What's on in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau through the year

Busy — National Heroes' Day, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  National Heroes' Day

  20 JanNational holidayClosures

  20 January marks the assassination of Amilcar Cabral, the independence leader who is still the country's central figure. Offices and banks close and there are wreath ceremonies at the Fortaleza. Source ↗

Still on: The dry months (15 Nov – 15 May (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Festival

  Carnival

  2–3 MarCrowded

  The country's biggest annual event. Groups from each region bring their own masks and drumming into the capital over the days before Lent, and most of Bissau stops work to watch. The dates move with Easter. Source ↗

Still on: The dry months (15 Nov – 15 May (usually))

Busy — Carnival, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Carnival (2–3 Mar), The dry months (15 Nov – 15 May (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: The dry months (15 Nov – 15 May (usually))

Busy — Tabaski, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Tabaski

  5 May – 5 Jun · usuallyRamadan & EidClosures

  Eid al-Adha closes government offices and much of the market for a day or two, and is the busiest travel window of the year for the Muslim north and east. The date moves about eleven days earlier each year. Source ↗

Still on: The dry months (15 Nov – 15 May (usually))

Busy — Tabaski, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Tabaski (5 May – 5 Jun (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in July.

Quiet — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in August.

Busy — Independence Day, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Independence Day

  24 SepNational holidayClosures

  The 24 September holiday falls at the tail of the rains, so the ceremonies are often a wet affair. Everything official shuts; in a country with a long history of coups, watch how the day is being marked before travelling. Source ↗

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in October.

Busy — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

• Season

  The dry months

  15 Nov – 15 May · usuallyDry season

  Almost nothing falls between November and May, and the harmattan carries Saharan dust over the city for part of it. It is the only stretch when the roads inland and the boats out to the Bijagos run to anything like a schedule. Source ↗

Busy — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: The dry months (15 Nov – 15 May (usually))