Is it safe to withdraw cash in Burundi or not?
Burundi has limited ATM infrastructure outside major towns. After 8 PM, most shops and banks close, and there’s little reason to be out with cash. If you need to withdraw, daylight hours are a safer and more reliable bet.
While in downtown Bujumbura, I walked past a few ATMs after dark but didn’t feel comfortable using them. The streets empty fast here. Though crime isn’t rampant, the sense of unpredictability after sunset made me skip the idea.
The ATM outside my hotel worked with my international card, but I always withdrew cash during the day. Some travelers I met had issues with machines running out of money in the evening. Best to plan ahead.
In Bujumbura, I used an Ecobank ATM around 7:30 PM, just before it got too quiet. There were streetlights, but few people around. The machine worked, but ATM use in Burundi after dark isn’t recommended - locals often warn travelers about petty crime near empty streets.