Spain Travel Money Guide
Spain is largely card-friendly, especially in cities. Small tapas bars and family-run restaurants may still prefer cash.
Capital: Madrid · Currency: Euro (EUR)
Paying by card
Visa and Mastercard widely accepted. American Express is hit-or-miss outside major hotels.
Cash and ATMs
Use ATMs from CaixaBank, Santander, or BBVA. Avoid 'Euronet' and similar third-party ATMs.
Tipping
Not expected. Leave small change or round up the bill for good service.
Scams to avoid
Las Ramblas in Barcelona is a pickpocketing hotspot. Watch for 'shell game' setups in Madrid's Plaza Mayor.
What EUR amounts are worth
| EUR | USD | GBP |
|---|---|---|
| 10 EUR | 11.35 | 8.57 |
| 50 EUR | 56.77 | 42.86 |
| 100 EUR | 113.55 | 85.72 |
| 500 EUR | 567.75 | 428.59 |
Rates are European Central Bank reference rates for 29 Sept 2026 (published each working day around 16:00 CET; the UAE dirham uses its official US-dollar peg of 3.6725). The live converter loads the latest rate when the page opens.
Over the 30 days of ECB data to 29 Sept 2026, one US dollar bought 2.54% more EUR.
Before you go
- When a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and pay in EUR; the conversion it offers usually includes a wide margin.
- Tell your bank you are travelling and carry two cards on different networks in case one is declined.
- Check your card's foreign transaction fee and put it in the budget converter's fee field.
Budget the trip with the travel budget converter, see all EUR rates, or browse more country guides.