Is it okay to use ATMs late in the evening in Eritrea or should I stick to daytime withdrawals only? I am a single woman travelling so want to be safe.
I traveled independently in Eritrea for two weeks. ATMs are few and often offline. I relied on exchanging USD at official rates in hotel lobbies. There’s minimal risk walking around Asmara at night, but finding a working ATM after dark is extremely unlikely. If you’re budget traveling here, withdraw and exchange in daylight and keep your cash safe.
I tried to use an ATM in central Asmara around 8 PM. There were two machines outside a bank, but neither accepted foreign cards. The street felt calm and safe, but it was clear that night ATM usage isn’t common here. For anyone wondering: Eritrea doesn’t pose a security issue at night, but plan ahead - bring cash and exchange early.
While traveling through Keren, I realized fast that Eritrea’s banking is almost entirely cash-based. There were ATMs, but most didn’t work or weren’t loaded. Even in Asmara, machines inside hotels like the Asmara Palace were unreliable. Withdrawing cash after dark in Eritrea isn’t unsafe - it’s just not practical. Bring clean USD notes and exchange in daylight.
ATM safety at night in Eritrea isn’t really the issue - access is. In Asmara, I couldn’t find a single ATM that worked with foreign cards, even during the day. Locals mostly deal in cash. I exchanged USD at a hotel and carried enough for the trip. Night withdrawals aren’t recommended, but honestly, they’re not even an option for most travelers.