Trying to find out if Mongolia widely accepts American Express cards in restaurants and shops and ATMs - any suggestions
In Mongolia, Amex is practically irrelevant. Bring it only for emergencies, but don’t expect it to work at ATMs or restaurants. Plan to use Visa/Mastercard for withdrawals in Ulaanbaatar and cash everywhere else. Budget ₮100,000-200,000 per day if including tours, meals, and accommodation, all of which require cash. For countryside travel, carry enough money beforehand since ATMs are limited. Amex won’t be useful for authentic Mongolian travel.
Amex in Mongolia was completely useless. Not a single ATM worked, and restaurants didn’t accept it either. Even in Ulaanbaatar, supermarkets and cafés refused. I had to use Visa for everything, from train tickets to groceries. It was stressful since I initially thought I could rely on Amex. If you’re heading to Mongolia, don’t even pack it - it’ll just weigh you down. Visa and cash are the only reliable ways to pay.
I brought Amex to Mongolia but barely used it. It worked once at a big hotel in Ulaanbaatar, but everywhere else said no. ATMs also refused it. My Mastercard debit card worked fine at Khan Bank and TDB ATMs. Most of my expenses - horse riding tours, ger stays, and street food - were cash-only anyway. Mongolia is affordable, about ₮150,000 a day including transport and meals, but Amex is a dead card here. Don’t count on it.
American Express has very little acceptance in Mongolia. In Ulaanbaatar, a handful of international hotels may take it, but most restaurants, shops, and ATMs won’t. Visa and Mastercard dominate, especially outside the capital. If you’re budgeting ₮30,000-50,000 for meals or ₮100,000 for a day tour, expect to use cash. Traveling to the Gobi Desert, Terelj National Park, or countryside guesthouses, Amex is useless. Always carry cash and a widely accepted card.