The best maps for this purpose are those published by the Ordnance Survey (Britain's national mapping agency) and the following maps cover all the locations mentioned below: These maps can be found in any good bookshop in Guildford (see 'Buy' section below), or can be bought online from the Ordnance Survey.
 * Ordnance Survey Landranger 186. This map covers the area around and between Guildford and Aldershot at a scale of 1:50000 and is best for exploration by car or cycle.
 * Ordnance Survey Explorer 145. This map covers the area around Guildford at a scale of 1:25000 and is best for walking.

Further out

 * Albury is an organic vineyard in the Surrey Hills, tours available.
 * Albury is an organic vineyard in the Surrey Hills, tours available.

Do

 * Ice hockey: Guildford Flames play in the Elite Ice Hockey League, the country's top tier. Their home rink is Guildford Spectrum.
 * Ice hockey: Guildford Flames play in the Elite Ice Hockey League, the country's top tier. Their home rink is Guildford Spectrum.
 * Ice hockey: Guildford Flames play in the Elite Ice Hockey League, the country's top tier. Their home rink is Guildford Spectrum.
 * Ice hockey: Guildford Flames play in the Elite Ice Hockey League, the country's top tier. Their home rink is Guildford Spectrum.
 * Ice hockey: Guildford Flames play in the Elite Ice Hockey League, the country's top tier. Their home rink is Guildford Spectrum.
 * Ice hockey: Guildford Flames play in the Elite Ice Hockey League, the country's top tier. Their home rink is Guildford Spectrum.
 * Ice hockey: Guildford Flames play in the Elite Ice Hockey League, the country's top tier. Their home rink is Guildford Spectrum.

River trips

 * Hire a rowing boat (£7) or a canoe (£5) and travel along the river at your own pace. Boats can be hired from the Guildford Boathouse, located at the back of Millmead short stay car park off the Shalford Road. The boats tend to be in good condition and the river is not too crowded!
 * Hire a rowing boat (£7) or a canoe (£5) and travel along the river at your own pace. Boats can be hired from the Guildford Boathouse, located at the back of Millmead short stay car park off the Shalford Road. The boats tend to be in good condition and the river is not too crowded!
 * Hire a rowing boat (£7) or a canoe (£5) and travel along the river at your own pace. Boats can be hired from the Guildford Boathouse, located at the back of Millmead short stay car park off the Shalford Road. The boats tend to be in good condition and the river is not too crowded!

Walks
There are many walks around the North Downs surrounding Guildford including the North Downs Way which runs from Farnham (8 miles west of Guildford) to Folkestone some 80 miles away. There are also pleasant walks to be had along the River Wey to Godalming or Woking. Pewly Down and The Chantries which are south-east of the town centre offer a change of scenery. The Fox Way is another walk of 39 mi (63 km) split in 7 stages around Guildford.

Learn
Adult learning providers include

There are also various private education providers including a Pitman Centre

Work
Guildford has a vast array of temping agencies and private owned job centres. Walk up the High Street or North Street, or look in the local newspaper, the Surrey Advertiser.

Shopping
Sometimes regarded as one of the premier shopping destinations in the South, Guildford is the major shopping centre of West Surrey - possibly the whole county - with most of its shops clustered in a fairly compact area on and around the High Street, and the parallel North Street.

There are three shopping centres:

and two major department stores:

Although there are several shopping malls, unlike many modern towns in England, the famed and attractive cobbled High Street has remained the focus of Guildford's shopping district. It is here, on the High Street and on North Street that you will find the best shops, and have the nicest shopping experience.

In general stores open M-Sa 9:30AM–5:30PM and Su 10AM-4PM although many stay open longer on some days and some do not open on a Sunday.

In addition to the shops and malls scattered around North Street and the High Street there is also a regular market each Friday and Saturday which stretches along North Street which offers a variety of goods including traditional fresh meat, fish, fruit, fresh ground coffee, cheese, olives, vegetables, flowers, pet food, luggage, linen, rugs, bags, towels, jewellery, clothes, cards, wooden carvings, CDs and picture frames.

The market operates during normal shopping hours on Fridays and Saturdays on North Street in Guildford, and is very close to Leapale Road and Castle multi-storey car parks.

There is also a Farmers Market on the High Street generally on the first Tuesday of every month. These times can vary during the summer season and during Guilford Summer festival, where markets, including crafts and handicrafts markets can be seen lining the high street for several weeks. During the run up to Christmas, too, there will be extra markets.

Money
All main British banks and building societies have branches in Guildford, and most of them are situated around the eastern end of the High Street. These branches normally open M-F 9AM-4PM and Sa 9AM-noon.

Most bank and building society branches have 'through the wall' type ATMs that are open 24x7.

For changing money there are many Bureaux de Change services throughout the town, with some such as the post office offering commission free exchanges.

Eat
Guildford has a good selection of restaurants with many different themes attracting different tastes. On Friday and Saturday many of them are booked up weeks in advance and early booking is advisable to avoid disappointment.

Surrounding villages

 * Worplesdon Place Hotel - very good food, but a bit expensive, and service can be slow.

Pubs and bars
In the town centre, Bridge Street (between The Friary shopping centre and the railway station) has a cluster of formulaic wine bars and cafe bars. Cheap prices and themed nights are fun, and popular with locals, as such the area gets extremely busy around closing time.

 * Bar Mambo Onslow Street. Brilliant location.... Drink prices now very reasonable. Shows a lot of sport - football, rugby, etc. Staff are very friendly, food is fantastic. It's the place to be.
 * Bar Med Bridge St. A (loosely) Mediterranean themed bar that shows a lot of Sky football matches. Reasonably priced beer, and pretty good food as well. Well due a facelift.
 * Rodborough Buildings Bridge St. huge bar on two floors. JD Wetherspoons bar.
 * Tickled Ivory Onslow Street. Piano bar with a limited drinks selection. Avoid on Saturdays.

On or near the High Street:

 * The Robin Hood Sydenham Road, +44 1483 888307. Just behind the High Street, a 'proper' pub, good beer, great friendly atmosphere, food lunchtimes and evenings with new menu and famous Sunday Roast which takes some beating! Live music Friday and Saturday evenings with acoustic Sunday night entertainment starting mid-August. Need to book for Sunday lunch.
 * The Robin Hood Sydenham Road, +44 1483 888307. Just behind the High Street, a 'proper' pub, good beer, great friendly atmosphere, food lunchtimes and evenings with new menu and famous Sunday Roast which takes some beating! Live music Friday and Saturday evenings with acoustic Sunday night entertainment starting mid-August. Need to book for Sunday lunch.
 * The Robin Hood Sydenham Road, +44 1483 888307. Just behind the High Street, a 'proper' pub, good beer, great friendly atmosphere, food lunchtimes and evenings with new menu and famous Sunday Roast which takes some beating! Live music Friday and Saturday evenings with acoustic Sunday night entertainment starting mid-August. Need to book for Sunday lunch.
 * The Robin Hood Sydenham Road, +44 1483 888307. Just behind the High Street, a 'proper' pub, good beer, great friendly atmosphere, food lunchtimes and evenings with new menu and famous Sunday Roast which takes some beating! Live music Friday and Saturday evenings with acoustic Sunday night entertainment starting mid-August. Need to book for Sunday lunch.
 * The Robin Hood Sydenham Road, +44 1483 888307. Just behind the High Street, a 'proper' pub, good beer, great friendly atmosphere, food lunchtimes and evenings with new menu and famous Sunday Roast which takes some beating! Live music Friday and Saturday evenings with acoustic Sunday night entertainment starting mid-August. Need to book for Sunday lunch.

In the Stoke Park area
For visitors to Guildford this is generally an overlooked area of guildford, which is up and coming due to the increasing student population. Also it has been billed as Guildford's Latin quarter because of its dancing and salsa venues.

Nightclubs

 * The Casino, Onslow St. Guildford's main event night club.
 * Dusk (formerly known as Cinderellas). This is a smaller club than Harper's, attracting a younger crowd.
 * The Legion, Millbrook. On 3 floors, with 2 bars and a dance floor.
 * Flares, Bridge Street. 1970s/80s themed bar.

Phone
Guildford's area code (for landline numbers) is 01483 when dialed from within the UK or +44 1483 from outside the UK.

Cellphone coverage is generally good within the city and surrounding area.

Internet
If you are travelling with a laptop then you will find broad-band internet access in the rooms of most, but not all, medium to high end hotels. If this is important to you check before booking. And there are many Wi-Fi hot spots in and around Guildford.

There are also several places that offer web and other internet access if you are travelling without a laptop. These include:

 * Caffe Nero, High Street.

Consulate

 * 🇧🇹 Bhutan

Stay safe
Much of the centre of town is monitored 24 hours a day by CCTV cameras.

Go next

 * There are three very good theme parks within 45 minutes drive of Guildford:
 * Chessington World of Adventures, Epsom
 * Legoland Windsor
 * Thorpe Park, Chertsey
 * Surrey Hills
 * London 45 min by train or car, with many tourist attractions and things to do.
 * Portsmouth to see the historic dockyard. About 50 min by train/car.
 * Farnham Historic market town, about 15 minutes by train or car from Guildford Centre.
 * Windsor Fabulous royal castle, which the Queen still uses, and very attractive town. St George's Chapel in the town hosted the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
 * *Brookwood Cemetery, a vast civilian and military cemetery with potentially hours of interest.

title: Guildford


text:
Guilford

Guilford is a town in southern Connecticut.

