Are credit cards widely accepted in Spain?

Credit cards are widely-used across Spain and are a popular means of payment in shops, restaurants, and other commercial establishments. Revolut is a great alternative to credit cards when travelling to Spain, offering competitive exchange rates, low fees, and real-time spending notifications.



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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.

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Avoid paying anything with your credit card (unless it's an emergency and you don't have enough travel funds). Don't exchange your local currency into euros after arriving in Spain. Local banks, exchange offices and hotels tend to apply incredibly high commission rates. Don't bother getting travelers checks.

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How to travel in Spain on a shoestring budget. How much you'll need for two weeks: €700-800. Cost per day: €50-60 or USD $60-70. The most memorable, exciting part of our time in Spain was living with a local family in one of Costa Brava's villages, Corca.

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Tipping in Spain works differently: The customer actually has the option to not leave any tip at all. However, restaurants expect a 10% tip on each bill—although it's not a formal rule, and that percentage is much lower than tipping practices in other countries.

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You may want to investigate banks that do not charge ATM fees and/or banks that are found throughout Europe. The cheapest and easiest way-and the best exchange rates-to get your hands on some euros is to simply use your US based bank's ATM/debit card at the many ATMs located throughout Madrid.

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A vacation to Spain for one week usually costs around €1,050 for one person. So, a trip to Spain for two people costs around €2,101 for one week. A trip for two weeks for two people costs €4,202 in Spain.

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Deutsche Bank is the only major bank we found that charges no ATM fees in Spain. With regional banks, Bankinter will charge €0.50 while Banco Popular, Banco Pastor, Targobank and Caja Rural will charge €0.80. In contrast, BBVA charges the highest at €6 per withdrawal while ING's 12% fee can pile up very quickly.

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It all depends on where you're going and what you plan to do during your trip. As you can see from our travel costs table above, some European cities are cheaper or more expensive than others. As a general rule, though, it's a good idea to budget at least $100 a day for your vacation.

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First and foremost, you want to ensure that the credit card you take to Europe is widely accepted. Generally, the Visa and Mastercard networks have wider acceptance there than Discover and American Express. While you can certainly bring your Amex and Discover cards, it's best to pack a backup.

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Credit card transaction fees are typically higher than debit cards. Shops may charge a fee, and banks may charge a conversion fee for the payment. If the merchant hasn't displayed fee notices, travelers should inquire with the staff. Credit cards may be subject to ghost charges or temporary holds.

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Check with your card issuer about foreign transaction fees and currency exchange fees. Unlike the U.S., European credit card machines usually require a PIN. You can get this from your card issuer before you leave home.

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