Has Spain Gone "Cashless"

Yes. We were there a few years ago and really had to struggle to use cash. Bought 150 Euro, took most of it home. Used some for tips at the hotel, that sort of thing. Even the tiniest vendor had a card reader for tap and pay.

For the most part, you won't need cash, especially in larger cities. I did go to one tapas bar in Madrid that only accepted cash.

17 days in Spain Oct. 2024 Got €65 I probably could have gotten by with €25. My last 2-3 days I was spending down my cash.
Brad

I can't recall the last time I used cash in Spain other than the €1 coin to use for the trolley at the supermarket. Even market stalls that I've bought from take cards.

No, it has not. Cash is pretty much everywhere. While it's true that ccard payment has skyrocketed, cash is still king. Data from the end of 2024 show that cash remains the main payment method for 59% of the population, while cards account for 30% and mobile payments for 11%. For over 65yo, cash is 78%.

Therefore, the answer is NO, it hasn't (yet).

Ah, as per "not accepting cash", in Spain, cash is legal tender and shops are generally expected to accept it, but a business can refuse cash if they make it clear in advance (like a sign saying ‘No cash accepted’) or for justified reasons such as security, fraud prevention, or not having change (f.e. if you attempt to pay a 1.5€ coffee with a 200€ note bill). Also, by law you can’t pay in cash for transactions of €1,000 or more when a business or professional is involved.

You will use your credit card for most everything, tapping to pay. I spend about a month a year in Spain, and I always have up to 50 euro on me. Every trip, I will run into a small place I want to eat that is cash only (or at least highly preferred) or use cash for purchases under 5 euro, like a bottle of water, a quick beer, or a snack.

If you really want to try, in Barcelona, Madrid and other large or tourism heavy cities, you can get by with card only. Just verify card is taken.

I agree with Enric. While you can get by most of the time with a credit card, especially in the main tourist destinations, some places are cash only. Between 2022-2024 I came across a few restaurants and shops in Zaragoza, Burgos, and some small villages in Extremadura that were cash only. Likewise, some taxi services in small cities like Cáceres were cash only.

Adding on a bit to what Jaime said, watch out for the "minimum" charge.

On Mondays I have to go to a village for work. I usually stop in the coffee shop/bakery and grab a coffee to take to my work place. Usually I will have some change or a 5€ note to pay for the coffee, 1.30€. One Monday I didn't have any cash, and asked if they took card. The answer was yes, but on 10€ or more. Even buying a croissant and a loaf of bread, I wouldn't have made it 10€. Lucky the lady knew me as a "regular" customer and said I could pay the next Monday.

There are two other places where I always use cash, but they probably won't affect a tourist. The first is my bakery. It is a cash only place. The other is when we go for pintxos with friends. In that situation, we make a "fundo" and everyone puts in 10€ or 20€ per head. Of course my kid all use Bizum (like Venmo) to do it.

Finally, a few times we have gone to different fairs (ceramic, medieval, harvest, cheese, etc) and there are vendors who take cash or Bizum but not credit cards.

Rob, I don’t know the answer to your question but I can’t wait to hear about your trip. Spain is definitely on our radar. I hope you both have a great time!!

I may have to correct Enric. I do believe that businesses cannot refuse payment in cash. What they can refuse (by previously informing customers) is certain amounts, like 200EUR or 500EUR bank notes. But otherwise, I think that nobody can refuse cash payment in Spain.

By the way, if you want to tip a waiter (or anybody else), it´s quite complicated to tip on credit card payment, as it goes to the business and not to the worker.and as per my experience, extremely few businesses indicate the tipping amount on the card receipt (except on very touristy places where they know visitors use credit cards and so it´s indicated on the ticket machine). Tipping in cash is the customary way in Spain.

Indeed, Mikel, your post made me question my own statement, so I looked it up to correct myself if I was wrong... and I stand corrected, thank you!

There’s a common belief, at least here in Catalonia, that if a sign is displayed in a business, then it must be legally valid. This is based on the widespread assumption that no one would risk certain fines by posting false or incorrect signs—signs that are so obvious that anyone, whether inspectors or customers, could see and report them... and they do!. For example, bars and restaurants may charge extra for bread or for ice cubes, as long as they inform the customer in advance (explicitly in the menu). In fact, this is a legal practice. So, if someone were to put up a sign saying “we do not accept cash,” it wouldn’t be unusual for the popular belief to spread that this is legal… which I think is what’s happening here.

But in this case, you are correct, not me: the law is clear. Royal Decree-Law 24/2021 of November 2, which came into force on May 28, 2022, amended the General Law for the Defence of Consumers and Users. Specifically, Article 47(ñ) now establishes that it is an infringement to “refuse to accept cash as a means of payment within the limits established by tax regulations and by anti-fraud legislation.” So, if a business posts a sign claiming it does not accept cash, it could be fined both for refusing cash and for displaying a false claim.

I'd say you can probably spend a holiday in Spain without ever using cash (apart from if you want to leave a small tip, when coins are easier).

What, I think, is different to what you found in England, is that you won't find places which simply refuse cash. That is, you'll get the option of cash or card. Whereas in England there are more "card only" places.

What you may find - more common than England, but not that widespread - are places which only accept cash. That is rare in England, but there are places in Spain (or at least the bits of Spain I visit). Or, as noted above, places which only accept cards when the bill is over a certain amount. That is uncommon in England where you can buy a bottle of water using your card.

You might also encounter places which nominally accept cash or card but, magically, the machine is broken (Sevilla taxi drivers for example)

So, basically, I'd plan to use mostly card/phone/watch etc. But have some cash on hand.