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

Locals lean on contactless card payments for nearly everything, and Barcelona's infrastructure supports it thoroughly. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at virtually all restaurants, supermarkets, pharmacies, and shops above the corner-store level. Apple Pay and Google Pay work seamlessly on the metro, at most cafés, and even at smaller mercats like Santa Caterina. That said, carry 20 to 40 euros in cash at all times. Street markets, some family-run tapas bars in the Barceloneta and Gràcia neighborhoods, small bakeries, and the occasional taxi driver still operate cash-only, and a few places add a surcharge for card payments under 10 euros. ATMs are plentiful downtown, though those branded Euronet charge aggressive fees; use a Caixabank or Sabadell machine instead. The T-Casual metro card can be loaded at automated kiosks with a card, so cash is not required for transport. The practical rule: default to card, keep a small cash reserve, and check the door of any market stall before you order.

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