Travelling soon and looking for best ATMs in Libya that work well with foreign debit/credit cards and dont charge crazy fees. Any recos will be highly appreciated.
My take on ATMs in Libya: Bank of Libya and Jamahiriya Bank have the best machines for foreigners. The fees are not too steep, usually a flat rate per withdrawal. I found $200-300 USD daily cash limit was enough. However, not every ATM accepts foreign cards, so it’s smart to check with your bank for partnerships. Also, don’t leave cash withdrawal to the last minute since some machines run out.
For withdrawing cash in Libya, Bank of Libya ATMs in central Tripoli worked well for me. Visa and Mastercard from big banks were accepted and fees were reasonable-nothing crazy. Daily withdrawal limits were around 1000 LYD. Avoid small or private ATMs near the markets-they tend to charge hidden fees or might reject foreign cards. I stayed at the Al Marsa hotel nearby and they recommended using bank ATMs for safer transactions.
Honestly, I wasn’t super impressed with the ATM situation in Libya. Tried using Mastercard at a Jamahiriya Bank machine and it accepted my card but charges were higher than I expected. The daily limit was around 800 LYD, but some machines randomly shut off or won’t accept foreign cards, especially outside Tripoli. Best advice: bring enough cash with you and only rely on ATMs if you really have to.
If you’re headed to Tripoli, the best ATMs for foreign cards are usually at big banks like Bank of Libya and Jamahiriya Bank. I used my Visa card at Bank of Libya’s ATM near Martyrs’ Square and the fees were okay, about 3-5 LYD per withdrawal. Daily limits were enough for typical travel expenses, around 1,000 LYD. Just a heads-up though, some ATMs can be glitchy or run out of cash, so carry some backup cash if you can.