Wise Best exchange rate
Wise debit card
45k0.43%-0.65% conversion fee
The best travel card for Spain
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers.
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers. Around €0.61 to the dollar. Spain is noticeably cheaper than France or Italy for food, wine and accommodation.
Yes - cards work almost everywhere in Spain, and you can get by on tap alone.
5 travel card options for Spain, compared
Revolut No weekday FX fee
Revolut Standard
30k0% FX fee
Compare only
ING Orange Everyday
Orange Everyday
22k0% with monthly criteria
ubank Spend
Spend account
9k0% international fee
Macquarie Transaction Account
Transaction account
6k0% international fee
Prices are indicative, shown in AUD and refreshed from provider APIs where available. Always confirm the final price on the provider's site - it is the price that applies. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never changes what you pay. Partners are listed before providers who pay us nothing, as our terms set out; sorting by price ignores all of that and orders on the number alone. How we make money.
Compared side by side
| Card | FX fee | ATM | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise Partner | 0.43%-0.65% conversion fee | 2 free withdrawals/month up to $350, then 1.75% | $0 |
| Revolut | 0% on weekdays, up to 1% on weekends | $350/month fee-free, then 2% | $0 |
| ING Orange Everyday | Rebated if you meet the monthly criteria | International ATM fees rebated with criteria met | $0 |
| ubank Spend | 0% international transaction fee | $0 from ubank, ATM operator fees may apply | $0 |
| Macquarie Transaction Account | 0% foreign transaction fee | $0 from Macquarie | $0 |
Paying for things in Spain
Can you pay by card in Spain?
Very good, including contactless in bars and on transport. Some small tapas bars and markets still prefer cash.
Cash and ATMs in Spain
Use bank ATMs (Santander, BBVA, CaixaBank) and decline their conversion offer. Euronet machines in tourist areas charge heavily.
Carry €50-€100. Spain is closer to cashless than Germany but not as far along as the Netherlands.
Do you tip in Spain?
Minimal and not expected. Round up or leave small change in a bar; 5-10% in a good restaurant is generous rather than standard.
Worth knowing about paying in Spain
Always pay in euros rather than Australian dollars when the terminal asks.
Before you pay for anything in Spain
Pay in Euro or Australian dollars?
The terminal will offer you both. One of them is materially more expensive.
Travel card, debit card or credit card?
Why the card sold hardest at the airport is usually the one that loses.
What is a foreign transaction fee?
Around 3%, charged by your own Australian bank. Removable before you fly.
What one Australian dollar buys in Spain
€0.62 EUR per AUD
Last recorded rate
These are mid-market rates - the rate banks trade at, published by the European Central Bank. It is not what you will be offered. Expect a card or exchange service to take 0.5% to 5% off it, which is exactly what our travel money comparison is for. Past movement doesn't predict future rates, and none of this is financial advice.
View the numbers as a table
More Spain essentials
Spain visa and entry rules
Passport, visa, arrival cards and customs rules for Australian passport holders.
Flights to Spain
Search fares from Australia, then sort the rest of the trip.
Spain eSIM plans
Instant data, no physical SIM required.
Spain travel insurance
Medical, cancellation and luggage cover for Australian travellers.
Spain airport transfers
Trains, buses, private transfers and taxis compared.
Driving in Spain
International Driving Permit rules and car hire for Australians.
Spain travel essentials
Adapters, plugs, tap water, tipping and health basics.
Things to do in Spain
Attractions, tours and passes worth booking ahead.
Further reading: Travel money for Australians: cards, cash and the fees nobody mentions
How these comparisons are made
Cards are compared on the three fees that actually cost travellers money - the FX margin, ATM fees and account fees - using each issuer's published rates. Jamie has personally spent on travel cards recommended here while overseas. Cash-versus-card guidance is researched per destination rather than copied between pages, because a card strategy that works in Stockholm fails in Osaka. Read the full editorial policy.
Planning Spain?
We will send you the Spain guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.