By plane

 * Tweed New Haven Regional Airport, 155 Burr Street, Phone: +1 203 466-8833. Served by American Airlines.
 * Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks (near Hartford), from which I-91 leads straight to New Haven, is a much larger airport with flights nation and world wide. It is about an hour away.
 * Laguardia Airport is another major airport in the area, in nearby Queens. It has flights nation and worldwide, and is about 1 1/2 hours away

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Guilford


text:
Guilin

Guilin (桂林; Guìlín) and the surrounding region are among the most scenic areas in China and the most popular tourist destinations both for Chinese travellers and the international backpacker set. Guilin is the hub for trips to the surrounding area's karst terrain, limestone mountains eroded into fantastic shapes. Apart from its sheer visual beauty that has inspired China's best painters for generations, karst terrain also provides many cliffs suitable for rock climbing and many caves.

There are many scenic places within short traveling distance of Guilin. These include Longsheng with its famous Longji rice terraces; the Lijiang River, a scene of which is printed on the back of ¥20 bank notes; and Yangshuo, a small county downstream from Guilin. This makes Guilin an excellent base for exploring the northern end of Guangxi Province.

Guilin is a beautiful city. The town center is surrounded by two rivers and four lakes and studded with sheer sided karst mountains. Outside the city center, the buildings are less well kept. The main industry in the city is tourism so the city is much cleaner than other Chinese cities.

Guilin is like most other medium size Chinese cities, other than that it has a large number of western-style hotels, tourists and is relatively free of air pollution. Many Chinese domestic tourists also flock to this area. What makes it special is its proximity to many picturesque limestone mountains and formations.

Understand
Separated from the center of China and the Yangtze River basin by the Nan Mountains, Guangxi has always been distinct from the rest of China. The Han Chinese empire first expanded into Guangxi in the 3rd century BC. The Ling Canal was cut around the time, allowing small boats to transit from the Yangtze to the south flowing Xi River via the Xiang River.

Trade grew along the canal and river routes. Guilin was founded as a trading post in the 1st century BC on the West bank of the Kuei River. During the Ming dynasty, a garrison was set up in Guilin and the surrounding area gradually civilised with the development of farmland. The city had a population of over two million at the time of the Second World War, but was utterly destroyed during the war. The population slowly recovered with post-war construction of several factories for the production of paper, chemicals and agricultural equipment. However, market forces have caused several of these industries to relocate out of Guilin.

Guangxi and Guilin are home to 12 ethnic minorities besides the Han Chinese. Guangxi is an autonomous region for the Zhuang ethnic group, rather than a province. See List of Chinese provinces and regions. Various other minorities, such as the Dong, are also found in the area.

Guilin is the third largest city in Guangxi, after Nanning and Liuzhou.

Get in
Visitors from ASEAN countries may visit Guilin for up to 144 hours (6 days) without a visa provided they join an approved group tour, enter and depart China through Guilin Liangjiang International Airport, and do not travel beyond Guilin, Yangshuo and Longsheng.

By plane

The airport bus into town is ¥20 but drops off just south of the city centre, after which a taxi should then be around ¥10 to most hotels. The bus only leaves when mostly full so there may be a wait as the bus fills up.

A taxi direct from the airport to a city centre hotel is about ¥100. Back to the airport, a hotel may arrange the trip for ¥80.

By train
Guilin has three main train stations. (Guilin Zhan) is in the centre of town on Zhongshan Nanlu while (Guilin Bei Zhan) is far away from downtown area whilst  (Guilin Xi Zhan) is even further from the city center! Most trains which terminate in Guilin go to Guilin North Station while trains which come through Guilin from elsewhere usually only go to Guilin Station and not Guilin North.

There are trains from North (Beijing, Changsha, Wuhan, Shanghai, Xi'an), West (Kunming), South (Liuzhou, Nanning, Zhanjiang), and East (Guangzhou, Shenzhen).

 * From Beijing — From Beijing to Guilin or vice-versa, there are three trains on either direction. To Beijing, trains depart from Guilin (not Guilin Bei) at 12:59 (train from Zhanjiang), 15:06 (from Nanning) and 19:30. Journey time is between 22 hour and 30 hours, with the 15:06 train being the fastest. HSR train G529 departs Beijing at 07:46 taking 10½ hours.
 * From Hong Kong — high-speed trains from West Kowloon take three and a half hours
 * From Shenzhen — there's a bullet train going to Guilin from Shenzhen which will take you there in about three hours. There are only three trains from Shenzhen to Guilin daily and they are sold out quickly on public holidays.
 * From Guangzhou — Lots of trains in between Guangzhou and Guilin.
 * From Kunming — There are 3 D trains between Kunming and Guilin: D3942 (07:38/15:35), D3944 (11:02/18:42), D3946 (15:25/22:49). The fare of second class ticket is ¥373.5. The conventional train T382 departs Kunming at 21:15, and arrive in Guilin at 15:19 in the following day. The fare of hard sleeper class is ¥261.5.
 * From Xi'an — D trains began to run between Xian and Guilin in early 2018, which takes nearly 11 hours. The fare of second class ticket is ¥544.5. The conventional train K318 is still in operation, which departs Xi'an at 19:07, and arrives at 21:18+1, 26 hours later. The fare for hard sleeper class is ¥343 per ticket (hard seat ¥201). The train's final stop is Nanning.
 * From Nanning — There are many high speed trains (under 3 hours) and a few conventional trains (4–6 hours). It is very convenient to travel between the two cities. One way second-class ticket of high speed train costs ¥108.
 * From Chengdu — In January 2018, D trains were launched between Chengdu and Guilin. There are 8 departures a day. More will be added in the near future. The travel time via high speed rail varies from train to train, around 7 hours. The original train K652 is not in operation anymore. The fare of second class ticket is ¥315.5.

Once you get out of the train station, you will be approached by cab drivers and other drivers. While their cab meters are trustworthy, they might use a few tricks to cheat you out of some yuan, for example, aggressively pushing tours or adding false charges to the tab.

If you want to avoid the taxis, keep walking past the touts to the public bus stop. From Guilinbei (Guilin North), bus 100 goes through the city center to the central/south train station and beyond. From Guilinxi (Guilin West) you can take bus 22. Cost is ¥2.

By car
There are some expressways locally and within the province, however for any long-distance journey, it is a two-lane road.

By bus

 * From Yangshuo — Minibuses (¥18) depart when full from the square in front of the Guilin railway station. Although the signs are written in Chinese, there are always conductors yelling out Yangshuo. As the buses pick-up and let down passengers along the way, the journey time can take anything from one to one-half hours. Express buses (¥18) depart from the Guilin bus terminal off Zhongshan Nanlu, several hundred metres north of the railway station (and on the same side of the road as the station). Buses depart about every 20min from 07:00. Buy tickets from the ticket office in the bus terminal.
 * From elsewhere — Buses link Guilin with a multitude of destinations, including Nanning, Kunming, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and further afield. Buses depart from the Guilin bus terminal on Zhongshan Nanlu, several hundred metres north of the railway station.

By boat
You can get to Guilin by cargo boat from Guangzhou via Wuzhou, but there are no passenger boats to Guilin anymore, except the boats to and from Yangshuo. You can take a cargo boat if you want to at almost no cost from Wuzhou to Yangshuo.

Get around
Getting a local map from a tourist guide or shop for ¥5 is a good idea. This will show the location of most of the sights as well as details of bus routes. Buses are an ideal way to get around Guilin on a budget. Many city parks and river spots can be accessed easily by bus. All the buses starting with 5# are free. A useful one is bus 58 which runs from the train station (and bus station) to many of the attractions. Bus fare are capped at ¥2 per trip.

Taxis are also inexpensive and easily hailed within the city. Usually hard to catch during peak hours (17:30-19:00).

Another inexpensive way for a day-trip to scenic spots in the city area of Guilin is to get a driver for a whole or half day. As of March 2012 (off-season) a whole day is about ¥100, half is ¥50. Most hotels or hostels arrange this service, also telling the driver where you want to go if one is not capable of speaking Chinese.

Talk
As anywhere in China, standard Mandarin is almost universally spoken as it is the language used in education and governance. Nevertheless, the local variant of Mandarin has a non-standard pronunciation characteristic of most regions in southern China and also exhibits influence from Cantonese. Some of the native Zhuang people speak their own language, which is co-official with standard Mandarin in the region.

English is not widely spoken but you can expect reasonable-to-excellent English from staff in most hotels and hostels (especially those popular among Westerners) and tourist shops. Elsewhere, English proficiency is none-to-limited, therefore it is recommended to have hotel staff write down your intended destination for taxis or to carry a bilingual map and phrasebook.

Landscape close to the city centre

Nearby towns and villages
Many of the towns around Guilin have an old district that is being slowly replaced by new buildings on the periphery. The old buildings have generally been left in place and remain in relatively good condition as of 2019, although a lack of visitors may mean a lack of incentive to maintain them long-term. These towns can be gorgeous to walk through, although most contain few attractions of note and only minimal tourist infrastructure. With all the other things to see around Guilin, these towns tend to see relatively few tourists and can offer a welcome change of pace.

Neighbouring towns and villages

 * The Guilin Merryland World Resort, located about 1 hour drive north of Guilin offers two attractions:
 * The Guilin Merryland World Resort, located about 1 hour drive north of Guilin offers two attractions:
 * The Guilin Merryland World Resort, located about 1 hour drive north of Guilin offers two attractions:
 * The Guilin Merryland World Resort, located about 1 hour drive north of Guilin offers two attractions:

Buy
There is a big underground bazaar running from the train station all the way to the bus station selling clothes, footwear, accessories, bags, and many more. The second underground market is located underneath the city center selling food, bags, mobile phones and other electronic devices. Remember to bargain if prices are not openly displayed.

