Travel guide
Bhutan Currency, Payments & Connectivity
Currency & Payments
Currency & Accepted Legal Tender
Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN / Nu.): The national currency, pegged 1:1 with the Indian Rupee (INR).
Indian Rupee (INR): Widely accepted across Bhutan at par. ₹100 and ₹500 banknotes are routinely accepted in shops, hotels, and restaurants.
Foreign Currency Exchange: Major currencies (USD, EUR, GBP) can be exchanged at Paro International Airport, commercial banks (Bank of Bhutan, Bhutan National Bank), and larger hotels. Keep official exchange receipts to convert leftover Ngultrum back before departing.
Payment Methods & Banking
Cash is Essential: Necessary for tipping guides and drivers, small purchases at handicraft stalls, farmhouses, rural communities, and local cafes.
Credit & Debit Cards: Visa and Mastercard are accepted at major 3-to-5-star hotels, high-end handicraft emporiums, and select restaurants in Thimphu and Paro. Expect a 3% to 5% processing surcharge on card transactions.
ATMs: Available in primary urban centers (Thimphu, Paro, Punakha, Phuntsholing). International card acceptance can be intermittent, so do not rely solely on ATM withdrawals for daily expenses.
Digital Wallets & UPI:
Indian Travelers: Can use UPI and BHIM QR codes at supported merchant points.
goBoB Wallet: International travelers can register and load funds onto the Bank of Bhutan’s mobile wallet for domestic QR payments.
National Crypto Tourism Payments
How It Works: Bhutan operates a nationwide digital payment framework via a partnership between Binance Pay and DK Bank (Bhutan’s licensed digital bank). International travelers can scan standard DK Bank or Binance Pay QR codes using the Binance mobile app to pay instantly without gas fees.
Accepted Assets & Settlement: Supports over 100 cryptocurrencies (including USDT, USDC, BTC, ETH, and BNB). Payments are entered in BTN and automatically converted, allowing local merchants to settle immediately in local currency without exposure to crypto volatility.
Network Coverage: Active across thousands of tourism and retail merchants nationwide, covering airline tickets, hotel stays, tour services, monument fees, restaurants, handicraft shops, and local market vendors.
Mobile Networks & Connectivity
Primary Carriers:
B-Mobile (Bhutan Telecom): Widest geographic coverage across highway corridors, remote valleys, and trekking routes.
TashiCell: Reliable high-speed 4G/LTE performance in major urban centers and standard tourist hubs.
Tourist SIM & eSIM: Available at Paro International Airport arrival counters and telco service centers in Thimphu and Paro. Requires a passport and visa/entry permit clearance copy. Packages range from Nu. 200–500 for basic data up to Nu. 1,100–1,900 for high-capacity multi-day plans.
Wi-Fi Availability: Standard in certified hotels, resorts, and city cafes, though speeds can drop in high-altitude mountain passes and remote valleys.