Money at Banjul International (BJL)
Currency, tipping and cash-vs-card for arrivals at Banjul, Gambia.
Banjul uses the GMD (D). Expected airport→city taxi fare is roughly D 1,500–2,500 tourist taxi. Cash only; USD/EUR swap on arrival.
Airport currency kiosks quote rates 5–15% worse than any bank ATM inside the terminal. If you need cash on landing, use an in-terminal bank ATM — not the "0% commission" kiosks (the margin is in the rate).
Frequently asked
Q.What currency is used at Banjul International (BJL)?
Gambia uses the GMD (D). Airport ATMs dispense GMD directly — skip the exchange kiosks.
Q.How much should a taxi from BJL to the city cost?
Expected fare on the BJL → Kololi / Senegambia route is roughly D 1,500–2,500 tourist taxi. Around D 3,000+ is already high, and D 4,000+ is a scam quote — confirm the meter or a printed rate before you get in.
Q.Do I tip taxi drivers at BJL?
Not expected — round up. Drivers in Gambia don't rely on tips the way US drivers do; inflated "tips" are sometimes used to justify an overcharge — pay the metered fare first, then decide.
Q.Cash or card for a taxi at BJL?
Cash only; USD/EUR swap on arrival. "Card machine broken" is the most common excuse to force a cash overpay — carry a small stack of GMD notes and you keep the leverage.
Q.Should I change money at BJL?
Only if you need $10–20 of GMD to cover a taxi or a SIM card. Airport exchange kiosks quote 5–15% worse than a bank ATM in the same terminal. If your card has no FX fee, just pay by card and skip cash entirely.
Every transport option ranked, fare tiers, first-30-minute checklist and reported scams.