Bahrain
Currency in Bahrain: what to use and how to exchange
Bahrain uses the Bahraini dinar (BHD, BD), divided into 1,000 fils and pegged to the US dollar. Bring a small amount of cash for the first day, then withdraw dinars from a bank ATM or pay by card; exchange leftover cash at the airport or a bank branch before you leave.
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GuideBahrain
Key facts
- Currency
- Bahraini dinar (BHD, BD) = 1,000 fils
- Pegcheck
- Fixed to the US dollar (check the current rate before you travel)
- Notes
- BD 1/2, 1, 5, 10, 20 (check)
- Coins
- 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 fils (check)
- Cards
- Widely accepted in malls, hotels and larger restaurants; carry cash for the souq and small shops
- ATMs
- Common in Manama, malls and the airport; bank ATMs usually give the best rate
- Airport ratecheck
- Usually the weakest; change only what you need on arrival
- Cash declarationcheck
- Amounts above the local threshold must be declared on entry — check the current figure
Details
The dinar is one of the world's higher-valued currencies, so a single BD 10 note covers a full day of taxis and meals. Prices are quoted in dinars, and small shops still price in fils — 500 fils is half a dinar, not five dinars. Read the decimal point carefully, especially on card terminals.
Because the dinar is pegged to the dollar, the rate barely moves. That means there is little to gain from timing your exchange, and no reason to hold dinars after your trip. Change money at a bank or a licensed exchange in Manama rather than a hotel desk, which usually offers a worse rate.
Cards work in malls, hotels, supermarkets and most mid-range restaurants. The souq, small cafés, taxis and market stalls are still cash-first, so keep BD 20–30 in small notes on you. Contactless is common, but some terminals ask for a signature rather than a PIN.
If you arrive by air, the airport has ATMs and exchange counters. Withdraw a small amount there and get the rest in the city. Outside Manama, ATMs thin out quickly, so top up before you drive to the fort or the burial mounds.
Summary table
| Item | What to expect | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Currency | Bahraini dinar (BHD, BD), 1,000 fils | Pegged to the US dollar |
| Best rate | Bank ATM or licensed exchange in Manama | Hotel desks are usually worse |
| Airport | ATMs and counters open around the clock | Rate usually the weakest — take only what you need |
| Cards | Accepted in malls, hotels, larger restaurants | Cash for souq, taxis and small shops |
| Cash to carry | BD 20–30 in small notes | Useful for the first day and the souq |
| Leftover dinars | Spend or exchange before departure | Few places outside Bahrain accept BHD |
| Tipping | Service charge often added; round up or 10% where none | See the money and tipping page |
Tips
- Tell your bank you are travelling so your card is not blocked on the first withdrawal.
- Choose to be charged in dinars, not your home currency, when a terminal offers the choice.
- Keep small notes and coins for taxis and the souq; large notes are hard to break early in the day.
- Check your own government's travel advice before booking — the security situation since February 2026 can change flights at short notice.
FAQ
Questions people ask
What currency is used in Bahrain?
The Bahraini dinar (BHD, written BD), divided into 1,000 fils. It is pegged to the US dollar, so the rate is stable. Notes run from 500 fils to BD 20; coins from 5 to 100 fils.
Where is the best place to exchange money in Bahrain?
A bank ATM or a licensed exchange in Manama usually gives the best rate. Airport counters and hotel desks are convenient but weaker. Withdraw a small amount at the airport and the rest in the city.
Is it better to bring cash or use a card in Bahrain?
Use both. Cards work in malls, hotels and larger restaurants, but the souq, taxis and small shops are cash-first. Carry BD 20–30 in small notes and withdraw more from a bank ATM as needed.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialBahrain Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- officialBahrain Central Bank
- secondaryWikivoyage – Bahrain