The Gambia requires visas on arrival for most nationalities except ECOWAS member state citizens and a limited number of Commonwealth countries. British citizens receive 28 days visa-free. Most other visitors purchase entry permits at Banjul International Airport immigration desks for approximately 1000-2000 dalasi depending on nationality and duration. Official visa policy changes periodically. Check https://www.mfa.gov.gm before departure for current requirements specific to your passport.
Banjul International Airport stands 24 kilometers from the capital on the Atlantic coast. Taxis queue outside arrivals with fixed-zone pricing displayed on boards inside the terminal. Expect 600-800 dalasi for transport to hotels in the coastal tourist areas of Kololi and Kotu, 400-500 dalasi to Serekunda, 300-400 dalasi to Banjul proper. Private transfers booked through hotels typically cost 1000-1500 dalasi. No public buses serve the airport directly. Shared bush taxis operate from the main road 1 kilometer from the terminal but require walking with luggage.
The dalasi divides into 100 bututs though coins below 1 dalasi have disappeared from circulation. Exchange rates against major currencies fluctuate. As of 2024, rates hover near 60-65 dalasi per US dollar, 70-75 per euro, 80-85 per British pound, though parallel market rates in Serekunda often run 5-10 percent better than official bank windows. Banks cluster along Kairaba Avenue in Serekunda and around July 22 Drive in Banjul. Standard Chartered, Guaranty Trust Bank, and Ecobank maintain the most ATMs dispensing dalasi in 500 and 1000 note denominations with per-transaction limits typically capped at 5000-10000 dalasi.
Currency exchange bureaus operate openly in Serekunda market areas and along the coastal tourist strip in Kololi. Rates display on handwritten boards. Count notes carefully before leaving counters. Major hotels exchange currency at rates 3-5 percent below street bureaus. Bringing US dollars or euros in clean recent bills avoids rejection. Torn or heavily marked notes frequently receive refused or discounted rates. Credit cards work at upscale hotels and a handful of restaurants in tourist areas but acceptance remains limited. Visa functions more reliably than Mastercard. Transaction fees typically add 3-5 percent.
Coastal resorts and tourist-oriented restaurants price services in foreign currency or dalasi equivalent, creating two-tier pricing structures. A hotel room quoted at 80 euros typically costs 5600 dalasi at official rates but acceptance of dalasi payment varies by property. Budget guesthouses in Serekunda and Banjul quote exclusively in dalasi, ranging 800-2000 per night for basic rooms with fan, 2500-5000 for air conditioning. Street food prices remain stable: tapalapa bread costs 5-10 dalasi, cafe toubab breakfast 50-100 dalasi, attaya tea rounds 25 dalasi, domoda and benachin plates at local chop shops 75-150 dalasi.
Shared transport dominates local movement. Green tourist taxis operate on meters in theory but drivers negotiate fixed fares in practice. Kololi to Serekunda runs 150-200 dalasi, Serekunda to Banjul 100-150 dalasi. Yellow town taxis within Serekunda charge 50-75 dalasi for short hops. Bush taxis pack passengers into aging sedans and minivans along fixed routes when full. Serekunda to Brikama costs 25-30 dalasi, Serekunda to Soma 150 dalasi, full transit to Basse Santa Su in Upper River region reaches 400-500 dalasi across 6-8 hours with multiple vehicle changes.
The Gambia Commercial and Development Bank and Access Bank post network maps showing ATM locations online. Cash remains necessary for all transactions outside major hotels. Villages lack banking infrastructure entirely. Mobile money transfers through Africell and Gamcel networks enable payments at some shops in Serekunda and regional towns but require local SIM cards and registration. QCell, Africell, and Gamcel SIM cards sell for 50-100 dalasi at street stalls and shops near transport hubs. Registration requires passport presentation. Credit costs approximately 100 dalasi per gigabyte, 50 dalasi for 100 local minutes.
Electrical supply runs on British-standard 220-240 volt three-pin plugs. Power cuts occur multiple times weekly in most areas, daily in some neighborhoods. Hotels in tourist zones operate backup generators. Budget accommodations experience blackouts lasting 2-8 hours. Bringing a headlamp proves useful. Water from taps requires boiling or chemical treatment. Bottled water costs 25-35 dalasi for 1.5 liters at shops, 50-75 dalasi at hotels. Ice in drinks outside international hotels comes from untreated sources.