“Any reasonable, sentient person who looks at Spain, comes to Spain, eats in Spain, drinks in Spain, they’re going to fall in love. Otherwise, there’s something deeply wrong with you. This is the dream of all the world.” says Anthony Bourdain, legendary chef and travel documentarian focusing on international culture and cuisine.
Today, we are diving deep into the kaleidoscopic world of ravishing Spain. A dreamland standing as evidence of the infinitude in human ingenuity! There is something much more than meets the eye in this wonderful country – an untold tale of centuries with a plethora of different cultures and beliefs. From vibrant festivals such as La Fallas and La Tomatina to precious Andalucia and Granada, Spain enchants the fantasies of many travellers.
Being the third most popular tourist destination in the world, Spain has a lot to offer. With its controversial bullfights, incredible cuisine, rich culture and natural beauties, there are so many fascinating aspects to unpack. To comprehend better, it may be better to start with some Spanish life facts before listing the best payment options in Spain.
The foremost fact about Spain is that even though Spanish is the majority language used throughout the country, Spain has four official languages: Catalan, Basque, Galician and Aranese. Some other non-official languages used in Spain include Valencian, Aragonese, Leonese and Asturian.
Another one is that Spain is known for having the most bars and restaurants per person in the world, one for every 175 citizens. This means there are around 277,539 gastronomic establishments in the country serving incredible Spanish cuisine and one-of-a-kind Sangrias. Sangria is a punch made from red wine, fruit juices, fruit pieces, and sometimes other spirits.
Spanish culture cherishes the quality of time spent with friends and family. This is one of the reasons why the food and drinks in Spain are unbelievably blissful. Spanish food is truly one of a kind, and once you get there, it is inevitable to put on a few kilos. No worries, you can make up for the calories while wandering the streets of beautiful Madrid!
As we have mentioned, Spain is the third most popular tourist destination in the world after France and the USA. The two most popular cities in Spain are Madrid and Barcelona. Madrid is the capital of Spain and the sunniest city in Europe, with an average sunshine rate of around 250 days annually.
Have you ever been to Barcelona? You need to add this vivid city to your bucket list for sure. Spain’s second most populous city is the home of the famous Sagrada Familia of Gaudi and another out-of-this-world building, Casa Batllo. The city is also known for its exceptional city planning, consisting of neat grids that give the buildings an octagonal shape.
While there are many other exciting beauties in Spain, it is time to talk about the highly controversial bullfight tradition that started in the mediaeval Spanish period. Bullfighting was considered a noble sport back then and reserved only for the rich that could afford to breed and train their bulls.
On rare occasions, if the bull behaves well during the fight, its life can be spared – what a dangerous sport for the matadors and cruel for the bulls. Not every tradition has to continue in the modern world, but we are leaving this discussion to the Spanish citizens.
When we want to handle the socio-economic aspect of sunny Spain, the country steps forwards with its great potential. While the country performs well in terms of work-life balance, health and safety in the world’s statistics, it falls short in terms of job opportunities, education, and life satisfaction.
Education is compulsory and free between the ages of 6 and 16 years. In Spain, 63% of adults aged 25-64 have completed upper secondary education. The Spanish government is actively trying to modernise education and solve the unemployment problem in the country.
However, the picture is brighter than it is shown. Spain has the fifth largest economy in Europe, the fifteenth-largest exporter in the world and the fourteenth-largest importer. Still, the average Spanish citizen struggles to make ends meet in the bigger cities. Yet, thanks to the latest international agreements and European Union developments, living standards are getting better and better day by day.
Do you want to move to Spain as a foreseeing expat, passionate traveller, or digital nomad? Actually, according to the most known digital nomad blog worldwide, Las Palmas in Gran Canaria (Canary Islands) and Barcelona are listed as the best destinations for digital nomads to live.
In the rest of our article, we have listed the most used payment ways in Spain and we believe they can become pretty handy for you. If you are wondering about the preferred payment methods and practices in Spain, you are in the right place.
Choosing Payment Methods in Spain
Spain is a modern European country that is open to technological developments. Payment options in Spain are not so different from the rest of Europe. Spanish citizens mostly make transactions using debit and credit cards, while cash is accepted almost everywhere.
What are the Different Types of Payment Methods in Spain?
- Cash in Spain
Cash is still commonly used in Spain. The official currency of Spain is the Euro (€), like the rest of the countries in the European Union. You can withdraw cash from ATMs everywhere in the country, from shopping malls to historic centres in small towns.
On the other hand, carrying cash can be destructive when considering the dangers of being lost and stolen. There is not much to do in such an unpleasant situation unless you own other payment styles. Therefore, you can carry cash with you in addition to other payment solutions, not as your only option.
- Credit Cards in Spain
Credit and debit cards make up 53% of total eCommerce purchases in Spain, and the most popular card issuers in Spain are Visa and MasterCard. Cards are also commonly used for in-store purchases, even though in some places, there might be a €10 sub-limit for payments made by card.
Depending on the agreements of your bank and credit card type, you might need to pay some fees if you are a tourist in Spain. Check the details with your bank to learn more. While cards are the most commonly used payment type in Spain, we still advise you to keep cash in the local currency for small in-store transactions just in case.
- Digital Wallets in Spain
Digital wallet usage in Spain is getting increasingly more popular. Over 97% of people aged 19-24 in Spain are online, and as they enter the marketplace, they become inquisitive about online payment methods. While credit card payments for e-commerce are possible, the new generation is experimenting with digital wallets as they offer faster and more secure revenue.
Digital wallet use is expected to keep growing just like the rest of the world, and new digital wallet options keep appearing in the market. Thanks to the transaction time and security, digital wallets can be the best online payment method in Spain.
- Cryptocurrency in Spain
Selling and trading cryptocurrencies in Spain is legal, and multiple reliable cryptocurrency trading platforms are available in the country. It is easy to register at any venue and buy coins using the official fiat currency of Spain via bank transfers and digital wallets.
In order to combat tax fraud, those earning profit by trading and selling coins will have to declare any crypto assets above a particular value with the Spanish Tax Agency. This tax applies not only to Bitcoin but also to any other altcoins you are trading with. Pay your taxes and enjoy buying, selling and trading cryptocurrencies safely.
Jeton Wallet in Spain!
¡Hola España! ¡Este es un día maravilloso!
Our excellent digital wallet, Jeton Wallet, understands the Spanish lifestyle and is pretty familiar with spender habits after all these years of operating in the Reino de España.
Finding alternative solutions to banking services can be challenging when we think of the obstacles to creating a traditional bank account in Spain for non-residents. But hey! We got you!
You do not need to apply in person for a Jeton Wallet account! Through jeton.com, It will not take more than a couple of clicks and minutes to open a Jeton account. Plus, a EUR IBAN will be given to you instantly to operate your international money transfers without hidden and pricey transaction fees.
Our unique Jeton App, compatible with Android and iOS, allows you to monitor every transaction, exchange currencies, store your cryptos, and schedule your payments. Jeton is the most reliable and accessible online payment option for any consumer around the globe!
Besides the numerous advantages of Jeton Wallet, we have launched a Visa-based debit card, Jeton Card, for our users to utilise in-store and online shopping. Again, this card will be directly linked to your Jeton App to track the following activities in your transaction history. No room for unpleasant surprises!
Join the Jeton community today and meet our avant-garde payment services to level up your entire online experience! Together we are more potent than ever!
