Just landed - wondering what gives the better rate in Bhutan: ATM withdrawal or airport exchange counter?
Best approach in Bhutan is a mix: exchange a small amount at the airport for taxis and meals, then use ATMs in Thimphu for the bulk of your money. Budget BTN 2,000-3,000 per day depending on activities. ATMs give better rates but can be unreliable, so carry some USD or INR as a backup. Avoid converting large sums at the airport unless you want to lose value. Always keep spare cash before heading to rural areas where ATMs are rare.
Bhutan’s airport exchange counters take advantage of tourists. I swapped $200 there and lost way more compared to the rate I later got in town. Worse, when I tried using an ATM in Paro, it was offline. I had to depend on what little I exchanged at the airport, which didn’t last long. Bhutan is amazing, but not having enough cash for taxis or restaurants was stressful. If you’re budgeting BTN 3,000-4,000 for a day of tours, plan better than I did.
I changed a little money at Paro Airport when I landed, but the rate wasn’t great. The next day, I used a Bank of Bhutan ATM in Thimphu, and the difference was clear. I was spending about BTN 2,000 daily on food, taxis, and monasteries like Taktshang. The ATM gave me more ngultrum for the same USD. That said, I did keep some emergency USD, since ATMs sometimes ran out of cash. My advice: split between a small airport exchange and ATM withdrawals.
In Bhutan, ATMs in Thimphu and Paro give a better rate than the airport exchange counters. Banks like Bank of Bhutan and Druk PNB provide fair conversion rates, though sometimes withdrawals can fail if the network is down. The airport exchange is convenient but charges extra. If you’re budgeting BTN 1,500-2,500 per day for meals, entry fees, and local travel, use an ATM for better value but always carry backup USD cash in case machines aren’t working.