Trying to find out if Burundi widely accepts Amex cards in restaurants and shops and ATMs - any suggestions
Heading to Burundi? Make a plan with Visa or Mastercard instead of relying on AmEx. ATMs in Bujumbura (like Bank of Africa on Avenue du 28 Novembre) might dispense cash with those cards, but won’t with AmEx. Restaurants, shops, and markets don’t support it. Bring CFA francs in small denominations for food, taxis, markets, especially outside urban areas. Keeping a backup card will keep your trip smooth-AmEx, not so much here.
I tried to pay with AmEx at a small restaurant near the Intwari Stadium, and the cashier looked baffled. Later, at ShowBiz cinema in Jabe, they only processed Mastercard. ATMs at Ecobank on Boulevard de l’Uprona gave me an error when I inserted my AmEx. I eventually used it as an emergency backup, but stuck mostly to cash and Visa. If you bring AmEx to Burundi, expect to not use it.
Despite bringing an AmEx card to Bujumbura, I had to adapt quickly. Larger shops on Avenue de l’OUA took Visa just fine, which felt helpful. The Burundi Serena Hotel let me pay with Visa as well, but said AmEx wasn’t supported. I switched to cash for everything else-markets, moto taxis, groceries. Still, having Visa and some cash turned a potential headache into a smooth exploration!
In Bujumbura, I saw almost no acceptance of American Express. Even places like Hotel Club du Lac Tanganyika’s restaurant and Avenue du Lac cafés said no. ATMs at Bank of Africa or Ecobank generally process Visa or Mastercard-not AmEx. Small corner shops and markets are entirely cash-based. My conclusion: don’t plan on using AmEx in Burundi; it’s not part of the payment ecosystem.