The currency of Spain is the Euro (€). U.S. dollars are not accepted. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand or be prepared to exchange your dollars for Euros upon arrival.
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In general, leave a tip in Euros. Exceptions to this rule: Tip in local currency in Russia, Switzerland, and The United Kingdom.
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.
Tip in the local currencyWhenever you tip during your trip to Spain it is important to use the local currency, that is - Euros. Otherwise you'll leave your service providers with cash they can't use without paying high fees on currency exchange.
In Spain, tipping is entirely optional and it's not very common. You may see people leaving small change at cafés and bars and, eventually, someone tipping at a nice expensive restaurant. But most of the time, you won't see anyone other than tourists leaving a tip.
Taxi drivers expect no tip and are happy if you round up in their favor. A tip of 5% of the total fare is considered generous. Long rides or extra help with luggage may merit a tip, but if you're short of change, you'll never hear a complaint.
There isn't generally a tipping culture in hotels in Spain. Unless it's a major international hotel, porters are not normally available to help carry bags but if they are and you wish to tip, a euro per bag is the norm for hotel tipping.
Great news for Spanish diners - the Government has made it a legal requirement to provide free tap in all restaurants and cafes. Before now, the EC's 2020 drinking water directive had only encouraged public venues and restaurants to offer tap water for free.
Tipping culture in Europe is very different, so there are some habits American travelers will want to leave at home. For most, tips are not expected in Europe, and it's fine not to tip at all, especially in more casual settings like bars or cafes. In other cases, though, small tips may be warranted.
No sorbas (Don't slurp): While in other countries such as Japan, this is considered polite, it's rude to slurp in Spain. No eructes (Don't burp): Just like slurping your food, burping is considered rude in Spain. Some people definitely burp in public, but trust us, no one likes those people.
Spaniards are very passionate about food and do not take it lightly when their food is criticized or modified in any way. Other habits to avoid when dining in Spain is to not place your elbows on the table, do not slurp your food or burp in public. All these actions are considered bad etiquette in Spain.
If you're wondering about tipping in SpainIf you're traveling in Spain, it's possible to leave tips if you've experienced excellent service. However, tipping is not customary and the maximum percentage you'd want to leave is 10%.