Branded luxury goods can be purchased from the departmental stores near Cross Street. Suncome has many branches throughout the city selling everyday necessities.

There is also a street market set up along Zhongshan Lu at night selling typical tourist trinkets.

Local cuisine
Guilin cuisine is influenced by Cantonese and Hunanese styles, but with more use of fish and spices and often prepared using stir-frying or steaming. Restaurants often assume westerners do not like spicy food and will make your food bland as hell if you do not insist otherwise. Even then there is a chance they will not believe you.

Guilin has some distinct local ingredients used in a number of dishes.
 * Chilli Paste is a sauce used for local dishes and also sold to other parts of China and abroad. It is made from chilli, lobster, garlic and Sanhua Wine.
 * Fermented Beancurd has been made in Guilin for more than 300 years and is known to have a unique taste.
 * Fruits. Guilin is renowned for its fruit, especially shatian pomelo, arhat fruit and gingkgo

As many other Chinese cities, Guilin has its own snacks.
 * Horse hoof cake (Matigao) is a local snack. It is a crumbly cake stuffed with red beans filling.
 * Rice with Mung Bean Paste is made from steamed rice filled with mung bean paste or other. Often eaten for breakfast.
 * Sweet tofu infused with a certain flower is another delicious breakfast item. Look for roadside vendors adding orange-coloured liquid to a steaming hot bag of tofu, which you then drink with a straw.
 * Water Chestnut Cake made from rice flour, brown sugar, water chestnut powder and sesame powder.

A number of Guilin dishes are unique to the city or are especially wellknown here.
 * Daxu Clear Water Fish is a specialty from the ancient city of Daxu. The fish is cooked with salt and ginger.
 * Duck Wrapped in Lotus Leaf made from duck, dry lotus leaf, meat, bamboo shoots, ham, mushrooms, beans, shrimp and spices.
 * Fengli steamed, dried and fried rice paste with ham, celery, cauliflower or green garlic.
 * Nun Vegetarian Noodles this is a noodle soup boiled with soybean sprouts, mushrooms and bamboo shoots and served with. The soup is golden in color, sweet in taste, and has a mouth-watering smell. The noodles are first boiled and then put into bowls where the soup is added. It is served with Guilin Fermented Tofu, scrambled eggs, vegetarian ham, gluten flour and some spices. The fresh-cooked dish is very tasty, and the smell and color are pleasant as well. The Crescent Moon Building in Seven Star Park enjoys a great reputation for its Nun Noodles.
 * Old Duck Stewed with Gingko made from the famous Guilin gingko, duck and ham stewed in a steamer.
 * Rice Noodles (Mifen) is a local delicacy, also available as stir-fried (Chaofen). This is served everywhere, but try to avoid the joints near the train station. Traditionally the noodle and the topping is first eaten without soup, and once the topping has run out there is usually a pot of soup to add flavour to the rest of your noodles. There are also various pickles and condiments that you can add to your noodles. Servings are sold and priced in small, medium, and large. (一两；二两；三两) The small is more of snack, so start with the medium. There is a good spot in the street behind the Zhongshan Hotel.
 * Roasted Suckling Pig. The pig is fed with rice, roasted using special local methods, and then flavored with shallot, soy sauce and white sugar.
 * Snail made with sour peppers, shallot, ginger and sanhua wine.
 * Steamed Bake Meat with Water Chestnut made from peeled water chestnut, meat and spices.
 * Steamed Mung Bean and Meat Wrapped in Lotus Leaf. Home-style dish with streaky pork with skin, soy sauce, mung bean flour, lotus leaf, fermented tofu, and lots of spices.

Restaurant streets
Restaurants can be found throughout the city. There are various eateries near the train station selling cheap and simple but delicious local dishes. There are many restaurants around the main streets, Jiefang Road and along the river, but many of them are either overpriced chains and/or tourist traps and the food they serve is less than authentic. Do not be fooled by them being crowded, they are not worth the money. A better option may be to wander the side streets.

There are a few clusters of restaurants worth exploring.
 * Binjiang Rd (滨江路美食街; Bīnjiānglù Měishíjiē)
 * Food City (just to the east of the bus station)
 * Guilinren Wangjiao Food Street (桂林人旺角美食街; Guìlínrén Wàngjiǎo) at Zhongshan Middle Rd (bus 11,18, 100). This street has lots of snack vendors.
 * Jiefang West Rd (解放西路美食街; Jiěfàngxīlù Měishíjiē)
 * Nanhuan Rd (南环路; Nánhuánlù) connects Zhongshan Rd with Elephant Trunk Hill. The street has a number of budget and mid-range local restaurants. Many of the restaurants show living animal out in the street to illustrate what is on the menu.
 * Putuo Rd (普陀路美食街; Pǔtuólù Měishíjiē)
 * Yiren Rd (依仁路; Yīrénlù) runs east–west on the north side of Central Square. The street has eateries ranging from buffet-style caferias to trendy cafes.
 * Ximen Bridge Area (西门桥周围; Xīménqiáozhōuwéi) has a large number of Muslim restaurants.
 * Zhishan Rd (雉山路美食街; Zhìshānlù Měishíjiē; opposite Food City)
 * Zhongshan Rd (中山路; Zhōngshānlù)

Drink
Liquan beer and osmanthus tea.

Sleep
Guilin is a tourism city. There are many hotels, more than 30 five-star hotels, 100 four-star hotels, and 200 three-star hotels.There are plenty of B&Bs with great views to choose from. Whether you want to enjoy a magnificent sunrise or spend a peaceful weekend in a mountaintop homestay in the mountains, you will have plenty of options. You can choose a homestay nestled in a farmland on the outskirts of the city and soak up the peaceful countryside, or choose a homestay on the top floor of a high-rise building. Whether you prefer the tranquillity of nature or the bustle of the city, Guilin has a homestays waiting for you.

Budget

 * Ming palace hostel (桂林王城青年旅馆) No.10-3, Donghua Road, Xiufeng District, Guilin. (桂林秀峰区东华路10号王城青年旅舍（中华小学旁，王府花园对面）) dorm rooms from ¥16-30, clean rooms, very helpful staff, free washing machine, very close to west gate into solitary beauty peak walled area, river, tourist area. Offers the usual tours.
 * Ming palace hostel (桂林王城青年旅馆) No.10-3, Donghua Road, Xiufeng District, Guilin. (桂林秀峰区东华路10号王城青年旅舍（中华小学旁，王府花园对面）) dorm rooms from ¥16-30, clean rooms, very helpful staff, free washing machine, very close to west gate into solitary beauty peak walled area, river, tourist area. Offers the usual tours.
 * Ming palace hostel (桂林王城青年旅馆) No.10-3, Donghua Road, Xiufeng District, Guilin. (桂林秀峰区东华路10号王城青年旅舍（中华小学旁，王府花园对面）) dorm rooms from ¥16-30, clean rooms, very helpful staff, free washing machine, very close to west gate into solitary beauty peak walled area, river, tourist area. Offers the usual tours.
 * Ming palace hostel (桂林王城青年旅馆) No.10-3, Donghua Road, Xiufeng District, Guilin. (桂林秀峰区东华路10号王城青年旅舍（中华小学旁，王府花园对面）) dorm rooms from ¥16-30, clean rooms, very helpful staff, free washing machine, very close to west gate into solitary beauty peak walled area, river, tourist area. Offers the usual tours.
 * Ming palace hostel (桂林王城青年旅馆) No.10-3, Donghua Road, Xiufeng District, Guilin. (桂林秀峰区东华路10号王城青年旅舍（中华小学旁，王府花园对面）) dorm rooms from ¥16-30, clean rooms, very helpful staff, free washing machine, very close to west gate into solitary beauty peak walled area, river, tourist area. Offers the usual tours.
 * Ming palace hostel (桂林王城青年旅馆) No.10-3, Donghua Road, Xiufeng District, Guilin. (桂林秀峰区东华路10号王城青年旅舍（中华小学旁，王府花园对面）) dorm rooms from ¥16-30, clean rooms, very helpful staff, free washing machine, very close to west gate into solitary beauty peak walled area, river, tourist area. Offers the usual tours.
 * Ming palace hostel (桂林王城青年旅馆) No.10-3, Donghua Road, Xiufeng District, Guilin. (桂林秀峰区东华路10号王城青年旅舍（中华小学旁，王府花园对面）) dorm rooms from ¥16-30, clean rooms, very helpful staff, free washing machine, very close to west gate into solitary beauty peak walled area, river, tourist area. Offers the usual tours.

Stay safe
Guilin is quite safe by Chinese and international standards, but:
 * The number of Westerners has engendered resentment by many of the club staff—and they are often aggressive and even violent. In 2015, an Irish tourist was stabbed at Muse Night Club in downtown Guilin by a group of bouncers who beat him behind the club. He survived, but the group attack, stabbing, and police inaction show the vulnerability of the foreign traveler in overly-touristy areas.
 * Watch your valuables very closely in the central city (money belt), as in many tourist locations pickpocketing is a common occurrence. The bus station is the most dangerous place in the city. Keep on guard when boarding and disembarking your bus. Never carry your wallet in your pocket. Organized gangs of pickpockets operate in this area and they will focus on you if you are of non-East Asian descent.
 * Be careful of locals trying to sell "honey" at rest stops along the highway. They will have bags with honey smelling rocks and a part of a beehive and a knife with them and offer you a taste.  According to a local it is not real honey and can be impure, made with wax, and unsafe to consume, and will make you sick.
 * Western tourists may be approached by people who will introduce themselves as teachers, et al., but turn out to be selling tea or artwork.

