Cash or card in Barcelona — what do locals actually use?

Card is the default in Barcelona for almost everything above five euros. Locals tap contactless Visa or Mastercard at supermarkets, restaurants, and bars without a second thought, and the metro and bus network runs entirely on contactless or the T-Casual card. That said, cash still has a clear place: street markets like Mercat de Sant Antoni or Feria de Bellcaire, smaller neighbourhood bars in Gràcia or Poble Sec, and any bakery or colmado that posts a "mínim 10€" sign on the card reader. ATMs are easy to find — La Caixa and CaixaBank charge no fees to foreign Visa and Mastercard holders at their machines, though your home bank may add its own. Withdraw euros before exploring further-out barrios where machines thin out. The one practical rule: carry 20-30 euros in small bills at all times, not because cards fail, but because the occasional cash-only spot will catch you off guard.

Trip Friend knows Barcelona cold.

Plan a real trip there, and Trip Friend can answer every follow-up — with your dates, your style, and your places baked into the conversation.

• Where do locals actually go for aperitivo in Barcelona?
• Where do locals drink coffee in Barcelona?
• What does a local breakfast look like in Barcelona?
• Where is the street food in Barcelona actually good?
• Where can I eat after midnight in Barcelona?
• How do I get from the airport to the city in Barcelona?