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Travel Guide
Visiting Gambia
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Top Attractions in Gambia
The most iconic and unmissable experiences this country has to offer.
UNESCO World Heritage
Kunta Kinteh Island
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003, this island in the Gambia River holds the ruins of Fort James and stands as one of the most significant monuments to the transatlantic slave trade on the African continent. The site encompasses seven related locations, including Six-Gun Battery, Fort Bullen, and the Ruins of San Domingo, together tracing centuries of trade and colonial control along the river. A visit by boat from Albreda offers a sobering and deeply moving encounter with a defining chapter of West African history.
UNESCO World Heritage
Stone Circles of Senegambia
This UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 2006, comprises more than 1,000 laterite stone monuments spread across a 350-kilometre band along both sides of the Gambia River, representing one of Africa's highest concentrations of megalithic structures. The circles and associated burial mounds date from approximately the 3rd century BC to the 16th century AD, reflecting more than 1,500 years of ritual use. Wassu, in Gambia's Central River Region, is the most accessible cluster and includes a small on-site museum.
Wise
Your bank marks up every USD you spend in the Gambia. Wise doesn't.
- No foreign transaction fees
- Free ATM withdrawals up to your limit
- Pay in local currency at the real rate
4.8 ★ App Store·4.8 ★ Google Play
Airalo eSIM
Your phone plan was built for home. This one was built for the Gambia.
- No SIM swapping
- No data roaming charges
- Active in minutes
4.7 ★ App Store·4.6 ★ Google Play
Health & Safety
Health & Emergency Info
Before You Travel
Before you travel check that: your destination can provide the healthcare you may need you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant. Emergency medical number There is no equivalent to the UK’s 999 emergency number in The Gambia, it is best to visit in-person to ask for emergency contact details at local stations. Contact your insurance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment. Vaccine recommendations and health risks At least 8 weeks before y
Full health advice (FCDO) →Emergency Numbers
Police117
Ambulance116
Fire118
Health information sourced from UK FCDO. Always consult a travel health professional before departure.
Practical Info
Travel Essentials
Travel Guide
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Gambia
Entry requirements vary by passport. Check the requirements for your specific passport on the Gambia page at Yoogo.
The Gambian dalasi (GMD) is the official currency, and the economy remains largely cash-based, particularly outside the main tourist areas. ATMs are available along the Atlantic coast and in Banjul and Serrekunda, though they can be scarce upriver. Some hotels and larger tourist-facing businesses accept credit cards, but carrying dalasi in cash is advisable for day-to-day spending.
The Gambia is generally considered one of the more visitor-friendly destinations in West Africa, with a well-established tourism industry centred on the Atlantic coast resort strip. Petty theft and opportunistic approaches from unofficial guides (known locally as 'bumsters') are the most commonly reported concerns for travellers. Checking your government's current travel advisory before departure will give you the most up-to-date picture.
The main options are green tourist taxis (licensed and metered), shared 'sept-place' saloon cars, and gelli-gelli minibuses that run fixed routes between towns and villages. Tourist taxis are the most convenient choice for the coastal resort area, while shared vehicles are the standard way to travel upriver. Car hire with a driver is also available through tour operators and hotels.
The dry season, from November to May, is the principal tourist season, offering sunny skies, comfortable temperatures of around 24 to 28 degrees Celsius, and manageable humidity. November to February is peak season, with the highest visitor numbers and the most organised excursions available. The rainy season from July to September brings heavy downpours, higher humidity, and a significantly elevated risk of malaria.
English is the official language and is used in government, education, and most tourism contexts, so visitors with English will find communication straightforward throughout the country. Mandinka, Wolof, and Fula are widely spoken as everyday languages, and learning a few greetings in any of these is warmly appreciated. French is useful if you plan to cross into neighbouring Senegal.
Malaria is present year-round across the whole country, with risk highest between July and September, so anti-malarial medication and mosquito precautions such as long sleeves, repellent, and a bed net are strongly recommended. Hepatitis A vaccination is advised for most travellers, and meningitis ACWY is recommended for travel between December and June as The Gambia falls within the African meningitis belt. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if you are arriving from a country where yellow fever is present.