The journey from Lungi Airport to Freetown involves multiple steps, and the total cost depends heavily on which route you take. Here is what we can verify, and what we cannot.
Cost by method — what's actually known
| Method | Components | What we can confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-booked water-shuttle transfer | All-inclusive | Seabird Express publishes a fare from USD 50 per passenger for the crossing; other operators and any onward road transfer are quoted at booking |
| Speedboat (independent) | Taxi + boat + taxi | No published fare for the informal boat/taxi market — negotiate on the day |
| Government ferry | Taxi + ferry + taxi | No published fare — ask at the terminal or your hotel |
| Road route | Private car hire | Negotiated with the driver — no fixed rate |
Fixed-price private transfer
FNA Freetown City Center
From€85for 2 passengers
4 passengers: €114 per vehicle, about €29 per person
- Fixed price, no meter
- Flight tracked
- 60 min free waiting
- Driver meets you at arrivals
- Free cancellation up to 24 h before pickup
Other destinations
Sierra Leone's currency, the Leone (SLE), was redenominated in 2022, so any Leone figure you find in an older guide is unreliable. This page used to carry a full Leone price table; it was removed because none of it could be traced to an authoritative source. The one number on this route that is genuinely published is Seabird Express's water-shuttle fare above — everything else (taxis on both sides, the government ferry ticket, a private car around the estuary) is an informal cash market with no fixed or posted price.
Why the pre-booked transfer is often the best value
On paper, the government ferry is the cheapest way across. But the schedule is unreliable, the wait is in basic conditions, and you still need two separate taxis on top of the ferry ticket. Add the time and stress, and the total experience can cost more in frustration than the money it saves.
The pre-booked end-to-end transfer includes everything: airport pickup, road transport to a reliable speedboat, the crossing, and a vehicle to your hotel — all quoted and confirmed before you fly. It costs more than piecing the ferry route together yourself; how much more depends on the operator and how many of you there are, since water shuttles charge per passenger.
Negotiation tips
- Always agree on the price before entering any vehicle or boat
- Ask your hotel or the transfer desk what today's going rate looks like before you negotiate
- Have cash in Leones ready — cards are not accepted for taxis or boats
- Small denominations are useful for tipping porters
When a private transfer from FNA is the right choice
- Three or more people: a 4-seat car to Freetown City Center is from €114, about €29 per person, usually level with or below separate public-transport tickets once you count the walk, the wait and the last mile with bags.
- Going to a specific address rather than the main station: the car goes to the door, so the public-transport fare is not the whole cost of the trip.
- Arriving tired or late: the driver waits at arrivals with your name, included for 60 minutes after landing.
FNA → Freetown City Center from €85Fixed price, flight tracked, free cancellation up to 24 h before pickup.