Cope

 * Guilin Public Security Bureau:+86 773 282 3334
 * Guilin Tourism Bureau:+86 773 282 5890
 * Guilin Public Service Center:+0773 2823602

Go next

 * Yangshuo - About 1.5 hours by bus from Guilin is the friendly and picturesque town of Yangshuo. This used to be a popular backpackers town, but now is full of Chinese tourists. It sits in a beautiful karst landscape. The full-day boat trip along the Li River will finish in this town. Getting there by taxi or bus and is also an option.
 * Xingping - This town will probably become the next backpacker place, as Yangshuo becomes too commercial for backpacking types. It is a very peaceful, old town on the Li River's most beautiful landscape, halfway between Yangshuo and Guilin.
 * Longsheng- An area near Guilin with hills covered with terraced rice fields. There are many organised tours from Guilin, many of which will allow you to visit the nearby ethnic Zhuang minority villages. June and September are good times to visit when fields are flooded.
 * Chengyang - On the road towards Guizhou province, this mountainous minority village area is quieter and less touristy than Longsheng. Plenty of wonderful scenery with friendly locals, quaint bridges and drum towers. It is now accessible via a 30-minute high speed rail journey from Guilin to Sanjiang and then getting a minbus from there to Chengyang.
 * Vietnam - There is a sleeper overnight bus from Guilin to Hanoi. It costs ¥390 leaving in the evening every day and arriving Hanoi next day. Or catch the afternoon train to Nanning (2½ hr with high speed train), stay overnight in a cheap station hotel and get the early morning bus in Langdong bus station to Hanoi, arriving about 15:00 depending on traffic.

title: Guilin


text:
Guimaras

Guimaras is a small island province in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. It is in the strait between two larger islands, Panay and Negros.

Understand
Guimaras is south of Panay and north of Negros. It is close to Iloilo City and was once administered as part of Iloilo Province but is now treated as a separate province. It is one of the smaller provinces, with a land area just over 600 km2 (233 mi2) and population around 175,000 as of the 2015 census.

The island is well known for its sweet mangoes, which are one of the main income sources for most families.

The locals speak the Hiligaynon (Ilongo) language, same as in Iloilo and Bacolod.

Towns

 * Pronounced as Hor-dan, it is the provincial capital of Guimaras.
 * (Naburot Island)

By boat
From Panay Island. Take a 15-minute boat ride from Iloilo City to Jordan, through the Guimaras Strait. As of 2024, most of the Guimaras-bound passenger ferries leave Iloilo from the terminal near CityMall Parola, at the easternmost tip of Iloilo City Proper (at the mouth of Iloilo River); the service is frequent, and is almost round the clock. There are also a few ro-ro ferries (transporting vehicles along with foot passengers) every day, sailing from the RoRo port in LaPaz, on the opposite (left) bank of Iloilo River. (Older guidebooks may send you to Ortiz Wharf in downtown Iloilo, but as of 2024 there are no ferries there, and the wharf itself has been occupied by squatters).

On the Guimaras side, the passenger ferries arrive to one of the two ports, Jordan or Buenavista. The ro-ro vehicle ferries have a separate port, also in Jordan. For schedules and ferries check F.F. Cruz Shipping or Navimar Shipping. Their web sites tend to be somewhat stale though, so at least the schedule has a clearly stated effective date, it may be wise to check the info directly with the company.

The boat trip used to be dangerous, as squalls (pugada or subasko in Hiligaynon) are known to form over the strait during rainy season, and on August 2019, over 30 died after three pump boats capsized under strong winds caused by a severe squall. As of 2024, boats are bigger and more reliable. For many years, plans have existed to replace the boat service with a road bridge across the strait, but every year the planned construction start date is moved further into the future; as of early, no actual construction work seems to take place yet.

From Negros Island. As of 2024, ferries may also run from Negros Island (the port of Pulupundan) to Guimaras. This service started and stopped several times over the last few years; contact Navimar Shipping for the current schedule.

Get around
Unlike the larger islands of Panay and Negros, Guimaras does not have a network of Ceres bus routes. Some jeepneys do operate on the roads between the island's major towns, but at much lower frequencies than, say, in the Iloilo metro area. Most of the public transportation in Guimaras, therefore, is by tricycle.

Upon arriving in Jordan port, proceed to the Tourism Center just a few meters from the drop-off point. From there, you can ask for assistance about budget accommodations and how to get around. There are also several mini-van and tricycle drivers who offer tour rides.

There are several driver-guides who can be contacted prior to arriving in Guimaras:

Buy
There is a souvenir shop located beside the Guimaras Provincial Capitol where you can buy local delicacies.

The best time to buy mangoes is during summer time (mid-April).

Eat
Guimaras' pride are is its mangoes which are known to be among the sweetest. Mangoes are grown in such massive numbers that they are made into dried mangoes, jam and surprisingly, mango ketchup.

Connect
As of 2024, cell phone service is available in many parts of the island, but, generally, not in its farther south-western reaches, where there are no major towns.

Go next
Nearly anyone leaving Guimaras will start with a ferry ride to Iloilo City, or (if the Negros-Guimaras service is operating) to Pulupundan (south of Bacolod). There are no other routes unless you have your own boat or charter one.

Iloilo has an airport, a seaport, and bus connections to anywhere on Panay. It serves as a regional transport hub; from there you can reach anywhere in the Philippines and there are a few international flights as well. One popular destination is the resort island of Boracay, just off Panay and reachable starting with a bus journey from Iloilo to Kalibo.

A short ferry ride from Iloilo gets you to Bacolod, capital of Negros Occidental; from there you can easily reach anywhere on Negros Island or continue to the expat-friendly Dumaguete or the main urban hub of the entire Visayas region, Metro Cebu.

title: Guimaras


text:
Guimarães

Guimarães is a city in Minho, northern Portugal. One of the country's most historical cities, it's known as the "Cradle of Portugal" since it was from there the "Condado Portucalense" grew into today's Portugal. The historical centre has a medieval castle and a royal palace open to visitors. It is a.

Understand

Guimarães (gee-muh-RUHNEESH, /gi.mɐ.ˈɾɐ̃jʃ/) was the European Capital of Culture in 2012. Its castle has been classified as one of the New Portuguese Seven Wonders. The first king, D. Afonso Henriques (aka Afonso I of Portugal), is still idolized by the city. About from Porto, Guimarães is near Penha, a mountain with wonderful views over the city.

By plane
The easiest way to go to Guimarães by plane is to fly to Francisco Sa Caneiro airport in Porto then, catch a train or a bus to Guimarães. By bus it's about one hour from Oporto to Guimarães and almost one and a half hours by train.

From the Porto Airport, you can catch the following transport to Guimarães.

By train/metro
Board the Metro Porto at the Airport Metro station and go to the Campanhã or São Bento railway stations in Porto, from there you will get a train to Guimarães (1 hr 15 min, about €5).

Bus transfer
There are direct [http://www.getbus.eu inter-city bus connections between Guimarães and Porto Airport everyday (50 min, €7.50 one-way, €12 return).

By táxi
The taxi rank is on the ground level in the street next to Porto's Airport main entrance and exit doors (40 min, about €60).

By train
Train is the cheapest and the best way to arrive in Guimarães. The Portuguese Railways Company CP is the service provider. Travelling from Lisbon there are trains, but not many directly going to Guimarães. The trip from Lisbon lasts four hours or longer. From Porto (Oporto), there's a train every hour.

Travelling by train from Europe, on InterRail, for example, one always goes to Porto (Oporto) first, and there change to the Guimarães train. This trip offers the best of both worlds by being the cheapest and taking one along a line full of very scenic landscapes through villages and rural areas of Minho.

By car
Guimarães is well served by the national road network system, from Braga, Porto, Felgueiras, Chaves, and others. If you are traveling from the south of Portugal it's not difficult. The Portuguese highways are well connected and to reach Guimarães, one needs to go via Porto (Oporto), when near Porto (Oporto) start looking out for the A7 Autostrada (Highway A7) signage which leads to Guimarães. It's quite easy.

By bus
Rede Expressos is a national bus company and a nice option to get to Guimarães. With this company one can travel to almost every major city in Portugal.

If you travel from cities near Guimarães, like Braga or Porto for example, one may have to ask someone (a very common thing in Portugal) where is the bus terminus to Guimarães. A good strategy is to look for bus terminus near railway stations, since transport hubs are near each other (you can do this in cities within about 50 km). The bus may make many stops along the trip, but it's a way to get to know the northern part of Portugal better.

Get around
In Guimarães, there is a sightseeing bus that travels through the city centre. But being a small city centre, you probably will want to also walk around to get the feeling of the small old streets and enjoy what the historical center of this medieval city has to offer. If you normally like to purchase a multi trip ticket to travel in bigger cities, in Guimarães, being a small city, it's not worth it. But if you want to travel by bus, the ticket prices are about €1.25.

To go to Penha Mountain, the easy option to go up is on the cable car - Teleférico da Penha -. If you want to stroll through the mountain it's very safe. If you decide to walk up the mountain, the roads are alright but it will take about 30 minutes.

