Country Trading Profiles Burundi

Entry requirements

Passport and visa service
Diplomatic representations
For more information: Diplomatic mission of Burundi in Switzerland
44, rue de Lausanne
1201 Genève
Phone: +41 7327705
Fax:+41 7327734
mission.burundi.@ties.itu.int

Flight from Greece: No aircraft company operates direct air connection from Athens to Bujumbura. To find out air connections from Greece to Burundi click here

Recommendation: Most roads are sealed. There are main roads east from Bujumbura to Muramvya (once the royal city of Burundi) and south to Gitega. Both journeys can be completed without too much strain during the dry season, but any road travel can be difficult in the rainy season. Traffic drives on the right. Bus: There are services around Bujumbura and main towns only. Japanese-style minibuses operate between towns and are normally cheaper and less crowded than share-taxis; departures (when the vehicle is full) are normally from bus stands. Taxi: Tanus-tanus (truck taxis) are usually available but they are often crowded. Car hire: It may be possible to arrange some form of car hire via a local garage. Documentation: Driving licenses issued by the UK are acceptable.
Note: Public transport outside Bujumbura is reported to be dangerous. Motorists should be aware that land mines have exploded in a number of areas in and around Bujumbura, as well as other parts of the country. Travel through the edgy enclaves of the capital city is certainly to be avoided, especially at night.
Road maps
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Historical: The capital port-city of Bujumbura, located on the shore of the Tanganyika Lake, is a bustling town with a population of some 300,000 inhabitants. The area was colonised by Germany at the end of the 19th century, and there is still architecture dating from that period of Burundi's history, including the Postmaster's House. Other attractions include three museums and the Islamic Cultural Centre. Various cafés and restaurants line the lake, where (in normal circumtances) there are some opportunities for watersports, including sailing, water-skiing and fishing. There is an excellent market. Around ten kilometres south of the city, a stone marks the historic meeting-place of Stanley and Livingstone.
Other points of interest in the country include the former royal cities of Muramvya and Gitega (with its 'Chutes de la Kagera' waterfall and its recently renovated National Museum), and the monument near Rutovu, in Bururi Province, which marks Burundi's claim to the source of the Nile.

Top Highlights in the main cities

Top highlights of the country

Food specialties: The choice is limited. Meals in Bujumbura's hotels are reasonable, but expensive and of fairly average quality. The French and Greek restaurants in the town are good. There are few restaurants outside the capital and Gitega.
Drinks
Dietary restrictions

Domestic currency: Burundi Franc
ISO Code: BIF
To obtain domestic currency: Burundi Franc (Bufr) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of Bufr 5,000, 1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of Bufr 10, 5 and 1.
1 Euro = 790.566 Bif 1 BIF = 0.001265 Euro (EUR)
Possible means of payment
Exchange rate on
Automatic Teller Machines (ATM): To find out the locations of ATMs in in Burundi, click on the link to your credit card: Visa, Mastercard or American Express

Official language: Kirundi, French
Other languages spoken: Swahili
Business language: English
Getting some knowledge
Free translation tools: Babel Fish - Free French-English-French traduction of texts and web pages
lexicool - Free Greek-Swahili-Greek dictionary
lexicool - Free Greek-French-Greek translator
Babel Fish - Free Greek-French-Greek translator