Trying to avoid paying crazy ATM fees while traveling in Latvia. Anyone found ATMs that are free for foreign cards? Would love specific banks or locations if possible.
On my Latvia trip, I mostly used Swedbank ATMs. My Wise Visa worked smoothly, and I could withdraw €500 without any fee. SEB also worked well with my Monzo card, giving me clean €20 and €50 notes. A Citadele ATM was also good without any fees. I budgeted around €50 a day for food and sightseeing, so one withdrawal lasted me several days. Latvia was one of the easiest places for ATM use in the Baltics.
Not every ATM in Latvia is a good deal. Euronet ATMs around Riga airport and tourist areas charged me €4 for a €200 withdrawal, plus tried to convert to GBP at a bad rate. Citadele also sometimes had a €2 fee depending on the machine. My HSBC debit worked best at Swedbank with a €500 limit. If you’re planning multiple withdrawals, stick to SEB or Swedbank to avoid getting stung. The country is card-friendly, but cash is still handy for taxis and small bakeries.
I was impressed with how easy it was to withdraw cash in Latvia. At SEB ATMs in Riga’s old town, my Monzo Mastercard worked perfectly and I could take out €600 in one go. Swedbank ATMs also accepted my Wise card without charging me extra. I withdrew cash only twice during my week because most restaurants, buses, and even market stalls took cards. Compared to some neighboring countries, Latvia was much more digital-payment friendly, but it was still nice to keep €50 cash for small cafés.
In Latvia, the most reliable banks for foreign cards are Swedbank, SEB, Citadele, Rietumu bank, Luminor bank. I used my Revolut Visa in Riga, and Swedbank ATMs allowed me to withdraw €500 per transaction with no local fee. SEB had a similar limit. Citadele also worked well. Independent Euronet ATMs are best avoided, as they charge higher fees and push conversion into GBP or USD. Stick with major bank ATMs, and you’ll save money.