Renting a car can be a nice solution, because in a small city there isn't much traffic congestion. If you want to stay in a place "far" from the centre, car rental is practical and not too expensive.

See

Do

 * Football: Vitória SC play soccer in Primeira Liga, Portugal's top tier. Their home ground Estádio D. Afonso Henriques (capacity 30,000) is just north of town centre.

Drink
An escapade to Largo da Oliveira is always a good choice, cosmopolitan feel with lots of inviting cafes.

Go next

 * Amarante
 * Braga
 * Chaves
 * Peso da Régua
 * Viana do Castelo
 * Vila Real

title: Guimarães


text:
Guinea

Guinea (officially the Republic of Guinea; French: République de Guinée) is a former French colony in West Africa. Guinea has some spectacular landscapes with a few tropical, dry forests remaining, and the rainforests in the south are lush, verdant and full of wildlife — much of it destined for the cooking pot.

The country is sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea.

Cities

 * — capital
 * — a small town often dubbed the "Switzerland of Guinea" because of its relatively mild temperatures and nice scenery.
 * — the second city
 * — a small town often dubbed the "Switzerland of Guinea" because of its relatively mild temperatures and nice scenery.
 * — the second city
 * — the second city
 * — the second city

Other destinations

 * — scenic region of forests and cultivated valleys ideal for hiking through Fulani villages or in search of waterfalls.
 * — a former slaving base, these forested islands with sandy beaches near Conakry are a popular weekend escape for expats.
 * — savanna along the Senegal border home to antelope, monkeys, lions, & leopard during the dry season.
 * — a UNESCO World Heritage Site partially in Guinea and partially in Cote d'Ivoire.
 * (Haut Niger National Park) — headwaters of the Niger River; home to hippos, elephants, buffaloes, chimpanzees, and waterbuck.

Understand
Guinea is a remarkable country with very warm, genuine people but little infrastructure. While they have tremendous natural resources available to them (which includes around one half of the world's reserves of bauxite, and many major gold, jewel, and metal deposits), they rate very poorly in the UN's quality of life index. Guinea is roughly the size of the United Kingdom.

History
Guinea belonged to a series of empires until France colonized it in the 1890s, and made it part of French West Africa. Guinea declared its independence from France on 2 October 1958. The first president, socialist Ahmed Sékou Touré, faced a lot of criticism from the West for alleged human rights violations and suppression of opposition parties. He believed in building a powerful, self-sufficient nation, without reliance on foreign powers.

When he died in 1984, General Lansana Conté took over. Under Conté's rule, things did not improve and the ideals of Touré were soon left behind. Conté made too many political promises and most of them were never fulfilled. In 1993, the first elections were held, though their results were disputed - as have those in all subsequent elections. Conté died in December 2008 without appointing a successor, leaving chaos in his wake. Immediately following Conté's death, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara took power by a coup d'état. Even though Camara came in as a popular figure, this has proved to be another political blow for Guinea and Guineans. In December 2009, Camara was shot in an assassination attempt.

In 2010, opposition leader Alpha Condé was elected as president. In 2021, Condé's attempt to run for a third term, considered by many to be unconstitutional, led to more protests, and a military coup that brought Lieutenant Colonel Mamady Doumbouya to power.

Climate
The coastal region of Guinea and most of the inland have a tropical climate, with a rainy season lasting from April to November, relatively high and uniform temperatures, and high humidity. Conakry's year-round average high is 29°C (84.2°F), and the low is 23°C (73.4°F); its average annual rainfall is 4,300mm (169.3 in). The Sahelian Haute Guinee region has a shorter rainy season and greater daily temperature variations.

People
Guinea's population is comprised of more than 20 ethnic groups.

The Fulas or Fulani (French: Peuls; Fula: Fulɓe), comprise 30% of the population and are mostly found in the Futa Djallon region. The Mandinka, also known as Mandingo or Malinké, comprise 40% of the population and are mostly found in eastern Guinea concentrated around the Kankan and Kissidougou prefectures. The Soussou, comprising 20%, are predominantly in western areas around the capital Conakry, Forécariah, and Kindia. Smaller ethnic groups make up the remaining 10% of the population, including Kpelle, Kissi, Zialo, Toma and others.

Visa
Visa inquiries must be made at Guinea embassies, and are not available at the borders or airport. Also a yellow fever vaccination certificate is needed to enter.

 * Guinea now has E-visa which cost USD$80.

By plane
Royal Air Maroc (RAM) flies from numerous European cities to Conakry (CKY) via Casablanca. RAM supplies the only direct flight from Montréal to Africa (Casablanca, with a stopover in New York) and many connections from Casablanca to Conakry (also called Kry) and elsewhere. Air France flies from Paris and SN Brussels flies from (you guessed it) Brussels. Expect to be asked for a "gift" by airport security.

By train
Although cargo trains still run the old line between Conakry and Kankan, there are no passenger trains still operational in Guinea. The old station in downtown Conakry is worth a visit.

By car
In 2008 travel between Guinea and Liberia was safe, though time consuming. Hiring a motorcycle is one of the best options.

Crossing the Guinean border with Senegal is possible but very uncomfortable and requires patience. Inside Guinea, the road between Koundara to Labe is paved except for a ~30km section starting in Komba (2023), and it takes 4-5 hours. There are some decent and very cheap places to stay in Koundara. Between Koundara and Diaoube (Senegal) is a similar journey. The border is relatively hassle free. There's a 20 km no man's land between border posts where you only know you've entered Senegal because the dirt road gets better. It's possible to change your currency at any hour of the night at the border towns on either side of the no man's land. Local transport from Diaoube to Tambacounda and on to Dakar is relatively easy.

Koundara is also the main jump off point for a trip to Guinea-Bissau.

The Guinea (Kopoto)/Sierra Leone (Kambia) crossing with a car or motorcycle is made possible with the 'Laissez-Passer Pour Vehicule', available at the Guinea Embassy (US$40) and with the 'Vehicle Clearance Permit', available at the Sierra Leone Embassy (US$40). An additional 'Ecowas International Circulation Permit' will be required for Sierra Leone, available at the border for SLL100,000.

An Ecowas 'Brown Card' may also be needed for proof of insurance for the vehicle.

Get around
There are no buses. Traffic in Conakry can be very heavy. The local transport vans in Conakry seem to be the most congested in all of West Africa. Taxis are very inexpensive, even if you want to rent one for a half or whole day. Expect to have to stop for gas almost immediately after you get in the car. The Government and business centre of the city is unfortunately located at the tip of a long and narrow peninsula which is only connected to the rest of Conakry, which sprawls onto the mainland, by two roads. This can be particularly frustrating at rush hour. Queues at gas stations in Conakry can be quite long and disorganized at certain times. Much of the infrastructure around the airport is being rebuilt, so trips to downtown or to la miniere might take unusual detours. Bush Taxis ("504", for the common Peugeot 504 model) are used for transport from city to city. Keep in mind that there is a curfew at night, and if you try to drive into Conakry you will have to wait outside the city until morning. Local transport is usually able to leave Conakry after dark. Departure times are never set for local transport. In the early morning you might be told that a taxi will be leaving "toute suite" (right away) but will not get out of Conakry until well after dark. Intercity travel in Guinea requires a great deal of patience and a loose schedule. It is also possible to fly from city to city, but get to the airport early and bring cash for your tickets. MotorTaxi/TaxiBike a much faster, and more comfortable way of travel is by motorcycle, which often serve as taxis.

Talk
The official language is French. There are numerous indigenous languages, and the three most prevalent are Susu, Pular (Foulah, Peuhl) and Malinke. Susu is spoken in the coastal region and in the capital city. Toma, Guerzé, Kissi and others are spoken in the interior (Sacred Forest) region bordering on Mali, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone and Liberia. There are a lot of people who cannot speak any English at all, even in the capital city.

See

In Conakry, there is the National Museum which highlights the distinct ethnic tribes in Guinea and various traditional instruments, masks, etc.

The main port is located at the tip of the peninsula in Conakry, near the President's Palace. You can take a boat from there to the islands of Loos for a day or overnight trip. Its a bustling place where fishermen offload their daily catch.

Cape Verga has some of the best beaches in Guinea for exploration.

Mount Nimba is the highest mountain peak in Guinea for trekking.

Do
In Conakry, one of the best places to grab a beer and hangout is the beach bar in Taouyah, an area with a large market and mostly residential with some night clubs and restaurants. Many expats, including the Peace Corps headquarters, live here and meet up at the beach around sunset for great pizza or fish or chicken dishes. There is a great breeze, live music, and lots of locals playing soccer games until the sunsets, especially on the weekends.

Music in Guinea is one of the best cultural activities the country has to offer. Some of the best Kora players in the world are from Guinea. There are many bars that offer live music.

The French-Guinean Cultural Centre has some great musical shows, movies, plays, and ballets (i.e. traditional West-African dance), and hosts exhibitions and conferences. It also has a library and multi-media centre. Members can take out books and use the computers and internet. This is a great place to meet expats, and local musicians, and artists. Most people there will know the best places to go see a show that week.

Outside of Conakry, there are many attractive tourism destinations for the adventurous traveler. Infrastructure, such as hotels, roads etc. is lacking outside of the capital but you can find basic places to stay with limited electricity powered by generators.

