Trying to figure out if buses and metros in Cambodia take cards or if Ill need small cash. Any recent experiences?
Tried using my RuPay and Visa cards all over Phnom Penh but for transportation nothing worked. Even Grab only worked sometimes with card. Better to withdraw local riel or USD from an ATM and keep it handy. Local buses only take cash and they do not have change for large bills. I carried a bunch of one dollar bills and 1000 riel notes and that worked great.
Used buses a few times around Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. No chance to use debit or credit cards directly on public transport. Even long distance buses like Giant Ibis or Virak Buntham want cash if you book in person. Online booking is possible with cards but for anything spontaneous or local small cash is a must.
There is no metro in Cambodia as of now. In Phnom Penh the main options are city buses tuk tuks and apps like Grab or PassApp. For city buses I only saw locals using a prepaid transit card and tourists handing over cash directly to the driver. Tuk tuks and PassApp drivers prefer cash too even if the app shows a card option. Keep plenty of small riel notes with you.
Just got back from Phnom Penh last week. The city bus system now uses a contactless card system called Phnom Penh City Bus Card which locals top up at kiosks but tourists usually just pay in cash. No international cards accepted on the buses yet. Fare is 1500 riel which is about 0.40 USD and they expect exact change so it is smart to carry small bills or coins.