Money
Money in Nepal: rupee, ATMs, exchange
The currency is the Nepali rupee (NPR, “Rs”). Nepal runs mostly on cash: ATMs are plentiful in towns, but every withdrawal is charged. Reference rates: 1 USD (≈ €0.9) ≈ 153 NPR (≈ €0.9), 1 € ≈ 175 NPR (≈ €1) (Nepal Rastra Bank, September 2026).
ATMs
You'll find them everywhere in Kathmandu, Patan, Bhaktapur, Pokhara and Sauraha, far fewer in villages. All Nepali banks charge a fixed fee per withdrawal with a foreign card, from 400 to 850 NPR (≈ €2 to €5) depending on the bank, and cap the amount per withdrawal (often 20,000 to 40,000 NPR (≈ €115 to €230)).
The right move: pick a bank with low fees and a high cap, and withdraw the maximum each time. An up-to-date comparison of every bank is on ATM Fees.
Bank cards
Accepted in mid-range and upmarket hotels, larger shops and some restaurants in Thamel and Lakeside, often with a 3 to 4% surcharge. Everywhere else, and for entrance fees, taxis, buses and small restaurants: cash only. QR-code payments (eSewa, Khalti, Fonepay) are everywhere; travellers from some countries can use them with their own mobile wallet (Alipay and Alipay+ partners), and Nepali wallets list the passport among accepted IDs, but their conditions for foreigners vary: check with the operator.
Exchange
- Dollars and euros are easily exchanged at licensed money changers in Thamel and Lakeside, at a rate close to the central bank's; compare two or three counters.
- Bring US dollars in cash for the visa on arrival, in clean, recent notes, or euros, accepted at the day's rate (see Visa Nepal).
- Keep small notes (100, 500 NPR (≈ €3)): 1,000 NPR (≈ €6) notes are hard to change in small shops and taxis.
- Indian rupees circulate near the border, but notes above 100 Indian rupees are often refused: don't bring them.
- The Nepali rupee can hardly be exchanged outside the country: spend it or change it back before you leave, with your exchange receipts.
Tipping and bargaining
- Restaurants: a 10% service charge is already added to the bill in tourist establishments; nothing more is expected. In a local canteen, rounding up is enough.
- Drivers and guides: a tip is customary at the end of an excursion or a day (a few hundred rupees for a driver, more for a guide).
- Bargaining: normal in souvenir shops and with taxis, never in supermarkets, restaurants or stalls with marked prices. Keep smiling: a few dozen rupees matter more to the seller than to you.
You get your visa on arrival, at Kathmandu airport or at the border: form, fees and pitfalls to avoid on our dedicated site.
Visa Nepal →Fancy a few days of walking? Poon Hill, Mardi Himal, Langtang… permits, guides, transport and day-by-day itineraries on our trekking site.
Trek Nepal →Comments
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