Is it safe to withdraw cash in Nepal or not?
When I was in Nepal in April, I stayed at a guesthouse in Thamel that had a NIC Asia ATM right in the lobby. That was the only place I withdrew cash after dark. Outside ATMs were often dimly lit or closed behind security gates by 10 pm. The country overall feels quite safe, but after-hours ATM use isn’t ideal, especially in quieter areas or side streets. I’d suggest sticking to hotel-linked machines or busy main roads, and definitely avoid using Euronet or unbranded ATMs late at night.
I spent four weeks in Nepal trekking and stayed mostly in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur. My advice? Only use ATMs during the day or inside a hotel lobby if it’s late. A friend of mine had her bag snatched outside an ATM in Patan around 10 pm it wasn’t violent, but it was enough to scare me off night withdrawals. During the day, I used Nabil Bank and Standard Chartered ATMs without any problem. Most banks close early, so plan your cash needs ahead if you’re in a less touristy part of town.
I stayed in Pokhara earlier this year and made the mistake of going out alone to get cash around 11 pm. I found a Himalayan Bank ATM on the main Lakeside strip, but the area was quieter than I expected, and a couple of guys hanging around made me feel uneasy. Nothing happened, but I definitely wouldn’t recommend night withdrawals in less busy areas. If you're a solo traveller especially a woman try to withdraw during daylight or early evening. I started withdrawing in the mornings after that experience and had zero issues.
I was in Kathmandu this February and found myself needing cash around 9:30 pm near Thamel. I used a Global IME Bank ATM attached to a 24-hour convenience store, and it was well-lit with a security camera right above. I didn’t feel unsafe, but I kept things quick and stayed alert. Locals I met later told me it’s best to avoid street-corner ATMs late at night and instead look for ones inside hotels, banks, or stores. Nepal’s crime rates aren’t sky-high, but pickpocketing can happen, especially in tourist zones.
Security guard was helpful, but ATM was out of money and often broken.