The Foutah Djallon area has superb hiking, sweeping vistas, waterfalls and cliffs. Fouta Trekking is a local non-profit that promotes equitable tourism. They offer hiking tours ranging from three to five days or tailored tours. Tourists stay in villages with part of the revenue going back to the villages for community development. Labe, the historical capital and seat of the Foutah Empire that reigned in the pre-colonial times, is a bustling city with some interesting history. You can buy beautiful traditional cloth in various navy blue colours. On the road from Conakry, via Kindia, is the city of Dalaba, where the major chiefs of the country met to determine the fate of the soon to be independent country from the French in 1958. There is an old mansion that you can visit and a ceremonial hut with amazing carvings inside. Kindia has some of the best vegetable and fruit produce and thus a lively market. The coastline from Conakry up towards Guinea -Bissau also offers great tourism with beautiful untouched beaches, mangroves, and wildlife viewing. Bel Air is a well known tourism destination on the beach about two hours from Conakry on a well paved road. There is a large and usually deserted hotel where past political leaders have met. It's a very popular destination around major holidays. A much nicer place to stay if you like more eco-tourism is Sabolan Village which is a small hotel on a beautiful beach that is off the well paved road that leads to the Bel Air hotel. There are about ten modern huts there and a restaurant. Its a bit expensive for what you get but the setting is amazing. If you have a tent or want to stay in a more authentic and cheaper place, you can go down the beach or along the path, past the actual village, and stay in nice huts made by a local villager and now run by his son. Expats who work in the mining areas rent out the huts and come on the weekends but you can always pitch a tent. You have to bring your own food however.

For the more adventurous is a trip to the island archipelago near the Guinea-Bissau border called Tristao. You can drive from Conakry to Kamsar and from there you can get on a local boat to the Tristao islands. The boat takes four hours and usually runs once or twice a week. You can sometimes get lucky if there is a fishing boat going back to Tristao but they are usually very heavily loaded and may not be as safe as the passenger boat. Manatee, turtles, and many different bird types live in the Tristao archipelago. It's a very isolated place which maintains many animist traditions.

Kamsar is the main bauxite mining export town, where major shipments of bauxite leave from the Boke region. There are some pretty good hotels and restaurants that cater to the mining executives and expats. The Boke region is the main bauxite mining area. Boke, the administrative city of the region, has an interesting colonial museum, some decent hotels, and a Lebanese store on the main road where everyone goes to watch the football games (soccer) and have cold Amstel lights (when the generator is on).

Money
The currency of the country is the Guinean franc (French: franc guinéen), denoted by the symbol "FG" or "Fr" or "GFr" (ISO currency code: GNF). Banknotes circulate in denominations of FG500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000 and inflation is rampant.

ATMs

 * All Ecobank ATMs in Guinea take Mastercard or Visa card for cash withdrawal.

Shopping
They do not sell a lot of trinkets in Guinea, but they do have wonderful clothing that you can purchase. The tailors there are very skilled and can create an outfit very fast (approximately a day). Masks, wood statues, djembes (drums), traditional clothing, bags made in Guinea are sold in many of the areas outside of major hotels in Conakry and along the roadside. Always haggle, especially if outside a major hotel as prices there are higher. A good rule of thumb is to halve whatever the opening price is and also to walk away if the prices don't come down. Negotiations are supposed to take awhile and are a way of figuring out the "walk away" price point for both buyer and seller.

The largest market in Conakry is Madina market. You can find everything and anything there. Be careful of pickpockets, mud (during rainy season) and traffic. Its a pretty hectic and chaotic place but you'll find the best produce, electronics, etc., at the best prices. You can hire a young boy to haul out your purchases for you if you are walking back to a parked car or where you're staying. Fee is about FG5,000 (€0.5 or US$0.7).

In certain parts of the country you can also find some nice carvings, many of which are created in the city of Kindia.

Eat
Many options are available for dining. For FG20,000 (€2 or roughly US$3), you are able to dine on delicious, nutritious food. If your taste buds would prefer something international, many other choices are available as well. The beef in Guinea is very good, and is highly recommended. Pork isn't served because of the dominance of Islam but is eaten among the forest people of the South east (Guinee Forestiere). There are good restaurants that are Lebanese which have European-styled breakfasts.

Outside of the capital, Conakry, you can often enjoy local dishes (consisting of Guinean style rice and one of the 4 main sauces with sometimes beef or fish in some cases) at a hole in the wall local restaurant for less than US$1 (FG3,000-6,000 depending on the exchange rate). You will leave full!

In Kankan, Guinea (Haute Guinee), there are few places to choose from if you wish to eat at a more decent restaurant. There is Hotel Villa and Hotel Bate. As of mid-2008, these were the top two places for lodging and meals. A typical plate can cost anywhere between FG35,000 and FG55,000. Note that prices of food and drinks can often dramatically increase at the spur of the moment and without any explanation!

Fruits are very inexpensive here, especially compared to the higher costs in neighboring countries (Mali, Ivory Coast and Senegal). For those who love pineapples, on the national road (which literally goes from the North of the country to Conakry in the South) you can find people selling this tasty fruit very cheaply on the side of the road in and around Kindia. Mango fruits, oranges and bananas can also be found in abundance throughout the country and at a cheap rate, especially at road sides.

Another alternative to eating out is eating "in". Since Guineans are generally welcoming and friendly people you may be invited to their home to share a meal. Most Guineans eat together from one big dish. Enjoy the experience and don't drink the local water if and when they offer it to you. Take bottled water (Coyah, Milo, etc.)

Drink
Canned European beer is available as well as local "Guiluxe" and "Skol" lager beers.

Water bottled in the name of Coyah is available everywhere for about US$0.50 per 1.5 litre bottle and is very good. Conakry's tap water is generally not safe unless filtered/boiled.

Stay safe
Guinea is a rather unsafe nation, due to the fact that it has a history of being one of Africa's most unstable countries; lawlessness and criminality are widespread. Most of the crime is done by officials in military uniforms, and usually targets foreigners. Most non-violent crime involves acts of pick-pocketing and purse-snatching, while armed robbery, muggings, and assaults are the most common violent crimes. Criminals particularly target visitors at the airport, in the traditional markets, and near hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners. Stay vigilant, and apply common sense if stuck in a difficult situation.

Visitors should also avoid unsolicited offers of assistance at the airport and hotels because such offers often mask an intention to steal luggage, purses, or wallets. Travellers should arrange for hotel personnel, family members, or business contacts to meet them at the airport to reduce their vulnerability to these crimes of opportunity.

When taking photographs, avoid military bases and political buildings, as it can be considered espionage in Guinea and can land you in jail.

The police are completely ineffective. Low salaries and improper training contribute to the lack of professionalism of the police. If you are the victim of a crime, consult your embassy.

Corruption is extremely widespread - Corrupt police and soldiers target foreigners for bribes in just about any place in the country. Policemen will demand bribes at any checkpoint. Policemen will often intimidate you to pay bribes by confiscating a particular item.

Business trips to Guinea are strongly discouraged. Business frauds and scams are rampant, and if you are going for a business trip in Guinea, it is strongly recommended that you do not go.

Stay healthy
The medical system in Guinea is in a very poor condition, and is not well equipped and is very limited. Some private medical facilities (e.g. Clinique Pasteur in Conakry) provide a better range of treatment options than public facilities, but are still well below western standards. There are no ambulance or emergency rescue services in Guinea and trauma care is extremely limited.

 * Tap water is unsafe for drinking. Drink only bottled, unopened, water.
 * Malaria is prevalent. Make sure to take anti-malarial prophylactics and cover up exposed skin during the evening and early morning when mosquitoes are at their worst.

If staying in the country for a long time it is advisable to bring anti-malarial drugs, and anti-diarhoea drugs (Cipro) as well as paracetamol and a medical kit with you if you are coming from Europe or the US as the drugs found in Guinea are usually of lesser quality and strength, albeit much cheaper.

The best insider's tip for eating fresh vegetables is to soak them in a big bowl of water that has one drop of bleach in it. This will kill any bacteria and you'll be able to have a salad or eat vegetables and fruits that can't be peeled such as tomatoes or keep the skin on cucumbers etc. for added fibre and vitamins.

A major outbreak of the deadly Ebola viral haemorrhagic fever erupted in Guinea in March 2014, killing more than 11,000 people in 2014-2016. This disease is fatal if not treated early and aggressively, and has showed a 40% fatality rate. As of June 2016, WHO has declared the end of Ebola virus transmission in the Republic of Guinea. Though WHO states, the risk of additional outbreaks originating from exposure to infected survivor body fluids remains and requires sustained mitigation through counseling on safe sex practices and testing of body fluids.

Respect
As with most of West Africa, greetings are very much a part of daily life in Guinea. A simple, "ça va?" will often suffice. However, Guineans appreciate if you ask about their family, health and job/studies: "et la famille, la sante, le boulot/les etudes." Before getting to the point in a conversation, e-mail, etc., it is common and expected to greet somehow and ask how they are doing.

Greet, eat and exchange money only with your right hand; the left hand is used for bathroom purposes and is considered unclean.

The gender issue is quite complex in Guinea to say the least. Even though Guinea is a slightly conservative, Muslim, male-dominated society, foreign female travelers will rarely face any sort of difficulties. Don't be surprised if you are proposed to a million times! Cat calls, whistles and other similar forms of harassment are rare in Guinea and frowned upon. Guinean males often give up their seat to females as a sign of respect, especially in people's homes, outdoor settings, etc.

In general, men are still higher up the social ladder than women and this is prevalent in all aspects of Guinean society (education, jobs, etc.) Don't be surprised if men are shown more consideration than women in daily life. Once it's known that you are a foreign woman (especially if you are a Black foreign female coming from the US, Europe, etc.), and not a local, you will usually be granted a higher level of consideration).

