Banjul sits on St Mary's Island at the mouth of the Gambia River. Most visitors arrive via Banjul International Airport (BJL), about 24 kilometres south of the city closer to the resort towns of Kololi and Kotu. From the airport, taxis to Banjul take around 30-40 minutes; agree on a fare before you get in, or use the official taxi rank at arrivals. Green tourist taxis and yellow town taxis both operate the route.
From the south bank of the river, Banjul is the terminus. From the north bank, the Barra Ferry is the main crossing — a 35-minute ride that runs throughout the day. The ferry can be crowded and sometimes unreliable; expect to wait. Shared taxis and minibuses depart from the main bus station for destinations along the south bank highway.
Most visitors base themselves in the resort towns rather than Banjul and make the capital a day trip. If you do stay in Banjul itself, accommodation is basic and limited in quantity.