Need cash when I land, best place in DRC? Airport or places in the city?
I found airport exchange rates in DRC to be unfavorable. Use city exchange spots in Kinshasa’s Lingwala area or the Lumumba Market for better value. ATM reliability is spotty; Rawbank ATMs took my Visa card, but not all travelers are so lucky. Cash in USD or euros is the safest bet.
Exchange counters in DRC airports add big margins on rates. If you can, change some money before landing and then top up at local forex bureaus near Gombe or Limete in Kinshasa. Rawbank and Ecobank ATMs sometimes work but carrying cash in hard currencies is smarter given local challenges.
I avoided the DRC’s N’djili Airport exchange booths because the rates felt like a ripoff. Instead, I went to Kinshasa’s downtown currency exchange centers or used Banque Internationale pour l’Afrique au Congo (BIAC) ATMs with some luck. Cash remains king in DRC, so have euros or dollars ready for exchanging over there.
In Kinshasa, airport exchange counters are convenient but offer poor rates and often add hefty fees. It’s better to exchange money at city spots like the Marché Central or Banque Commerciale du Congo (BCDC) branches for a more favorable rate. ATMs at major banks like Rawbank work, but many international cards may have issues, so bring enough cash in euros or USD.