Can I use my credit card in Spain?

Tapas in San Sebastian. Flamenco in Granada. The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. Spain has something for every traveler. It’s a beautiful, sun-drenched destination with amazing food, vibrant culture, eye-opening architecture and an incredible coastline. And yes, your credit card can help you get to many of the places you want to go. 

What you’ll learn:

• Credit cards are widely accepted throughout Spain.
• Your card may come with features useful for traveling abroad, like fraud alerts and travel insurance.
• Some issuers may charge fees when you use a card internationally. Capital One doesn’t charge foreign transaction or currency conversion fees. View important rates and disclosures.
• It might be useful to have a little cash with you as well as your card in Spain.

U.S. credit cards are generally accepted in Spain, from major cities to small coastal towns. In fact, American credit cards are generally accepted throughout Europe.

The most common networks in Spain are Visa® and Mastercard®.

Keep in mind that you may incur fees when you use some credit cards abroad:

• Some card issuers apply foreign transaction fees to purchases made outside the U.S.; Capital One doesn’t. View important rates and disclosures. 
• Credit card, debit card and ATM networks charge the card issuer a fee when converting euros to dollars. The card issuer can then process the charge and add it to your account. Some card issuers pass this charge on to customers. Capital One doesn’t. View important rates and disclosures. 
• Some merchants offer an optional service called dynamic currency conversion (DCC) at the point of purchase. It allows you to be charged in dollars instead of euros. That can help you understand how much you’re actually spending. But it can come with a high currency conversion rate and a fee. 

Using your card while traveling in Spain can offer convenience and security. Here are a few advantages you might expect, especially if you’re a Capital One cardholder:

• Security and fraud protections can help provide peace of mind. Capital One cards offer features like $0 liability for unauthorized charges and fraud alerts.
• You can link your credit card to a digital wallet. Apple Pay®, Venmo, Google Pay™ and PayPal are some common examples that work with your smartwatch or mobile device.
• Your card issuer may have an app to help you stay on top of your spending. With the Capital One Mobile App, you can get transaction alerts, view recent activity and more.  
• You may be able to earn rewards when you use a travel card or cash-back card abroad.
• Your card may offer travel insurance against things like trip delays, cancellations and lost luggage. You can check your card’s benefits guide to see what your card offers.

Credit cards are widely accepted across Spain, and they can come with many benefits useful to travelers. But you may still want to keep some cash on hand for things like tips and small purchases.

Before your trip, you can exchange dollars for euros at your bank. Airport and hotel exchange desks and Spanish ATMs may charge higher fees and offer lower exchange rates.

Credit cards are easy to use and accepted throughout Spain. And if you have a Capital One card, you won’t be charged foreign transaction or currency conversion fees for using it. View important rates and disclosures. 

As you plan your trip, you might want to consider applying for a Capital One travel credit card. These tips for using a credit card internationally might also help you get the most out of your card.