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Gambia Vibes · Travel Tips · Money

The Gambia is a cash country. Cards work in the bigger hotels and some supermarkets, ATMs work most of the time, but the taxi driver, the market woman, the boat captain and the juice seller all want dalasi in their hand. Arrive knowing how the money works and you will save both money and nerves.

The dalasi

The dalasi replaced the Gambian pound in 1971. It floats against other currencies, and it is much more stable against the euro now than in some earlier years. In 2026 one euro bought roughly D84 to D88. Notes come in D5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100 and 200, and you will see a lot of well-used small notes. Keep plenty of them, because "no change" is a standard answer at a stall when you hand over a D200 note.

Euros, pounds and dollars are widely accepted on the tourist strip, in hotels and by tour operators. But prices in foreign currency are usually rounded in the seller's favour. In dalasi you pay less.

Changing money

• Banks and licensed bureaus in Serrekunda, Kololi, Kairaba Avenue, Bakau and Banjul give fair rates and a receipt.
• Hotel reception is convenient but usually gives a worse rate.
• Street changers sometimes offer a better rate, and sometimes count fast, fold notes or switch bundles. If you use one, count every note yourself before you hand over your money.
• Bring clean notes. Torn, marked or very old euro, pound and dollar notes may be refused or get a worse rate.
• CFA francs are useful if you are travelling on to Senegal.

ATMs

ATMs are easy to find in the coastal area: Kololi, Kotu, Serrekunda, Bakau, Banjul and along the main highways. Upriver there are far fewer. In Janjanbureh or Basse, do not count on one.

• The banks most often recommended for foreign cards are Standard Chartered, Ecobank, GTBank and Access Bank, with Trust Bank in the towns.
• Some machines take only Visa, others only Mastercard. Carry both if you can.
• Expect a local fee of about D200 per withdrawal, plus your own bank's charges. Withdrawals are often limited to D3,000–4,000 at a time, with daily limits around D10,000 at some banks.
• If the machine offers to charge you in your home currency, choose "without conversion" / in dalasi. The "convenient" home-currency option uses a poor rate.
• American Express, Diners and UnionPay cards generally do not work at ATMs.
• Power and network cuts can switch ATMs off for hours. Never let your cash run down to zero.

Paying by card

Bigger hotels, supermarkets, some restaurants, car hire firms and tour operators take cards, mainly Visa and Mastercard. Some hotels add a surcharge of up to 5%. Small restaurants, taxis, markets and most of what happens outside the tourist strip are cash only. Gambians themselves use mobile money a lot, but as a short-term visitor you will mostly pay cash.

Bargaining

At craft markets and with taxis that are not on fixed fares, bargaining is normal and expected. Start low, stay friendly, and know your limit before you begin. Supermarkets, restaurants with menus and fixed-fare transport are not places to bargain. Remember that a few dalasi matter much more to the seller than to you. Bargain for a fair price, not for a victory.

Leaving with dalasi

The dalasi is hard to change outside The Gambia, apart from in Senegal. Spend it before you go, or change it back at a bank in the coastal area while you still can.

Sources: ValutaFX, EUR/GMD history 2026. ATM Fee Saver, Cash and ATMs in Gambia (updated February 2026). AccessGambia, card acceptance. Government of Canada, The Gambia travel advice, money section.

Gambia Vibes · Part of the Ghana-Net network · Updated and fact-checked: 6 November 2026