How everyday payments work in Spain

Key rules

• Card: Use a card as your default way to pay; most shops and restaurants accept it.
• Bizum: Use Bizum to pay people by phone number; you need a Spanish bank account first.
• Cash: Carry some small change for markets, kiosks, small bars and tips.
• Bills: Pay regular bills by direct debit from your Spanish account.

The short version

Pay by card almost everywhere. Use Bizum to send money to people you know. Keep a little cash for small places. Let bills come out of your bank account by direct debit.

Card is the default

Card is now the most common way to pay in Spanish shops, ahead of cash. Most shops, restaurants and supermarkets take it, including for small amounts.

Most current accounts come with a debit card, so you will probably get one when you open your account. Debit is the usual everyday card. Credit cards are common too, but they are usually optional. Banks often promote them with rewards or fee waivers. Most credit cards are charged in one go each month.

Contactless and phone payments work widely. Check that your card works for online and foreign payments before you rely on it.

Bizum is for people, and some shops

Bizum is an instant payment service built into most Spanish banks' apps. You send or request money using only a mobile phone number. The money moves between bank accounts in seconds, at any hour. Many banks offer it free to individuals.

People use it to:

• split a restaurant bill or shared costs
• pay a friend back
• pay in some online shops
• donate to charities

You need a Spanish bank account and a Spanish-linked mobile number, so you cannot use it until your account is open. Your bank's app will tell you how to switch it on.

Cash is still useful, but less so

Cash is now a minority of shop payments. You still want some for:

• street markets and flea markets
• small bars and kiosks
• tips, usually small change
• small rural businesses and tradespeople
• private sales
• some private landlords or shared costs in a building

Carry a little cash, especially outside big cities.

Direct debit pays your bills

Most regular bills are paid by direct debit (domiciliación). You give the company your Spanish account number, and it takes the payment each period. Electricity, water, internet, phone and insurance usually work this way. Keep enough money in the account on the due date, and check your statement each month.

What newcomers often misread

• Expecting cash everywhere. Spain is not a cash-only country. Cards work almost everywhere.
• Assuming a credit card is the normal card. Debit is the usual everyday choice.
• Thinking Bizum is just for friends. It also works in some online shops and for donations.
• Having no cash at all. A market stall or small bar may not take cards.
• Paying bills by hand. Setting up direct debit is normal and saves missed payments.

The comparison and FAQ below show which method suits which situation.

Card, Bizum or cash: which to use where

The short answer

Use a card in shops and restaurants, Bizum with friends and for small online payments, cash at markets and small businesses, and a bank transfer for rent and deposits. Bizum and cash cannot be undone once you have paid, so check the details before you confirm.

In shops and restaurants

Pay by card. It is accepted almost everywhere, and you get a record of the payment. Carry a little cash anyway for tips (usually small change) and for places that do not take cards.

With friends

Bizum is the easiest way to split a bill or repay a friend. You send money to a phone number and it arrives instantly. Check the number and the amount before you confirm, because you cannot cancel it. Your bank's app shows your own limit.

Online

Card is the safest default and works almost everywhere. Many online shops, airlines, ticketing sites, public offices and utilities also accept Bizum. At checkout you choose Bizum, enter your phone number and confirm in your bank app. Limits for online purchases are often separate from your normal Bizum limit, so check your app if a payment is refused.

Rent and the fianza

Pay rent and the fianza (the deposit) by bank transfer to the landlord's account. Write a clear concept, such as the month and the property address. That gives you proof of payment.

• Cash: Avoid it. It is hard to prove, so if the landlord insists, demand a signed receipt.
• Bizum: Fine for a small sum, but the caps and weaker evidence make it a poor choice for rent or a deposit.

Keep every receipt and the contract.

Markets and small businesses

Bring cash. Street markets, flea markets, small bars, kiosks, tradespeople, small rural businesses and private sales often prefer it or accept nothing else. Cash is also common for shared costs in some communities.

If you send a Bizum by mistake

1. Ask the recipient to send the money back with a new Bizum.
2. If they refuse or do not answer, contact your bank straight away and report it.
3. If it was a scam, also report it to the police (Policía Nacional or Guardia Civil).

Banks can try to claim back unauthorised payments. A payment you approved yourself, even because someone tricked you, is not automatically refunded. If your bank does not help, complain to its customer service, then to the Banco de España.

Frequently asked questions

Should I get a debit or a credit card in Spain?

A debit card is the usual choice for everyday shopping in Spain, and most current accounts include one by default. Credit cards are optional and are often offered with rewards or waived fees. They are mostly charged to your account once a month.

Can I use Bizum to pay in shops and not only friends?

Yes, Bizum also works in many online shops, for donations to NGOs and for splitting shared bills, as long as the seller accepts it.

Where do I still need cash in Spain?

Cash is still common at street markets, small bars and kiosks, and for tips, which are usually small change. Some private landlords, tradespeople, small rural businesses and private sellers also prefer it.

Will most shops and restaurants take my card?

Yes, most shops and restaurants in Spain accept cards, and card is now the most-used way to pay in shops. Cash has become a minority of in-store payments. Small businesses are where a card may be refused.