Money & tipping in Barcelona

Cards, tipping and tourist tax.

Cards and cash

Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere, including markets and most metro machines. Keep some small cash for tips and small bars. Use bank ATMs rather than standalone machines with high fees, and choose to pay in euros if asked.

Tipping

Tipping is not required in Spain, since service is included in the bill. Rounding up or leaving a few euros for good service in a restaurant is welcome, but 10 to 15 percent is not expected. For a taxi, rounding up is enough.

Tourist tax on hotel stays

Visitors staying in hotels and tourist apartments pay a per-person, per-night tourist tax, collected by the accommodation and usually not included in the booking price. In 2026 the city surcharge rose to €5 per night on top of a regional rate, so the total depends on the accommodation type (for example, about €9.50 for a tourist apartment and about €12 for a five-star hotel). It applies to the first seven nights, and young children are exempt. Check the amount with your host. Source: Barcelona and Catalan tourist-tax guides (2026); rates are set by the city and region and may change, checked 2026-10-11

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