For women it is NOT advisable to wear clothing showing anything from the stomach to the knees! Shorts, see-throughs, mini skirts, bare midriffs are considered tasteless if worn in public. It's not uncommon to be met with hostile stares or looks of disapproval from local Guineans or even worse. Tattoos and body piercings are not common and visitors are advised to cover them up when possible. A head scarf, however, is not necessary. Jeans (while still not very popular among Guinean women), long skirts and dresses, tank tops and short or long sleeved shirts are perfectly acceptable.

There is a Christian minority (mostly concentrated in the southern forest region); however, Muslims, Christians and others tend to co-exist peacefully with tolerance and respect.

Guineans will often invite you to eat at their home. This is a sign of respect and consideration for the visitor. Accept the invitation where possible. If you are unable, it's better to politely respond with a simple "next time" or "prochainement". Simply showing up without an appointment at the home of a Guinean is not considered rude or impolite as it can be in the West. Don't be alarmed if you find Guineans popping over to see how you are.

Overall Guineans are warm, friendly and hospitable and will come to your assistance where appropriate.

title: Guinea


text:
Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bissau is an off-the-beaten-path destination on the west coast of Africa. It is primarily an agricultural and fishing country of fewer than 2 million people (2018). This former Portuguese colony is one of the poorest in the world.

Regions
Guinea-Bissau is divided into 8 administrative regions (regiões) and 1 autonomous sector (sector autónomo), and are subdivided into 37 sectors.

Cities

 * - capital
 * - Bafata is a pleasant city with an interesting colonial centre, located on the Rio Gêba. Hometown of Bissau-Guinean anti-colonial activist Amilcar Cabral. Ask around near the old market to visit his house.
 * - capital of the country until 1941, has some magnificent examples of colonial architecture and has been suggested as a world heritage site.
 * - End of the tarmac going to the south of Guinea-Bissau. The city is built along a tidal river, the Rio Grande de Buba.
 * - Largest city in the Bijagos archipelago, with hotels and harbour for boat trips to other islands.
 * - Cacheu was once an important place for slave-trading, and there is still a little fort.
 * - Busy market town, with a predominantly Muslim population.
 * - Busy market town, with a predominantly Muslim population.
 * - Busy market town, with a predominantly Muslim population.

Other destinations

 * - an archipelago of some twenty tropical, beautiful islands. On the island of Orango it is possible to see hippos, and there are many other possibilities of eco tourism on the "unspoiled islands". On some islands there are even turtle nesting grounds. Many islands have French-owned fishing lodges.
 * - Just south of Cap Skirring, but on the Guinea-Bissau side of the border, it is a tour de force to get to Varela on a 50 km long bumpy dirt road from São Domingos - but it is all rewarded when you reach this little paradise, with a superb Italian-owned hotel, beautiful beaches and pine forests and a very relaxed atmosphere with almost no other tourists.
 * – Guinea-Bissau's first protected area and largest freshwater reserve

Understand
A former Portuguese colony, Guinea-Bissau, independent since 1974, has had an arduous history of coups and political crises. A puny nation in its size, there is a variety of tropical forests and vibrant mixed Afro-Latin culture to be revealed.

History
Guinea-Bissau was once part of the kingdom of Gabu, part of the Mali Empire; parts of this kingdom persisted until the eighteenth century. Early reports of Europeans reaching this area come from 1456 CE/AD. The rivers and coast of this area were among the first places colonized by the Portuguese from 1588 onward, the interior was not explored until the 19th century.

The Portuguese tried desperately to hang on to their colony much longer than other European countries. An armed independence rebellion began in 1956, but it was not until 1974 that the Portuguese finally accepted independence for Guinea-Bissau.

Guinea-Bissau's post-independence history has been chequered. A civil war in 1998, followed by the imposition of a military junta in 1999 has been replaced with a multi-party democracy. The economy remains fragile, however hopes are high.

Climate
Guinea-Bissau is warm all year around and there is little temperature fluctuation; it averages 26.3°C (79.3°F). The average rainfall for Bissau is 2,024 mm although this is almost entirely accounted for during the rainy season which falls between June and September/October. From December to April, the country experiences drought.

People
The ethnic groups in Guinea-Bissau include Fula and Mandinka in the north and northeast, the Balanta and Papel in the southern coastal regions, and the Manjaco and Mancanha in the northern and central coastal areas.

Economy
Guinea-Bissau's GDP per capita is one of the lowest in the world, and its Human Development Index is also one of the lowest on earth. More than two-thirds of the population lives below the poverty line. The economy depends mainly on agriculture; fish, cashew nuts and ground nuts are its major exports.

Visa
No Guinea-Bissau embassies have websites to obtain entry info. To complicate matters more, there are no Guinea-Bissau embassies in the US or UK. Visa-seekers are advised to visit the GB Embassies in either Dakar, Senegal; Lisbon, Portugal; or Paris, France (tel: +33 1 48 74 36 39) for visa information.

As of 2024, visa on arrival is possible, though the lack of official information on a website makes it difficult to know the rules around this. It appears that at least EU and US citizens are able to do this on arrival at the Bissau airport, and possibly also at some land borders. The fee charged seems a bit variable and speaking creole can help make it lower. Expect to pay somewhere between €60 and US$120.

Visas are required for citizens of most non-ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) countries. If coming from a country where Guinea-Bissau does not have diplomatic representation, there are 2 options. The first is to obtain a visa at the Bissau Guinean embassy in Lisbon. The embassy processes tourist visas same-day, within 2-3 hours. Call ahead to confirm this though before making travel plans for Portugal and Bissau. The second option is to obtain a letter of invitation and arrange for a visa on arrival in Bissau. Whichever individual or organization that is hosting you will need to make these arrangements and there is not a clear, well-defined policy regarding this. This second option is also more expensive than getting the visa in Lisbon.

 * If you are going overland, a good place to get a 30-day visa is from the Guinea-Bissau Consul in Ziguinchor, Senegal which cost CFA20,000 =£27 and takes only 30 minutes. The Consul is open Monday-Friday from 08:30-14:00.
 * For German (and perhaps other EEA) citizens there is an easy way to obtain a visa for Guinea-Bissau: the honorary consul, Horst-G. Reissenberger, from the Guinea-Bissau consulate based in Luxembourg is authorised to issue visas for Guinea Bissau. This is normally done quickly, rather cheaply and in a simple manner. The consul can be contacted via email: consul_lu@republica-da-guine-bissau.org
 * For longer stays in Guinea-Bissau, a "resident card" can be obtained in the governmental migration office in Bissau. The rather cheap price depends on the duration of the resident card.

By plane
Direct flights from Portugal with EuroAtlantic airways every Wednesday and Friday, returning same day.

Cabo Verde Airlines have daily flights from Dakar, Senegal to Bissau every day. The flight time is 75 minutes.

By train
There are no trains in Guinea-Bissau.

By car

 * From Ziguinchor, Senegal to Bissau it should take 3-4 hours by sept-places (seven-seat Peugeot) or your own car, depending on the border bureaucracy. Roads are in good condition, only some potholes after São Domingos. After sunset, the border with Senegal is closed.
 * From Gambia (Serrekunda), 7-8 hours if everything goes smooth. If going by sept-place, you'll have to change in Ziguinchor.
 * Dakar-Bissau with public transport can be done in one day with a little luck, but you need to leave Dakar early and change vehicle in Ziguinchor.

Other main borderposts include Pirada (dirtroad from there to Gabú) to Senegal, and Buruntuma to Guinea-Conakry (also via Gabú).

By boat
There is a sea route between Dakar and Bissau. Additionally there are boats to and between the Bijagos islands.

Get around
In Bissau minibuses called toca-toca work for transports within the city. There are also regular taxis. For inter-city travel there are sept-places, (seven-seat Peugeot) and candongas, big commercial vehicles carrying ten to twenty passengers. Prefer sept-place or at least try to get the front seats. It is also possible to rent taxis to other towns and cities.

The main bus-station "paragem" of Bissau is behind the BCEAO (Banco Central dos Estados de África Ocidental) on the Airport Road. Are you heading for Biombo or Prabis, you need to go to another bus-station in Estrada de Bor. There are no time-schedules; cars leave when they are full. As most locals travel in the early morning (07:00-ish), cars fill up quicker in the morning. It might be hard to get transport in late afternoon and evening.

To go to the islands, there's a choice between cheap, but rather unsafe, canoas (pirogues) leaving from Porto Pidjiguiti or Porto de Bandim, and expensive modern boats owned by French fishing lodges on the Bijagos islands. Consulmar Guinea Bissau operates a more orderly ferry service between Bissau and several other ports. The ferries are still quite basic however. Schedules depend on tides and weather conditions, so check in advance.

As Guinea Bissau is very flat and there is virtually no traffic on the roads outside Bissau, it's a good country for cycling. Bikes can be bought in the country, which will probably (as in most parts of the world) be Chinese made.

Talk
Portuguese is the official language and the language used for writing; however, a Portuguese creole is the language spoken among the locals as the lingua franca. There are several local languages such as Fula, Balanta, Mandinka, Pepel, Bijago etc. But you will always find people who speak English and French from other African countries (Gambia, Senegal, Guinea Conakry, Mauritania, Nigeria). You can buy a Creole/English dictionary at the WEC Mission which is in Caracol, and in the Mavegro supermarket which is located right next to the Simão Mendes Hospital (on the road that passes on the right hand side, 300 m forward on the right).

