Latvia, a Baltic nation of enchanting forests, medieval towns, and a vibrant cultural scene, offers a mix of historical charm and modern convenience. Whether you’re wandering through Riga’s Art Nouveau streets, exploring the fairytale castles of Sigulda, or relaxing on the beaches of Jurmala, knowing how to access cash is useful. Latvia is highly cashless, with widespread card and digital payment acceptance, but cash may still be needed in smaller businesses and rural areas. This guide covers everything you need to know about cash and ATMs in Latvia, including withdrawal fees, transaction limits, exchange rates, and card acceptance, ensuring a hassle-free visit.
Where to find ATMs in Latvia?
You can find ATMs in:
- Urban Areas: Cities such as Riga, Daugavpils, and Liepāja have a dense network of ATMs, particularly in city centers, shopping areas, and near bank branches. Major banks like Swedbank, SEB Bank, and Citadele Bank operate extensive ATM networks throughout the country.
- Tourist Spots: Popular destinations like the Old Town of Riga, Gauja National Park, and Jurmala Beach have ATMs nearby, often within or near tourist facilities. ATMs in Latvia widely accept Visa, Mastercard, Cirrus, and Maestro. They can be found in shops, transportation hubs, and nearly all banks.
- Rural Areas: In smaller villages and remote regions, ATM availability can be limited. It’s advisable to carry sufficient cash when traveling outside major cities.
Best ATMs to use in Latvia for foreigners
The best ATMs for foreigners to use in Latvia are those owned by popular banks such as:
- Swedbank,
- SEB,
- Luminor,
- Rietumu Bank, and
- Citadele.
There are other banks with ATMs that also accept international debit and credit cards.
There are no known Global ATM Alliance member banks or All Points network banks in Latvia.
Don’t accept conversion at ATMs and withdraw only in local currency
In Latvia, some ATMs may ask – Accept OR Decline Conversion (also known as With or Without Conversion, or, Charge in EUR).
- If you ‘Accept’ – ATM converts your money at ATM’s set exchange rate. Now if you ‘Accept’, you pay an extra % fee to the ATM for currency conversion also.
- If you Decline, the ATM will convert at exchange rate of the bank/card logo (Visa, Master, etc.).
So, to avoid extra fees, select ‘Decline/Without’ Conversion or ‘Charge in EUR’.
Can I use a foreign debit or credit card at an ATM in Latvia?
Yes, many foreign debit and credit cards are widely accepted at ATMs in Latvia.
ATMs commonly accept Visa, Mastercard, and Maestro cards. Some of them accept Plus, Cirrus, and American Express cards. Others like JCB, Diners, Discover and Rupay cards are generally not accepted.
What are the ATM opening hours
Most ATMs operate 24/7.
What are ATMs called
ATMs in Latvia are usually found by a signage of word ‘Bankomat’ is widely used or signage has bank name without the words ‘ATM’ or ‘Bankomat’.
Language options at ATMs
ATMs primarily offer Latvian and English as language options. As of January 30, 2025, ATMs in Latvia will no longer offer Russian as a language option. This change is due to amendments to the Law on Credit Institutions adopted by the Latvian parliament on September 20, 2024, which stipulate that ATM interfaces must be available in Latvian and may include official languages from EU, OECD, and candidate countries, excluding Russian. If you’re not familiar with these languages, using live translation via Google Translate’s camera function can be handy; however, proceed cautiously as translations may not be perfect.
What currencies can I withdraw from ATMs in Latvia?
ATMs in Latvia dispense cash only in the local currency, Euro (EUR).
ATM withdrawal limits in Latvia?
ATMs in Latvia have a maximum withdrawal limit per transaction of EUR 750 to EUR 2,000 per transaction. One bank also allows to withdraw as much as the card’s limit, in one transaction. Some ATMs have a daily withdrawal limit of EUR 2,000 while some ATMs do not have daily withdrawal limits for foreign card holders.
ATM Fees in Latvia
There are many fee-free ATMs in Latvia. Majority of the Bank ATMs in Latvia do not charge any ATM Access Fees per transaction to foreign card holders. So there are many fee-free ATMs you can use in Latvia as a foreign cardholder!
Apart from ATM Access Fees, there can be other potential charges to withdraw cash in Latvia. These are:
1. Currency Conversion Fees (Accept or Decline Conversion)
2. Your Bank’s currency conversion fee – Some banks charge the card holder a fee to use the card abroad. Cross check with your bank on what the charges are.
How to avoid high fees when withdrawing cash in Latvia
Use the lower fee ATMs in the country.
Use the ATM Fee Saver app to find fee-free or low-fee ATMs.
Opt for “Decline Conversion” or “Without Conversion” during ATM transactions.
Consider getting fee-free cards from your home country.
Avoid using ATMs at the airports, sometimes they have higher fees.
Ways to find fee-free ATMs in Latvia?
Discover fee-free and low-fee ATMs on the ATM Fee Saver mobile app for iOS and Android. This app provides ATM PINs and details of leading bank ATMs such as ATM fees and withdrawal limits for foreign cardholders at ATMs in Latvia. Moreover, its simple fee calculator helps you determine exact withdrawal charges. You can also find cash tips and tricks on the app for 100+ countries including Latvia.
Safety at ATMs
Latvia is known for its low crime rate, making it a safe destination for travelers. ATMs are widely available throughout the country, especially in urban areas. However, there have been reports of ATM-related fraud, including card skimming. To combat this, banks have implemented various security measures, such as equipping ATMs with devices to prevent data copying and conducting 24/7 monitoring of card transactions. Despite these measures, it’s advisable to remain cautious. Use ATMs located in well-lit, populated areas or within bank premises to minimize potential risks. Before using an ATM, inspect it for any unusual features, such as unfamiliar attachments to the card slot, hidden cameras near the monitor, or a PIN pad that appears different or movable. When entering your PIN, cover the keypad with your hand to prevent any potential onlookers or hidden cameras from capturing your input. Regularly monitoring your bank statements can help detect any unauthorized transactions promptly.
FAQs
What to do if an ATM takes your card?
If an ATM in Latvia takes your card, contact the bank (if you used an ATM inside a bank branch), they may retreive your card if you have proof of identity. You can also contact the bank’s helpline but they usually retreive and resend new cards only for their own customers. If so, you’ll need to contact your own bank and ask them to deliver a new card at home or abroad.
Fee-free ATMs and possible to withdraw cash free of cost at ATMs in Latvia?
Yes, its possible. There are many fee-free ATMs in Latvia. Majority of the Bank ATMs in Latvia do not charge any ATM Access Fees per transaction to foreign card holders. So there are many fee-free ATMs you can use in Latvia as a foreign cardholder!
Foreign cards from US, UK, India, China, Europe, Australia accepted?
Absolutely yes! You can usually use cards from the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and other countries at ATMs in Latvia.
Bitcoin ATMs
Latvia has a limited number of Bitcoin ATMs, primarily located in the capital city, Riga.
Foreign bank ATMs’ presence in Latvia
Bank of America: No, there are no Bank of America ATMs here.
Citibank: No Citibank ATMs.
Barclays: No Barclays ATMs.
HSBC: There are no HSBC ATMs here.
Standard Chartered: No Standard Chartered ATMs here.
