After every trip to Europe, I try to see my own city through the eyes of European tourists....what would be easy for them and what would be difficult? In both Barcelona and Rome, there were many MANY ATMs on the outside of buildings. There were three within a few steps of our Barcelona flat.

I work in downtown Dallas and can't think of any ATMs on the outside of buildings. There are 4 in the tunnel/basement level of my office building, but I don't know how a foreign tourist would know they are there.

Do the largest downtowns in the US (e.g. NYC, Chicago) have outdoor ATMs that a tourist could easily find?

I think it would be very difficult for a tourist NOT to find an ATM in Manhattan--there's a Chase bank on every corner and while the ATMs aren't always on the outside of the building, they are usually housed in a glass lobby/atrium kind of thing--easily seen from outside. Plus, every little bodega has an ATM. Oh, and the Duane Reades that are on the corners where there isn't a Chase or Citibank also have ATMs inside them. ATMs are plentiful--it's just making sure you have cash in your account that's tough!

Wherever there are pedestrians, you'll see streetside ATMs -- everywhere in eastern cities, not so much in the sunbelt.

As ATMs have moved from being owned by and located exclusively in banks to other places, they have moved outside where they're always accessible.

In Chicago, in addition to having an ATM inside every large grocery store, drug store tavern and McDonald's, they are on the front of most convenience stores, as well as any other building that would rent space.

Where there is no building facade to paste an ATM, some banks install stand-alone kiosks adjacent to the sidewalk or on a landscaped plaza.

The biggest problem with the outdoor machines here is that they offer their users no shelter from the weather. There are few things more frustrating than having to sweep the snow off the keypad before you can use it or getting drenched while the computer decides to give you money.

In Chicago city proper they are available in the foyers of many of the bank buildings and some have outside access ATM's as well. Downtown there are numerous ATM's.

Suburban and neighborhood Chicago many of the ATM stations are drive up with less percentages at stand up position re the street/ pedestrian traffic. Almost all banks have them near the doors on the inside, we don't have weather that is favorable for their use year round outside. I have noticed some, but also that they go "out of order" more frequently in outside locations than in inside ones.

Yes, they are also ALWAYS some type of ATM in Jewel, Dominicks etc. or any of the other large Chicagoland area food stores. And also always in outside stand up/pedestrian positions at all the Gas Cities and most of the other gas stations- that I have noticed.

I guess (hope) that the guidebooks foreign tourists buy must tell them whether to look for ATMs street side, or at banks, or at grocery stores, depending on what part of the country they are visiting.

I think it depends on whether or not it's a "walking city". There are plenty in Boston.

There are also ATM's at large gas stations/convenience stores.

I agree - walk up ATM's are everywhere in walkable, pedestrian friendly cities.

Perhaps there are no walk-up outdoor ATM's in Dallas because it is not a tourist city. Its a business city. San Antonio's #1 industry is tourism and outdoor ATM's are everywhere.

I would bet that the most infamous business city in America, Houston, doesn't have many either.

Houston has them in the lobbies of the many banks downtown and in the food court areas of the office buildings.

There are tons of ATMs all over Manhattan - but most are NOT outside. And, in fact, it's much safer not to use ones that are outside. (They're more subject to tampering or loiterers trying to get your number and card.

Either use one inside a bank (if your bank has branches here) or use one inside a store or hotel (much safer esp at night). You'll find that every hotel of any size, every supermarket, drugstore, deli, and many other stores have ATMs inside. The fee to use it is typically 99 cents - but do check - the amount wil be listed before the transacation.

Or - if you're buying something in most (but not all) of these stores you can buy with your debit card and get cash back.

In San Jose - the tourist mecca that we are - it is pretty easy to find ATMs. Just about every bank has them outside the bank or in a lobby that is always accessible. Most grocery stores have them as well - the bank name displayed prominently on the exterior of the building. And of course there are the stand-alone ATMs not affiliated with any particular bank in every convinience store, most fast food places, and so on.

Jorr, the Deep Ellum district, adjacent to downtown, has walk-up ATMs. There is a walk-up ATM booth next to a 7-11 on Elm and Good-Lattimer.

Dallas does have few walkup ATMs in its downtown area not because it is or is not a tourist city, but because most of its pedestrian activity is located in tunnels and skywalks. The street level does not have that high a pedestrian count. This will probably change as the downtown residential population grows... maybe up to 10,000 downtown residents by the end of the decade.

As it is, the weather makes indoor ATMs a much better option... and there are many indoor ATMs in the Central Office District. Also, someone mentioned security as a factor. I personally don't want to look over my shoulder when I'm using an ATM on a busy sidewalk... I'd rather do it inside a bank or office building.