🇪🇸 Spain · EUR
Spain uses the euro (EUR), shared across most of the European Union, so any euros you have from other eurozone trips work here too. Spain is highly card-friendly, but small bars, markets, and rural areas still appreciate cash, and a few places set minimum amounts for card payments.
The euro is divided into 100 cents. Banknotes come in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euros, though the 500 note is no longer issued and is rarely accepted. Coins are 1 and 2 euros plus 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents. Carry smaller notes, as many shops dislike breaking 100 and 200 notes.
Cards (Visa and Mastercard) are accepted almost everywhere, including contactless and mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. American Express is less widely accepted. Keep some cash for tapas bars, small cafes, markets, and tips, where minimum card amounts of a few euros are common.
Bank ATMs and paying directly by card usually give the best rates, tracking the interbank rate closely. If you exchange cash, compare independent exchange offices in city centers and avoid those advertising '0% commission' without checking the actual rate. Always ask for the total euros you will receive before handing over money.
Currency desks at Madrid and Barcelona airports typically offer some of the worst rates in the country, with wide margins built in. Change only a small amount there if you need immediate cash, then use a bank ATM in town. Better still, withdraw euros from an ATM on arrival rather than exchanging cash.
Use ATMs attached to major banks such as CaixaBank, BBVA, Santander, or Banco Sabadell rather than standalone machines, which often charge high fees. Spanish ATMs frequently add their own withdrawal fee on top of your home bank's charges. Always choose to be charged in euros, not your home currency, to avoid dynamic currency conversion (DCC) markups.
Tipping is modest and not obligatory in Spain. In restaurants, rounding up or leaving 5-10% for good service is appreciated but never expected. For coffee or drinks, leaving small change is normal, and tipping is uncommon for taxis beyond rounding up the fare.
Watch for dynamic currency conversion, where card terminals or ATMs offer to charge you in your home currency at a poor rate; always decline and pay in euros. Pickpocketing is the main risk in tourist areas of Barcelona and Madrid, so keep cash and cards secure. Be cautious with non-bank ATMs (often branded Euronet) that show alarming fees and conversion offers.
A few hundred euros in cash is plenty for a typical trip, since cards cover most expenses. Bring a modest amount of euros for your first day, then rely on ATMs to top up. Having 50-100 euros in small notes for bars, markets, and small towns is a sensible buffer.
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