Wondering if ATMs and places like restaurants shops in Nepal easily take American Express or its better to get a Visa or Mastercard
I landed in Nepal with an Amex and a Wise Mastercard, and quickly found out that Amex is practically useless outside of a few luxury hotels. I tried using it at a boutique in Patan and again at a travel agency in Pokhara both said “card not supported.” Meanwhile, my Wise Mastercard worked flawlessly, even at smaller cafes and most ATMs. It's not about Amex being “bad,” but Nepal’s payment infrastructure just doesn’t support it widely. You’ll be much better off using Visa or Mastercard for daily spending.
I was recently in Nepal for a month-long trip and found that American Express acceptance is very limited, even in major cities. Most ATMs didn’t recognize it for cash withdrawal, and restaurants, shops, and even higher-end hotels preferred Visa or Mastercard. I had an Amex Platinum but could only use it twice once at an upscale bakery in Kathmandu and once at a branded hotel. For smooth payments, your safest bet is to carry a Visa card. Mastercard worked fine too, including at trekking lodges where they accepted card at all.
I brought my Amex card to Nepal thinking I could rack up some points on hotel and restaurant spends, but it barely got accepted. Even at big-name places in Kathmandu like Dwarika’s Hotel or international chains, some staff looked unsure when I handed over Amex. I had way better luck using my Visa debit and Mastercard credit they worked everywhere from Thamel cafes to trekking gear shops in Pokhara. If you're heading to Nepal, definitely bring a Visa or Mastercard Amex just isn't reliable.
Prabhu Bank ATM doesnt support Mastercard-only Visa and a few others.
Nabil Bank supports a wide range of cards and has one of Nepals strongest ATM networks.