Barcelona is a bustling, cosmopolitan city with a wide variety of restaurants, night life, shopping and cultural activities. It's also one of the most expensive cities in Spain. The national currency is the euro, and opportunities to exchange or access your money abound throughout the city. However, rates and fees can vary depending on where you exchange your money.
Major banks are your best and safest option for changing money in Barcelona. Bank exchange rates are fixed and are almost always more favorable than rates at other sites. Banks also have ATMs where you can access your money quickly and easily, but check with your bank first regarding international usage fees. La Rambla, a central street in Barcelona, is a tourist spot with a number of banks for money exchange.
You can exchange money at the airport in Barcelona, at travel agencies and at exchange offices (“casas de cambio”) throughout the city, but exchange rates are variable and some sites may charge an additional commission. Some hotels also offer currency exchange.
Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted in Barcelona. Check with your bank before your trip to determine if you'll incur any fees for using your card overseas. Traveler's checks are accepted at banks and travel agencies in Barcelona, but they're not as widely used as credit cards or cash.
