Is it okay to use ATMs late in the evening in Spain or should I stick to daytime withdrawals only? I am a single woman travelling so want to be safe.
Last month in Valencia, I had both an ING debit card and a Revolut card. ING doesn’t charge foreign ATM fees, but I still avoided Euronet and Euro Automatic Cash machines, they overcharge tourists. One evening around 22:00 in Ruzafa I needed €50, so I popped into a BBVA branch before closing - it was around 20:45. Felt perfectly safe with cameras and an indoor lobby. I withdrew and covered the keypad with my hand. I wouldn’t risk it after dark outside, especially around 23:00 when places are quiet. Avoid ATMs opening onto the street at night, use those inside banks or shops.
As someone traveling with a Banorte Visa debit card, I was cautious about withdrawing at night in Madrid. I often used the BBVA ATM inside the station near Lavapiés in the early evening. Staff there said ATM fraud attempts have increased and recommended daytime withdrawals. This aligns with a recent advisory from BBVA that most ATM scams happen between 7pm and midnight. I withdrew ₱200 ( approx. €35) safely at around 6pm and left immediately. I wouldn’t risk taking out cash at say 10pm on a secluded street - better to spend a few euros on Uber back to the hostel.
I visited Spain last autumn and always preferred using a Santander or CaixaBank ATM inside the branch around Plaça Catalunya. I carried both my Visa debit card and a Monzo travel card with me. One evening I needed cash around 9pm and found a CaixaBank ATM well‑lit inside the lobby- felt safe enough, especially since the door was still open and there were staff nearby. I withdrew €100, counted it quickly, tucked it into my cross‑body pouch and left. No problems. But a friend tried a solo withdrawal from an Euronet ATM off Las Ramblas at 11pm and got charged nearly €12 for €200. Also felt exposed and pitched it was best to stick to big bank machines and cover your PIN.
I used my French Amex debit at a Euronet ATM close to my Airbnb and it just... swallowed it. No cancel option. I called the number on the machine and they said they’ll only investigate it during the next servicing window which could take days. Called Amex and they said they’d cancel the card and ship a new one to me. Luckily I had my Wise card for backup. Honestly these third-party ATMs in Spain are sketchy. Stick to branded bank machines like BBVA or Caixa if you want fewer surprises