Not sure if I should carry coins for public transport in Bahrain or if card payments are common. Advice?
I was impressed with Bahrain’s buses. From the airport, I caught bus # A1 into Manama using a GO Card. The vending machine at the terminal happily took my Visa, and the ride only cost 250 fils. Tapping in and out felt like being in Europe. The buses were air-conditioned, clean, and reliable. If you have a contactless card, you can manage without using cash at all.
The system works with GO Cards only, but what annoyed me was that my foreign Mastercard didn’t work at the ticket machine in Isa Town. I had to withdraw dinars at a BBK ATM and pay cash to load. No option for paying the driver directly. So while the buses are modern, tourists should be ready with either a working card or some local currency.
When I stayed near Juffair, I took buses into Manama every day. The driver told me no cash, only GO Cards. Luckily, I bought one at the Muharraq terminal for 1 dinar and loaded it with my Mastercard. The tap-in system was simple. Once, my card didn’t work at the vending machine, so I reloaded with cash at a small shop. Honestly, it was modern and tourist-friendly compared to what I expected.
Bahrain doesn’t have a metro yet, but buses are run by Bahrain Public Transport Company. You can’t pay the driver in cash - you need a GO Card. They sell for BHD 1 and can be loaded at vending machines, bus terminals, and partner shops. The machines accept both cash and cards (Visa/Mastercard). I bought mine at the Manama bus terminal with my Visa. ATMs from BBK and Ahli United Bank are easy to find if you need dinars.