Freetown Airport Water Taxi: Sea Coach, Seabird and the Ferry, Fares and Times (2026)
Freetown airport to Freetown by water taxi, Sea Coach, Seabird or ferry: latest fares (from US$50), times, contacts, and hotels near Freetown airport.
Checked 9 October 2026. Freetown airport is in Lungi, across the Sierra Leone River estuary from Freetown, and there is no bridge. This page covers the Freetown airport water taxi (Sea Coach Express and Seabird Express), the public ferry, and the airport hotels on the Lungi side. Prices change, so confirm with the operator before you travel.
Freetown airport to Freetown: the four ways across
| Option | Fare (one way) | On the water | Lands at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea Coach Express water taxi | Adult US$50 / Le 1,200; child (2 to 9) US$30 / Le 720 (since 8 Apr 2026) | about 30 to 35 min | Aberdeen Bridge |
| Seabird Express water taxi | from US$50; hotel taxi add-on US$5 per passenger | 20 to 30 min | Freetown waterfront (Murray Town base) |
| Public ferry (Tagrin to Kissy / Government Wharf) | cheap, a few dollars or less; no current official fare found | 45 to 90 min, often delayed | Kissy Terminal / Government Wharf |
| Private charter speedboat | whole boat, negotiated | 20 to 30 min | your choice of landing |
The road around the estuary via Port Loko is an option of last resort, usually quoted at several hours.
Sea Coach Express: Freetown airport water taxi
- Latest fare: a fare notice reported on 8 April 2026 (citing fuel costs) took the adult ticket from US$45 to US$50 (Le 1,125 to Le 1,200 in leones) and the child ticket (ages 2 to 9) from US$25 to US$30 (Le 625 to Le 720).
- Route: a short bus ride from the airport to the Mahera Beach terminal on the Lungi side, then the boat to Aberdeen Bridge.
- Timetable: Sea Coach times its boats around flight arrivals and departures and posts a monthly timetable on its Facebook page (the latest we could see was the winter timetable for 1 to 31 December 2025). Check the newest post before you fly.
- Tickets and check-in: tickets are sold at the counter outside the airport; some travellers book ahead. Be at the terminal at least 30 minutes before departure.
- Contacts listed on its Facebook page: +232 76 551155 and the 076 290 791 / 794 / 781 numbers; address Aberdeen Bridge, Sir Samuel Lewis Road, Freetown. Its tagline: "We are the bridge from Lungi to Freetown."
- What reviewers say: fast and comfortable, but the timetable can be unreliable, so build in a buffer.
Seabird Express: Freetown airport shuttle by water
- Fare: from US$50 per passenger one way (official site); return is two one-way trips. A taxi from the landing point is US$5 per passenger (maximum US$10 for four).
- Crossing: about 30 minutes on its site, 20 to 25 minutes on its Facebook page.
- Booking: online booking page on lungiexpress.com (its newer site; older address seabirdsl.com), or WhatsApp / phone +232 99 330 033, email info@seabirdsl.com. Office: 36 High Broad Street, Murray Town, Freetown.
- Hours: the operator advertises "Daily 24 Hrs" and says boats leave on flight arrival, but its published timetable shows fixed Freetown-to-Lungi departures only (4:30, 8:30, 14:00, 21:30 and 1:30 on listed days) and "no service" in the Lungi-to-Freetown table. Message it with your flight number before relying on a night crossing.
- Before boarding: arrive 30 minutes early with your passport and booking confirmation.
The public ferry between Freetown and the airport side
The government ferry is the cheapest way across and the slowest. It is run under the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA), which operates three crossing points: Government Wharf and Kissy Ferry Terminal in Freetown, and Tagrin Ferry Terminal on the Lungi side. During the ECOWAS mid-year summit in July 2026 SLPHA used the vessel MV Muzuk for an eight-day delegate ferry operation. We found no current published timetable or fare (the Ministry of Transport and Aviation fares page was unavailable when checked), so ask at the terminal. Expect 45 to 90 minutes on the water and delays; it lands at Kissy, far from the Aberdeen hotel district. See our Tagrin ferry transfer and the live ferry check, and the full guide to getting from Lungi to Freetown.
Aberdeen Water Taxi, Pelican and the hovercraft
You will see "Aberdeen Water Taxi" and "Pelican Water Taxis" in older guides; in practice the airport crossing today is Sea Coach Express and Seabird Express. The hovercraft that once linked Lungi and Aberdeen is reported to have stopped. No regular helicopter was found. See what actually runs.
