Need cash when I land, best place in Nepal? Airport or places in the city?
My first trip, I made the mistake of exchanging $200 at Tribhuvan Airport and lost value right away. Now I just change $20 at the airport for a cab and wait until I’m in Thamel, where exchange shops line the streets. I also used a Himalayan Bank ATM in Kathmandu that worked with my Mastercard. Out on the Annapurna trek, cash was the only option. Lesson learned: airport desks are overpriced, city changers are better, and ATMs work fine but charge per withdrawal.
Tribhuvan Airport offers exchange counters, but they’re less competitive. Safer strategy: exchange a small sum at arrivals, then head into the city where licensed bureaus in Thamel or Durbar Marg give better rates. ATMs from Himalayan Bank, Standard Chartered, and Nabil Bank are reliable but have withdrawal caps, often around 10,000 NPR per transaction, with a fee. Travellers often combine both: small exchange in the city plus occasional ATM use. Cash is king, so plan ahead for treks and rural areas.
When I land in Kathmandu, I usually withdraw 5,000-10,000 NPR from an Nabil Bank ATM inside the airport. The rate is official, and it saves me hassle for the taxi ride into Thamel. Once in the city, I’ve used money changers in Thamel and Durbar Marg - they’re licensed and better than the airport desks. I carry USD for bigger exchanges and top up smaller amounts with ATMs. Cash is essential in Nepal, especially for trekking routes where card machines don’t exist.
Tribhuvan Airport in Kathmandu has exchange counters, but the rates aren’t very good. I always just change $20-30 for a taxi into Thamel, then do the bulk in the city. In Thamel, there are dozens of money changers with far better rates for USD, EUR, or GBP. ATMs from Nabil Bank, Standard Chartered, and Himalayan Bank work with foreign cards, but they often charge fees and limit withdrawals. For budget travel, it’s cheaper to bring cash USD and change in town than rely heavily on ATMs.