Money at Lungi International (FNA)
Currency, tipping and cash-vs-card for arrivals at Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Freetown uses the SLE (Le). Expected airport→city taxi fare is roughly US$40 speedboat. Cash only; USD accepted at airport transfers.
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 Lungi International (FNA)?
Sierra Leone uses the SLE (Le). Airport ATMs dispense SLE directly — skip the exchange kiosks.
Q.How much should a taxi from FNA to the city cost?
Expected fare on the FNA → Freetown center route is roughly US$40 speedboat. Around US$60+ is already high, and US$80 'private boat' is a scam quote — confirm the meter or a printed rate before you get in.
Q.Do I tip taxi drivers at FNA?
Not expected. Drivers in Sierra Leone 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 FNA?
Cash only; USD accepted at airport transfers. "Card machine broken" is the most common excuse to force a cash overpay — carry a small stack of SLE notes and you keep the leverage.
Q.Should I change money at FNA?
Only if you need $10–20 of SLE 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.