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Bissau — travel, stays & events guide
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Bissau city overview
Bissau is a city in Guinea-Bissau shaped by its region, population, local economy, landmarks, climate and civic history. This overview summarizes the city itself: where it sits, what defines it, which places anchor its identity and why it matters within the wider country.
City facts
Known forBissau, Capital city in Guinea-Bissau, Bissau planning base 3, Bissau planning base 4
RegionGuinea-BissauGuinea-Bissau
Time zoneAfrica/Bissaulocal time
Founded1680historical origin
City history
In 1680 Bissau even helped the Portuguese in a conflict with the Papels of Cacheu.
The city was founded in 1687 as a Portuguese trading post.
In response the Portuguese Conselho Ultramarino established the captaincy-general of Bissau, and by 1696 the town had a fort, a church, and a hospital.
The fort was rebuilt by the Grão Pará and Maranhão Company in 1775 to better project Portuguese power and store more slaves for shipment to Brazil.
In 1869, as part of an effort to more efficiently govern the territory, Bissau was raised to the status of commune.
The decades on either side of the turn of the 20th century saw fierce resistance on the part of the Papels to colonial 'pacification campaigns.' In 1915, after 30 years of war, the Portuguese.
In 1941 the capital was transferred from Bolama to Bissau.
After the declaration of independence by the anti-colonial guerrillas of PAIGC in 1973, the capital of the rebel territories was declared to be Madina do Boe, while Bissau remained the colonial capital.
When the Portuguese began to trade there in the 16th century, the king of Bissau was among the most supportive monarchs of the region.
According to oral tradition, the kingdom was founded by Mecau, the son of the king of Quinara (Guinala), who moved to the area with his pregnant sister, six wives, and subjects of his father's.
Although the king of Bissau Bacompolco refused them permission to build a fort, he did grant them a trading factory, from which they shipped thousands of slaves, among other things.
It was the main emporium for trade on and south of the Geba river, and was rivaling if not eclipsing Cacheu in importance.
When Captain-General Pinheiro tried to enforce Portugal's monopoly in defiance of the Papel policy of free trade, Incinhate surrounded the incomplete fort and threatened to massacre the inhabitants.
Unable to enforce a trading monopoly or collect duties from foreign shipping, the Portuguese soon abandoned the fort.
Worth seeing
Bissau
Bissau is a practical Bissau planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Capital city in Guinea-Bissau
Capital city in Guinea-Bissau is a practical Bissau planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Bissau planning base 3
Bissau planning base 3 is a practical Bissau planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Bissau planning base 4
Bissau planning base 4 is a practical Bissau planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Bissau planning base 5
Bissau planning base 5 is a practical Bissau planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Bissau planning base 6
Bissau planning base 6 is a practical Bissau planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Stay overview
Compare Bissau before booking Bissau hotels. Start with the places you will repeat most, then check airport timing, parking, nightly price and event demand before choosing the final base.
Hotels & areas
Compare accommodation options in and around Bissau by area, not only by nightly price. A cheaper room can become expensive when airport transfers, parking, attraction routes, late arrivals or event-week demand add time and cost.
Compare stays in Bissau, Guinea-BissauFlights & airports
Main airport TBC arrival plan
- Bissau airport accessMain gateway TBC.
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Rental cars
Bissau day-trip car use
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Compare rental carsTravel tips
Best time to visit
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Transport notes
Choose a base around the trips you will repeat most: airport, station, old town, waterfront, venue district or day-trip route.
Crowds
Prices can jump around festivals, conventions, school holidays, cruise days, ski weeks, race weekends and large sports events.
Booking detail
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Upcoming events
No upcoming Bissau events in the shared event index yet.