Freetown airport hotels: sleep on the airport side first
Freetown airport hotels are in Lungi, because that is where the airport is. If your flight lands after dark, or you leave early, an airport hotel in Lungi lets you skip the night crossing and take the water taxi or ferry in daylight. Hariom Yogi Guest House is opposite the New Airport Gate in Kasongha, about 2.8 km (around 6 minutes by car) from the terminal: air-conditioned rooms from US$50, 24-hour reception and power, a guest kitchen, parking, free cancellation, and airport pickup on request (shuttle NLe 500 per trip). Send your flight number on WhatsApp +232 72 120 659. Compare hotels near Freetown airport in our guide to Freetown airport hotels, or read the one-page answer on where the airport is.
Everything about the airport itself: Freetown airport guide (FNA): arrivals, fees, hotels and the boat.
Which should you choose?
- Landing in daylight, want speed: Sea Coach or Seabird to Aberdeen, about US$50.
- Tight budget, flexible time: the public ferry, with a buffer for delays.
- Landing at night or leaving early: book a Freetown airport hotel in Lungi and cross in daylight.
- Going to Tokeh or the beaches: water taxi to Aberdeen, then the road south: see Lungi airport to Tokeh Beach.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the water taxi from Freetown airport to Freetown?
Sea Coach raised its adult one-way fare to US$50 (Le 1,200 in leones) and its child fare (ages 2 to 9) to US$30 (Le 720) on 8 April 2026. Seabird Express advertises fares from US$50 per passenger one way. Confirm the current price when you book.
Is there a ferry from Freetown airport to Freetown city?
Yes. There is a fast water taxi (Sea Coach Express, Seabird Express), a slower government car-and-passenger ferry between Tagrin on the Lungi side and Kissy or the Government Wharf in Freetown, and private charter speedboats. There is no bridge.
What is the difference between Sea Coach and Seabird?
Both are fast water taxis serving Freetown airport (Lungi). Sea Coach runs between the Lungi side and Aberdeen Bridge and publishes flight-linked boat timetables on its Facebook page. Seabird Express is based in Murray Town, advertises daily 24-hour service and takes bookings online and by WhatsApp. Fares are similar, from US$50 one way.
What time does the last boat leave Lungi airport for Freetown?
There is no single last-boat time. Sea Coach times its boats around flight arrivals and publishes a timetable that changes by month. Seabird advertises 24-hour service but its published table is inconsistent, so message it before you fly. Travellers and guides generally report that boats do not run reliably through the night.
Where does the Freetown airport water taxi land?
Sea Coach lands at Aberdeen Bridge, close to Freetown's main hotel district. Seabird is based in Murray Town. The government ferry lands at Kissy Terminal or the Government Wharf, further east in the city.
How long is the crossing from Freetown airport to Freetown?
About 30 to 35 minutes on the water for Sea Coach, and 20 to 30 minutes for Seabird according to its own pages. With immigration, baggage, the shuttle to the terminal and a taxi from the landing point, allow two to three hours door to door.
Can I book Sea Coach or Seabird online?
Seabird Express has an online booking page and a WhatsApp number. Sea Coach tickets are usually bought at its counter outside the airport, and some travellers pre-book. Arrive at the terminal at least 30 minutes before departure with your passport.
Are there hotels near Freetown airport?
Yes, in Lungi on the airport side of the water. Hariom Yogi Guest House is opposite the New Airport Gate in Kasongha, about 2.8 km from the terminal, with air-conditioned rooms from US$50, free cancellation and airport pickup on request.
Which hotel is closest to Freetown airport?
Freetown airport is in Lungi, so the closest hotels are in Lungi, not in Freetown city. Hariom Yogi Guest House is about 2.8 km (around 6 minutes by car) from the terminal.
Should I stay at an airport hotel in Lungi or cross to Freetown on arrival?
If you land after dark, or have an early flight out, an airport hotel in Lungi avoids crossing the water at night. If you land in daylight with no tight connection, you can cross the same day.
Is the water taxi rough?
The crossing can be slightly bumpy in the rainy season. Wear the life jacket you are given and keep luggage low and secured.
Is there a helicopter or hovercraft from Freetown airport?
Not reliably. The hovercraft that once ran between Lungi and Aberdeen is reported to have stopped, and no regular helicopter service was found.
Can I pay by card for the Freetown airport boat?
Do not count on it. Bring US dollars or leones in cash, and check payment options when you book.
Sources and what we could not verify
Sea Coach fares: Sierraloaded report of 8 April 2026. Seabird: its official site (lungiexpress.com) and Facebook page. Operator Facebook pages were checked on 9 October 2026; Sea Coach's own website could not be opened, so its contact details come from its Facebook page. The government ferry fare notice was unavailable. Confirm every price and time with the operator before you travel.
Freetown airport hotel, 2.8 km from the terminal
Sleep before the sea crossing. Rooms from US$50, free cancellation, airport pickup on request.
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