Exchange USD at airport or withdraw from ATM in Bahrain?

Best method in Bahrain is to withdraw from ATMs in town. The airport counter is okay for emergency cash, but the markup is steep. If you’re budgeting BHD 100-150 for a few days of food, sightseeing, and taxis, withdrawing that amount at once will save you fees. ATMs are all over Manama and work well with Visa or Mastercard. Keep Amex only for hotels, not for cash withdrawals. Always decline dynamic currency conversion if it pops up - stick to local BHD for the best deal.

I made the mistake of exchanging a large amount of cash at the Bahrain airport counter, and the rate was terrible compared to what ATMs offered later in the city. They really take advantage of new arrivals. Even though ATMs add on a small fee, I still got more dinars per dollar. I ended up budgeting about BHD 40-60 daily and regretted not waiting until I found an ATM. My advice - only exchange a little at the airport if you’re desperate, otherwise you’re throwing away money.

When I landed in Manama, I changed a small amount at the airport to cover my taxi, but the rate wasn’t great. Later, I used an NBB ATM in the city and got a much better conversion. I was budgeting around BHD 30 a day for meals, transport, and a few activities, and withdrawing directly from the machine saved me quite a bit. If you’re planning to shop in malls or dine at upscale restaurants, definitely skip airport counters - ATMs are far better for exchange rates.

In Bahrain, you’ll almost always get a better rate from an ATM than from the airport exchange counter. ATMs linked to major banks like BBK, NBB, and Ahli United usually give near market rates, though your home bank may charge a foreign withdrawal fee. The exchange counters at the airport are convenient but typically take a larger margin. If you’re budgeting BHD 15-20 for a casual meal or BHD 50+ for daily expenses including taxis, use an ATM for better value. Just withdraw enough at once to avoid multiple bank fees.