Comoros — Shopping
Shopping
Comoran products can be purchased at Moroni on Ngazidja (Grande Comore). These include gold, pearl and shell jewelry, woven cloth, embroidered skull-caps (koffia) and slippers, carved chests, panels and portes-croix (lecterns), pottery and basketry. Most items can be bought in the villages where they are made.
Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0830-1200 and 1500-1830 (often shops remain open until later).
Currency
Comoros Franc (KMF) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of KMF10,000, 5,000, 2,500, 1,000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of KMF20, 10, 5, 2 and 1, and 20 centimes. The Comoros Franc is part of the French Monetary Area and Euros and US Dollars are also commonly used. The Comoros Franc is tied to the Euro.
Currency Exchange
Foreign currency may be exchanged in banks in the towns. Banking facilities are very limited on the other islands.
Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and ATMs
There is limited acceptance of most international credit cards (mainly in hotels). Some hotels and restaurants will accept foreign currencies, mostly Euros and US Dollars. Change may be given in local currency.
Travelers Checks
The Banque d'Industrie et Commerce (BIC) (also known as the Banque Internationale des Comores) is the only bank that will change traveler's checks. There is no blanket policy on hotels accepting traveler's checks and travelers are advised to contact hotels individually.
To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveler's checks in Euros.
Currency Restrictions
There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency.
Banking Hours
Mon-Thurs 0730-1300; Fri 0730-1100.
Exchange Rate
| 1.00 GBP = 559.8 KMF |
| 1.00 USD = 348.48 KMF |
| 1.00 EUR = 491.92 KMF |
| Currency conversion rates as of 19 July 2011 |
