Trying to figure out if buses and metros in Somalia take cards or if Ill need small cash. Any recent experiences?
Being in Somalia meant carrying cash everywhere, especially for minibuses and taxis. No metro rides here as the system doesn’t exist, and cards aren’t accepted on any public transport. I’d recommend small denominations and planning ATM visits carefully, as they are not widespread.
From my experience in Somalia, buses and local transport require cash payments. There are no card terminals on vehicles or ticket booths. I had to get cash beforehand at Dahabshiil money transfer offices to pay fares. Small bills in Somali shilling are key to avoid change issues.
If you want to use buses in Somalia, carry cash. Card payments just don’t happen on public transport in places like Hargeisa or Mogadishu. I took local shared taxis called ‘dala-dala’ and all paid cash on board. No metros to worry about, so it’s old-school fares and cash only.
Somalia’s public transport scene is pretty basic-no metro system and mostly minibuses or shared taxis. Cash is absolutely required; I never saw anyone use cards on buses around Mogadishu. Keep plenty of Somali shilling in small bills because fares are cheap but drivers expect exact cash payment. Also, ATMs are limited, so plan your cash withdrawals wisely.