Bissau, Guinea-Bissau - About Bissau

Bandim Market

The main street, Avenida Amílcar Cabral, runs from the Praça dos Heróis Nacionais at its northern end down to the port and the old Portuguese quarter, with its endearing winding streets and Mediterranean-style houses. By the port the Pidjiguiti Monument honours the striking dockworkers who were shot by police on August 3, 1959. East of here is the Fortaleza d'Amura whose imposing bulk is unfortunately closed to visitors; revolutionary hero Amílcar Cabral is buried here. The Presidential Palace is at the other end of the avenue, but put your cameras away, no snaps are allowed. For local art and artefacts the Museu Nacional is small but interesting. The Centro Artistico Juvenil, which has work by young local artists, is a good place to pick up arts and crafts; you can also watch craftsmen at work. As for markets, Mercado Central has colourful fruit stalls, Senegalese-style clothing and souvenirs. The Mercado de Bandim has fewer arts and crafts but wins on fresh produce.

25 kms northwest of Bissau is the town of Quinhamel where fine oysters can be found on local restaurants.

Ferries service the islands of Bubaque and Bolama, in the Bijagós Archipelago. For other islands (about 18 islands) transportation is hard to find and few tourists go on such adventure. The natives themselves hardly leave the islands. However the beauty of nature is awesome, mostly on the islands of Maio, Caravela and Orango.