Currency & Payment
Exchange rates fluctuate daily. Check current rates locally.
Local Currency Overview
Currency type, banknotes, and coin denominations
Spain uses the euro (EUR, €), divided into 100 cents. Coins run from 1 cent to €2 and notes from €5 to €200. Card payments are widespread, but carry some cash for small shops, markets, taxis and tips.
- Currency
- Euro (EUR, €)
- Subunit
- 100 cents
- Cash
- Useful for small purchases
- Notes above €50 can be hard to use for small buys
Currency Exchange Tips
Best places and methods to exchange money
If you already hold euros you rarely need to exchange money. Otherwise, use banks or reputable exchange offices and compare rates and fees. Airport and tourist-area desks tend to give poorer rates; ATMs are often better.
- Best
- Banks / reputable offices
- Avoid
- Airport / tourist desks
- ATMs
- Often better than exchange
- Check the total after fees, not just the headline rate
Credit Card Acceptance
Card brand availability and usage tips
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, and contactless is standard in cities. Small rural shops, markets and some bars may prefer cash or set a small minimum. American Express is accepted less widely.
- Accepted
- Visa / Mastercard widely
- Contactless
- Standard in cities
- Cash-preferred
- Small/rural venues
- Amex acceptance is narrower than Visa/Mastercard
ATM Usage
How to withdraw cash and associated fees
ATMs (cajeros) are common in towns and cities. Prefer machines attached to banks; some charge a withdrawal fee shown on screen. If offered conversion to your home currency (DCC), decline and choose to be charged in euros for a better rate.
- Name
- Cajero (ATM)
- Fees
- Some charge; shown on screen
- DCC
- Choose euros, not home currency
- Check your bank's foreign withdrawal fees
Mobile & Digital Payments
Digital payment services available locally
Apple Pay and Google Pay work at most card terminals in cities via contactless. Local instant-payment apps (e.g. Bizum) are mainly for residents with a Spanish bank account. A contactless card or phone covers almost everything for visitors.
- Apple/Google Pay
- Widely usable in cities
- Bizum
- Mostly for residents
- Backup
- Carry a physical card too
- Rural areas may still be cash-first
Tipping Culture
Expected tipping amounts and etiquette
Tipping in Spain is modest and optional. In restaurants, rounding up or leaving a few euros for good service is common; there is no expected percentage. At bars and cafés, leaving small change is enough. Service is not usually added to the bill.
- Restaurants
- Round up or a few euros
- Bars/cafés
- Leave small change
- Service charge
- Usually not added
- Tipping is appreciated but never obligatory
Price Guide
Average costs for meals, transport, and accommodation
Spain is generally more affordable than northern Europe, though Barcelona and Madrid are pricier than smaller towns. The menú del día (fixed-price lunch) is great value. These figures are rough guides only and vary by place and season.
- Coffee
- About €1.50–2
- Menú del día
- About €12–18
- Local transit
- About €1.50–2 per ride
- The fixed-price lunch menu is the best-value meal
Non-EU-resident travellers can reclaim VAT (IVA) on eligible goods taken out of the EU. Spain uses the electronic DIVA system and has no minimum purchase amount. Ask for a tax-free form, validate it (DIVA machine/customs) on departure, then get your refund.
- Who
- Non-EU residents
- Minimum
- No minimum purchase
- System
- Electronic DIVA; validate then refund
- Take unused goods and forms to customs/DIVA before leaving