See

 * Forests of Jemberem - Cantanhez Natural Park, where, with a bit of luck, you can see chimpanzees.
 * Varela Beach - one of the few nice beaches in Guinea Bissau.
 * Bijagos Islands - stunningly beautiful group of islands, some with resorts. Find, among others, turtles and hippos here

Money
The West African CFA franc (XOF) is used by Guinea-Bissau. It is also used by Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo. While it is a separate currency from the Central African CFA franc (XAF), the two currencies are used interchangeably at par throughout all countries that use the CFA franc (XAF & XOF).

Both CFA francs are guaranteed by the French treasury and are pegged to the euro at 1 euro = 655.957 CFA francs.

The West African CFA franc is to be renamed the "eco" by the end of 2027. It would continue to be fixed to the euro.

There are ATMs in the BAO (Banco da Africa Occidental) branches of Bissau and Gabú, and in the Hotel Malaika in Bissau. These ATMs only function if you have a local account with that bank.

Western Union is present in Bissau (eight locations), Bafatá, Gabú, Buba, Canchungo and Mansoa. They charge a 10% commission.

 * Ecobank has ATMs in Bissau which take Mastercard and Visa card for cash withdrawal.

Shopping
The largest market in the country is Bandim Market, which is on the main road going into town. You can buy many things there and the atmosphere is nice. Otherwise there are small vendors on most roads of the capital. In the villages (Tabankas) you will also find small vendors selling the necessities. In the main towns in the countryside there are larger markets called "Lumo", which give farmers and merchants the possibility to sell or trade their goods. Guinea-Bissau is a poor country so there are fewer possibilities for shopping than in the Gambia or Senegal.

Useful creole shopping phrases:
 * Ke ku bu misti? (what do you want?)
 * N mistil (I want it)
 * N ka mistil (I don't want it)

Eat
Most Guineans eat rice with fish, because the country is rich in fish, and rice (homegrown or imported from Thailand) is relatively cheap. The more costly meals contain beef, goat, chicken or pork. Meals are also made with palm oil and peanut sauce and vegetables. Guineans also eat wild game (deer, monkey, beaver etc.) but these animals are endangered and so it is not recommended to support this.

Guineans are known for their warm-heartedness and so you will always be asked to come eat with a group of people (it is common to eat from a large bowl)... "bin kume, no kume"

Fruit available depends on the season, but mangos, papayas, oranges, grape fruits, bananas, cashews and peanuts are abundant. Also try the sour "fole" fruits and the baobab fruit juice (sumo de cabaceira). Imported fruit can be bought in "fera de prasa" in the centre of Bissau (apples, pears, pineapples, watermelons etc.) but is more expensive than in Europe.

Vegetables sold in the markets include lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell pepper, parsley, okra, potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, chili, sweet potatoes.

Street snacks are typically sandwiches with hardboiled egg, omelette, fish or beef, doughnuts and cake. Frozen fruit juice in small plastic bags is popular with the locals.

Drink
The people of Guinea-Bissau love to drink a sweet green tea known as "warga", the non-Muslims also enjoy drinking cashew wine or palm wine. You can also buy Portuguese beer, wine and soft drinks but these are more expensive. It is recommended that foreigners only drink bottled, filtered or boiled water.

Sleep
Hotels in Bissau are generally overpriced. In most of the towns outside the capital, there are hotels or rooms for rent. There are mainly French-run hotels on the Bijagos islands which are recommended.

Work
There are numerous NGOs, missionaries and international organizations (UN, EU, WHO, UNICEF, The Global Fund) working in Guinea Bissau.

 * Bandim Health Project
 * Médicos do Mundo

Stay safe
Guinea-Bissau has one of the highest rates of petty and violent crime on the continent, which should not be underestimated, a lack of much law enforcement, and a very dysfunctional government. The country is home to several drug kingpins and a large volume of narcotics passes through remote islands and airstrips en route from South America to Europe. Until 2019, the country had the onerous distinction of never having an elected president complete a full 5-year term in office and there have been dozens of coups and attempted coups as well as numerous assassinations of officials and military leaders since independence in 1974. The most recent coup was in 2012, which followed a failed coup attempt in 2011, the house-arrest of the prime minister by the military (and threat of killing him) in 2010, and the assassination of the president by soldiers in 2009 (a day after a top military leader & rival of the president was killed by a bomb).

Avoid any political demonstrations and stay clear of any large presence of military on the streets. Many western nations lack a diplomatic presence in Guinea-Bissau, which means you will have a much harder time if arrested, detained, or in need of consular assistance in an emergency.

Guinea-Bissau is a violent country, and is considered by the UN to be a major port for drug shipments into Europe. The military is known for corruption, prompting the head of the UN to refer to the head of the Air Force as a drug kingpin.

The country also has the lowest per capita productivity and income in the world, which has the violence and crime to go along with it.

White Europeans are especially vulnerable, and will be singled out by natives seeking to enact racial crime. White Europeans tend to be left alone if it is believed they are part of foreign aid efforts, or far left activists. Guinea-Bissau has had several Marxist Governments, providing a safe haven for Marxist radicals worldwide.

There is no US or UK embassy in GB. The US & UK embassies in Dakar, Senegal are accredited to GB. The US has a liaison at: Edifício SITEC, Rua José Carlos Schwarz 245, Bairro d’Ajuda.

Do not trust hotel safes, and stay away from any nightclubs not attached to major hotels.

If you are arrested, be prepared to pay a bribe. However, it is not recommended to bribe officials directly. Simply ask if they can pay the fine for you, because you do not understand the customs procedures. Then leave the country as soon as possible.

You must be careful around the wildlife because they may be dangerous and you must respect the animals at all times. Do not attempt to feed or touch an animal. Remember: take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints, and kill nothing but time.

Stay healthy

Before visiting, make sure you have the yellow fever, hepatitis A, tetanus and typhoid vaccinations up to date. Malaria prophylaxis is highly recommended: consult a doctor for advice on which type to choose. Depending on the length and purpose of your stay, also consider vaccinations for hepatitis B, rabies, meningitis and tuberculosis.

HIV is prevalent, as are most major sexually transmitted diseases. The CDC in the US listed Guinea-Bissau as a groundswell point for new HIV infections.

If bitten by a dog, cat, monkey or bat seek a doctor as fast as possible, no matter if you've been vaccinated or not. Everybody needs post-exposure rabies prophylaxis; but if vaccinated beforehand, you'll need less vaccines. Rabies can be prevented with vaccines and immunoglubulin, but once the symptoms present here is no cure and about 100% die.

Always use a condom when having sexual relations with new partners.

Make sure you drink only bottled/filtered water.

Respect
Muslims are mostly tolerant of others in this country, if your presence is considered to be temporary. There are a few radicalized mosques in the country, so it is advised that you do not venture into these areas. The Christian minority is tolerated, but under constant surveillance by Guinea-Bissau activists and Government officials.

Check your government's travel warnings about Guinea-Bissau.

Some people (especially children) will ask you to take their photo, while others will get upset if you take photos; always ask in advance, especially taking close-ups.

Avoid taking photos of military installations without asking, though sometimes you'll be allowed to.

Connect
There are numerous internet cafés in the center of Bissau, but ask around, more of them are hard to spot from outside. Other options are Lenox or go wireless in Restaurant Phoenicia or hotel Bissau Palace.

There are three mobile companies in Guinea Bissau all with prepaid mobile cards, that can be bought all over. It's easy to call abroad or other mobiles of the same company, but can be hard to call from one company to another (e.g. MTN->Guinétel).
 * MTN GSM 900 - simcard 500 FCFA, not very expensive to call Europe or other African countries. Will soon be possible to get internet connection via an MTN mobile.
 * Orange GSM 900/1800
 * Guinétel GSM 900

title: Guinea-Bissau


text:
Guinee Forestiere

Guinee Forestiere is a region of Guinea.

Other destinations

 * — a 116 200 hectares-large Biosphere Reserve, which is considered to be a relict of the once continuous West African rainforest belt.
 * — a 116 200 hectares-large Biosphere Reserve, which is considered to be a relict of the once continuous West African rainforest belt.

Understand
This is the forested jungle region in the southeast of Guinea, populated by several ethnic groups including the Toma and Lissi. It includes all of Nzerekore province.

See
Wild chimpanzees at I.R.E.B.

To visit the forest you must register at the I.R.E.B. (Institute de Récherche Environnementale de Boussou). The visit can also be combined with a hike to the top of mount Nimba. For further information Mr. Aly Gaspard Soumah, I.R.E.B General Director (+224 622 25 98 29 or +224 660 15 02 04, salygaspard2@gmail.com) or Mr. Iba Condé, responsible for Ecotourism (+224 620 34 62 79), will be happy to help you.

title: Guinee Forestiere


text:
Guinee Maritime

Guinee Maritime is the coastal region of Guinea.

Cities

 * — the capital city is home to the national museum, botanical gardens, and the Grand Mosque
 * — "the city of citrus fruits"
 * — these three islands not far from Conakry are a perfect escape from the dusty capital

Understand
Includes all of Kindia province and the south part of Boke province. This is region is the home of the Susu people and their culture.

The region is a gentle coastal plain, between 50 and 80 km (30 and 40 miles) wide, and wider in the south than the north. The Fouta Djallon plateau rises from the plain, and several rivers, including the Fatala, Konkouré, and Kolenté, originate in the Fouta Djallon and flow west to empty into the Atlantic.

Get in
By air: Conakry airport

title: Guinee Maritime