Bafatá lies about 170 km east of Bissau along the main RN2 highway, which is paved and generally in reasonable condition, though potholes and stretches of degraded tarmac are normal.
From Bissau: Shared taxis and minibuses (candongas) depart from the Bandim transport terminal in Bissau for Bafatá throughout the morning. The journey takes 3–4 hours depending on road conditions and the number of stops. There is no fixed schedule — vehicles fill up and leave when full. Shared taxis are faster but cost more than the minibuses. Confirm the price before boarding.
From Gabu and the Guinea (Conakry) border: Bafatá is roughly halfway on the Bissau–Gabu road. Bush taxis run between Gabu and Bafatá; the journey takes about 1.5–2 hours. From the border at Buruntuma or Pitche, you will need to change in Gabu.
By air: Bafatá has a small airstrip (ICAO: GGBF) north of town, but there are no scheduled commercial flights. It is used occasionally by NGO and charter aircraft.
There is no public bus service or railway. Road transport is the only practical option.