Money. How can you pay in Spain?

What is the official currency?

The Euro (€). You can consult its official value on the European Central Bank website.

One Euro is made up of 100 cents, and there are eight different coins (1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and 1 and 2 Euros), and seven notes (5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Euros).

Where can I get money or exchange my money to €?

Cash is usually withdrawn from automatic teller machines at bank branches. In addition, in Spain it is easy to find ATMs to withdraw cash in shopping centres and shopping areas, large urban centres and historic centres in small towns.

If you need to change your money to €, you will be able to do so at bureaus de change, at various banks, and at the majority of hotels and travel agencies.

If you need to send money from Spain or receive money that has been sent to Spain, you can do so from the Spanish postal and parcel service offices (Correos office), which you will find in any tourist destination, and through specialised companies in large cities.

Tips. Do you need to give tips? Is it recommended?

It is not obligatory to give tips in Spain, as all establishments include the service charge. However, it is common to give tips in bars and restaurants, hotels and taxis. The amount of the tip depends on the amount of the bill and the generosity of the client, although it usually varies between five and ten percent of the total amount.

How can I pay in Spain?

In Spain you can pay in cash in almost all cases, and usually only Euros are accepted. In some cases, if the payment is made through a machine, it may be necessary to pay by card.

The option to pay with credit and debit cards, mainly Visa and Mastercard, is very widespread. However, a minimum consumption of around €10 may be required for payment by card and this may be subject to commissions depending on the conditions of your card.

When making payments, it is not acceptable to haggle the marked price.