Wondering how to pay for metro and bus rides in Rwanda - cash only, or do cards work too?
When I stayed at Discover Rwanda Hostel in Kigali, I used Tap&Go cards daily. At Nyabugogo station, I paid 500 RWF to get the card and recharged it with cash from a Bank of Kigali ATM nearby. On buses to Kimironko, you just tap at the door - no coins or notes accepted anymore. Once, I tried asking if I could load with my Visa card at the kiosk, but they only wanted cash. Still, it was easier than carrying around coins for every ride.
Tried paying with my Visa on the city bus once and got a blank stare from the driver. That ticket cost me RWF 400-small bills only. I started carrying a roll of RWF 1,000 bills, and that smoothed everything. Tour buses also take cash. It's not fancy, but it works-and avoids losing precious airtime messing with apps.
Spent two weeks commuting between Kigali and Musanze. Public buses accept only cash; I paid RWF 800 for a 1.5-hour ride. Some buses sell tickets at kiosks before boarding, card machines didn’t work. Moto taxis are strictly cash. No metro or digital ticketing yet. My routine: refill RWF daily from my cheap travel card, then spend like a local.
Used city buses and minibuses from Kigali to Nyamata last month-100% cash. Paid the driver directly and got a ticket stub. No machines, no contactless. Moto taxis? Same deal. They expect small notes, so keep RWF 1,000 or RWF 2,000 handy. It’s simple, old-school but efficient, and avoids that awkward fumbling for change.
Rwanda doesn’t have a metro-just buses and moto taxis. I rode the Kigali buses in April and had to pay in cash, exactly RWF 300-500. Drivers don’t take cards or apps. I always carry small bills or RWF coins in my pack-makes life easier. No need to fuss with tap-and-go like in big cities. Just cash, and you're golden.