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Currency / Payments
What is the currency in Spain?
The currency in Spain is the euro, the same as in other European Union countries.
The euro is divided into 100 cents.
• There are eight different coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and 1 and 2 euros.
• There are seven different bank notes, for the following amounts: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros.
How else can I pay?
With credit cards:
Payment using recognized international credit cards is also commonly available in Spanish shops. They usually have signs indicating this option at the entrance to the establishment. When you make a payment you should show your passport or ID card.
With traveler’s cheques:
Traveller’s cheques, accompanied by a passport, are also accepted in many hotels, restaurants and shops.
Where can you change foreign currency?
You can change currencies in bureaux de change and some banks. This service is also available in many hotels and travel agencies.
Is tipping mandatory?
No; in every single establishment in Spain, service is included with the price of the meal or drink. However, tipping is a common practice at bars and restaurants, hotels, and taxis, depending on the total price for the service, and on the generosity of the client. It is usually around five to ten percent of the total price.
Can you request reimbursement of Value Added Tax (VAT)?
If the purchaser’s residence is outside the European Union, then you can claim back the tax on any purchases totaling over €90.15. To do so, ask for the Tax Free cheque in the shop or business.
There are various companies in Spain authorized to process the reimbursement of I.V.A. (Value Added Tax) for tourists. This is a very simple procedure. You need only follow the steps below to obtain your refund:
1. Request the tax-free invoice and show accreditation of your place of residence (passport).
2. Show your purchases and have the tax-free invoices stamped at customs. (Receipts must be stamped within 3 months of purchase.)
3. Claim the amount due from the company processing the claim. They all have I.V.A. reimbursement points at the main Spanish airports and borders, for payment in cash. You can also have the I.V.A. repaid to your credit card, by bank transfer or international cheque.
Electricity Information for Spain
Voltage is 220V, 50 Hz (cycles). One needs to use a transformer (converter) if the appliance one wants to use is 110V. The voltage in the U.S. is 110V, 60 Hz. The wattage of the transformer must match the wattage of the appliance.
The electric plug has two round pins. One needs an adapter plug if one’s appliance comes from the US, where two flat pins are used. The adapter plug can be bought at Amazon or at many travel stores.
Emergencies
Dial
112 – for all emergencies
902 102 112 – for multi-lingual services (usually incurs a longer wait)
112 is the pan-European Union emergency number and is recommended to all visitors and new immigrants. Local numbers do exist. However, to use these, you have to know which police or fire department deals with which situation.
The operator will need to know the service you require (policia, bomberos/fire or ambulancia), your location, your name and details of the incident. Calling 112 in Spain will generally give you Spanish-speaking operators, so basic language skills may be needed.
If you can’t describe the incident, say ‘no hablo mucho español’ and the required service will be sent out, whilst efforts will be made to find an operator speaking your language.
If you have a list of phone numbers for local clinics, the police station and medical services that have operators that speak your language, and the situation is non-urgent, use these in preference.
Telephone / Calling
Always dial the full number as written or printed, including area code, when you are in Spain. Numbers can be printed using the old prefix style 9X.XXX.XX.XX or with the new 9XX.XXX.XXX. Mobile numbers always start with “6” e.g. 612.345.678
Mobile coverage is almost excellent around all the country and there are three main companies: Movistar, Vodafone and Orange. There are a number of what are called MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) that “piggyback” on the larger carriers but cater to specific markets such as the local immigrants or tourists. Some of the larger ones are Lebara, Mas Movil and Yoigo. These smaller companies are perfectly suitable for the tourist as they offer pay as you go services that basically you can use for even a short trip. All you need is an unlocked GSM phone that works on the 900 and 1800 GSM networks. Most AT&T and T-Mobile phones these days are world phones but you may need to ask your carrier to unlock them. Otherwise, you can rent or buy and inexpensive handset. SIM cards are available throughout Spain. from SIMs for Spain – www.SIMsforSpain.com, also from Cellular Abroad in Los Angeles – www.cellularabroad.com and Mobi Passport in Australia and New Zealand. It is very convenient having the SIM card, along with the phone number, before your trip but it will cost a little more purchasing it before getting to Spain.
International discount calling cards are usually sold at prensas, tabacos or alimentacion stores, with major cities having dedicated calling booth businesses, though, discounted rates are usually only available for Latin America. Please note that many phone booths are broken and that often times, hotels will still charge you a fee to access their line, even if you are using a calling card.
00 is the International Access Code for dialling out of Spain.
34 is the International Country Calling Code of Spain.
City ( STD ) Area Telephone Codes
| Alava | 945 | Albacete | 967 | Alicante | 96 |
| Almeria | 950 | Asturias | 98 | Avila | 920 |
| Badajoz | 924 | Baleares | 971 | Barcelona | 93 |
| Burgos | 947 | Caceres | 927 | Cadiz | 956 |
| Cantabria | 942 | Castellon | 964 | Ceuta | 956 |
| Ciudad Real | 926 | Cordoba | 957 | Cuenca | 969 |
| Gerona | 972 | Granada | 958 | Guadalajara | 949 |
| Guipuzcoa | 943 | Huelva | 959 | Huesca | 974 |
| Jaen | 953 | La Coruna | 981 | La Rioja | 941 |
| LasPalmas | 928 | Leon | 987 | Lerida | 973 |
| Lugo | 982 | Madrid | 91 | Malaga | 95 |
| Melilla | 95 | Murcia | 968 | Navarra | 948 |
| Orense | 988 | Palencia | 979 | Pontevedra | 986 |
| Salamanca | 923 | Segovia | 921 | Sevilla | 95 |
| Soria | 975 | Tarragona | 977 | Tenerife | 922 |
| Teruel | 978 | Toledo | 925 | Valencia | 96 |
| Valladolid | 983 | Viscaya | 94 | Zamora | 980 |
| Zaragoza | 976 |
Mobile Telephone Codes
As in most countries, mobile network operators issue certain dialling codes to their subscribers. However, with number portability in Spain (portabilidad), these numbers are not now an accurate indicator of subscriber network in use.
Emergency Telephone Numbers
112 – for all emergencies
902 102 112 – for multi-lingual services (usually incurs a longer wait)
112 is the pan-European Union emergency number and is recommended to all visitors and new immigrants. Local numbers do exist. However, to use these, you have to know which police or fire department deals with which situation.
Speaking Clock
093 – Exact time
Tipping
Locals often tip even if modestly, it is considered polite and the Spanish are sticklers for manners and etiquette. Leaving the small change behind to round up to the nearest Euro is the most common. Maybe an extra Euro or 2 if the service was very good and added value.
In restaurants then upscale tipping can be expected. The usual is 10%.