ATMs in Nepal are generally reliable in major cities such as Kathmandu and Pokhara, but they can be inconsistent, especially during peak tourist seasons, holidays, or system outages. Travellers should expect occasional issues such as machines running out of cash, network errors, or withdrawal limits.
Outside major cities, ATM availability drops significantly. In smaller towns and trekking regions, ATMs may be rare or completely unavailable. Even when an ATM exists, it may not always be operational. For this reason, travellers heading outside urban areas are strongly advised to withdraw sufficient cash in advance.
Most ATMs in Nepal have daily withdrawal limits, and foreign cards may incur transaction fees from both the local bank and the card issuer. It’s common for travellers to make multiple withdrawals to access larger amounts of cash.
The safest approach is to carry a mix of cash and cards, withdraw money in cities when possible, and avoid relying on ATMs once you leave major tourist centers.
Did you experience any ATM issues while traveling in Nepal, or did you find them reliable enough?
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