Trying to avoid paying crazy ATM fees while traveling in Cape Verde. Anyone found ATMs that are free for foreign cards? Would love specific banks or locations if possible.
I stayed at Riverside Boutique Hotel in Praia and used nearby Banco Comercial do Atlântico ATMs to get cash. Fees were quite standard but predictable, so I planned bigger withdrawals to save. Smaller towns often don’t have ATMs that accept foreign cards, so get enough cash while you’re in the capital. For budget travelers, carrying prepaid travel cards with fee-free ATM withdrawals in Cape Verde is a smart move.
On my trip to Cape Verde, Banco Comercial do Atlântico ATMs mostly accepted my Visa debit card. I paid some fees but nothing too crazy, around 250 CVE. ATM locations in Praia and on Santiago island were super important to me because peripheral islands don’t have many. I highly recommend using multi-currency cards like Wise for better rates and fewer fees. Airport ATMs tend to be more expensive, so avoid those if you can.
I struggled a bit with ATM fees in Cape Verde, especially when using smaller machines in Sal’s tourist areas. Banco InterAtlântico and Banco Comercial do Atlântico in Praia were my go-to spots for foreign card withdrawals because they had the lowest fees and reliable transactions. Daily withdrawal limits were enough for typical expenses. If you have a travel card with fee-free cash withdrawals, bring it along, it really helps.
In Cape Verde, I found Banco Comercial do Atlântico ATMs in Praia and Mindelo to be the friendliest for Visa and Mastercard users. The fees weren’t outrageous-usually a fixed amount around 200 to 300 CVE per withdrawal. Free ATMs are rare, so I recommend withdrawing larger amounts less often to cut down on fees. Some small local ATMs charge crazy fees or just don’t accept foreign cards, so better stick to major bank ATMs.