Travelling soon and looking for best ATMs in Somalia that work well with foreign debit/credit cards and dont charge crazy fees. Any recos will be highly appreciated.
For budget travelers in Somalia, Dahabshiil and Salaam Somali Bank ATMs are your lifesavers. While fees are unavoidable, sticking to these two banks at least means predictable charges. Visa is the safer card option-Mastercard sometimes has issues. Daily limits hover near $300, so plan accordingly and avoid smaller, independent ATMs that might charge crazy fees or be unreliable.
Somalia isn’t the best place for fees-free ATM use. My experience was with Dahabshiil ATMs in Mogadishu-they accept Visa and Mastercard but you’re looking at withdrawal fees around $7 plus foreign transaction fees from your bank. Daily withdrawal limits are around $300 to $400 depending on the card. Always have some USD cash because many places prefer it over cards.
I’ve tried using my Mastercard in a few Somali ATMs in Hargeisa and Mogadishu. While some ATMs at Salaam Somali Bank accepted foreign cards with fees not too steep, others charged really high fees or refused my card. Best tip: keep cash on hand since the banking system is still pretty limited and ATM options are scarce outside bigger cities.
Traveling in Mogadishu, I found that Dahabshiil Money Transfer and Salaam Somali Bank ATMs are the most used by foreigners. Visa debit cards work at these ATMs with fees around $5-7 per withdrawal. The daily limit is usually around $300. Cash is king in Somalia, so don't rely too much on cards, especially outside major cities. Be aware some ATMs might run out of cash, so withdraw enough when you find one.