Wondering how to pay for metro and bus rides in Isle of Man - cash only, or do cards work too?
Transport on the Isle of Man was more flexible than I expected. From my Airbnb in Onchan, I hopped on Bus #13 into Douglas and paid with my Revolut card - no problems at all. Later in Ramsey, the same card tap worked fine. Drivers were friendly and even explained that if the contactless didn’t go through, I could pay at Lloyds Bank ATM nearby and hop back on the next bus. So while cash is still common, I had a smooth time with cards.
Honestly, I found Isle of Man buses old-fashioned. Staying in Port St Mary, I had to carry coins every day because my card kept getting declined on older buses. At Peel, the driver flat-out said “cash only.” Even in Douglas Bus Station, no one mentioned which lines had contactless and which didn’t. I wasted time running to a Santander ATM just to get coins. For a place connected to the UK, it feels like the bus system is stuck in the past.
I stayed at a guesthouse near Douglas Sea Terminal and relied on Bus Vannin for trips around the island. Every single time I used cash - usually £2-3 coins for a ride. Once I asked the driver on the Castletown route if he took cards, and he said only some of the newer double-deckers had that feature. Even at Douglas Bus Station, I saw people queuing at the ticket office to pay cash. If you’re here, assume coins rule.
There’s no metro in the Isle of Man, but plenty of buses run across the island. I stayed in Douglas and caught buses to Peel and Ramsey. Tickets are usually cash - you pay the driver in GBP or Manx pounds, and they’ll give change. However, Bus Vannin has introduced contactless payments on newer buses, and my Visa card worked fine from Douglas Promenade to Port Erin. Still, not every bus accepts it, so it’s wise to keep small cash handy.