Don't exchange currency at the Barcelona airport?

First determine how much cash you need just for transport to get you into town (before you hit the city ATM). This amount should be minimal. I'm guessing 25-50 EUR or less? If so, even if you get an unfavorable exchange rate on that very small amount, the "damage" is fairly minimal and not even worth worrying about. If there's a flat fee and it's unavoidable, then obviously that flat fee as a percentage will be a lot smaller the larger the amount you take out (e.g. 3% of 50 EUR > 3% of 250 EUR) ....so it just depends on the exact fee, which varies by what ATM you use. Try to use a bank ATM, and feel free to seek out a second (or third) ATM if the fee is too high - it will be disclosed and you don't need to accept it.

The general consensus is that currency exchange fees (and ATM exchange rates) are always a better deal from an ATM out on the street (or attached to a bank) than in airports or train stations. Your results, as they say, can vary in each situation. Still, you're likely getting a better deal over in Spain than if you'd tried to exchange cash for Euros before you left home. As Agnes noted, if the airport is your only option, then only get as much money there as you need until you can get to a "regular" ATM. Buen viaje!

Based on experience, and some recent posts here, I assume that the ATM exchange rate depends not on the location of the ATM, but on whose ATM it is. Thus, if a major Spanish bank has an ATM at the Barcelona airport, I would assume that the rate would be the same there as at that bank's ATM in the center of Barcelona. But if the only ATMs at the airport are Travelex or some other non-bank ATM, I would expect the rate to be worse than elsewhere.

Did that post specifically say the rate was bad at the ATM or just bad "at the airport"?

This could mean the person used a Travelex (or similar) ATM which is nor really an ATM because many of those are just an extension of the exchange booth. Using a Bank operated ATM and declining Dynamic Currency Conversion should result at the same rate no matter where.

As of last year there were quite a lot of fee-charging ATMs in the city of Barcelona. Those same banks may have ATMs at the airport, in which case I'm sure they charge fees there as well. Santander Bank is one of the banks that did not charge ATM fees in Barcelona as of last August. If you happen to see a Santander ATM at the airport, it would be a good one to try.

Try Deutsche Bank, no fees. We used their bank-ATM off Placa de Catalunya without any issues, any of their branches should be fine. DB, of course, is not a Spanish bank.

Please, don't ever exchange cash anywhere. If you are "unbanked", there may be no choice, but you have managed to pay for travel.

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money

...The general consensus is that currency exchange fees (and ATM exchange rates) are always a better deal from an ATM out on the street (or attached to a bank) than in airports or train stations.......

That is so untrue. Lot of misinformation. That is NOT the general consensus IF using a bank owned ATM at the airport or on the street. This is discussed all the time, why is it so hard to have a very simple understanding. When using a debit card at a bank owned ATM the exchange rate IS SET BY THE NETWORK -- general Cirrus or Plus. And the exchange rate at that moment in time will be the same whether the ATM is at the airport, in town or in Paris. The bank that owns the ATM may impose a fee but that will be disclosed. It is possible but unlikely that airport ATM would impose a fee that it would impose on the same ATM in the city.

The potential for higher fees occur with private ATMs - currency exchanges, etc., that can impose any fees that they want to and many do so. Those ATMs are ones that consensus says you should avoid.

The good news is that the airport's website has a guide to cash machines: http://www.aena.es/en/barcelona-airport/currency-exchange-cash-machines-banks.html

The bad news is that a lot seem to be run by Caixa, a big bank. Last fall Caixa was the only bank I encountered in Spain that added its own fee to that charged by the originating bank back home. Others on the website are outfits I don't recognize. But here's the perspective: You may pay a few euros more for a private machine's exchange. But when you are tired from a long flight, stressed about finding transportation and reaching your hotel, and generally not having much fun, pay a little extra, grab the currency, and when downtown use a bank's machines for a large and more efficient currency exchange.