Travel Tips Travelling to Spain

Can I use Monzo in Spain?

Gert Svaiko

25.03.24

Read time 2 minutes

Planning a trip to Spain? Whether it’s a mini-break, culture trip or sun-soaked summer holiday, you’ll need to find the best and cheapest way to cover your spending.

Monzo is one option for spending internationally, but the big question is - does it work in Spain? Find out everything you need to know below.

Monzo is also a trusted partner of Wise Platform. Through our integration, customers of Monzo are able to benefit from the same fast and convenient payments as Wise customers, all from within their existing app.

Learn more about Monzo

Does Monzo work in Spain?

If you’re looking to manage your money and spend using Monzo while on holiday overseas, you’re in luck. It may be a British-based bank, but Monzo lets you use both your account and card in Spain, and elsewhere in Europe.

And you don’t need to tell the bank in advance that you’ll be using your account in another country.¹

Can I use my Monzo card in Spain?

Yes, your Monzo debit card will work in Spain just the same as it does in the UK. This means you can use it to pay for your tapas, travel, tickets and anything else you need during your trip.

Monzo cards can also be used for unlimited ATM withdrawals within the European Economic Area (EEA), which includes Spain. But if you’re travelling outside of the EEA, you’ll be limited to withdrawals of £200 per 30 days - after which a fee applies.¹

Are euros supported for spending, and how does currency conversion work?

When you spend in Spain using your Monzo card, your GBP is automatically converted to EUR by your card provider - which in this case is Mastercard. Monzo uses the Mastercard exchange rate without any mark-ups or hidden charges.¹

Important - when you’re paying or withdrawing cash abroad using a UK debit card, make sure to always pay in the local currency. Some vendors and ATMs will give you the option to pay in GBP, but this means that they use their own rate for the currency conversion. This could end up being expensive.

📚 Read more: How to make international payments with Monzo: A guide

Fees for using Monzo in Spain¹

Monzo doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees when you spend abroad using your debit card.

And if Monzo is your main bank account, you can make fee-free unlimited cash withdrawals within the EEA.

Outside of the EEA, you can withdraw up to £200 a month for free (just watch out for ATM operator’s fees). If you need to take out more cash than this, there’s a 3% fee.

Can I open a Monzo account in Spain?

No, Monzo is a British bank which only offers its accounts to UK residents who live in the country full-time.¹ This means you can’t open a Monzo account if you’ve just moved to Spain.

📚 Read more: How to open a Monzo account?

And that’s it - now you know everything you need about using your Monzo card in Spain.

If you’re looking for a UK bank account and love managing your money on your mobile, Monzo is a great pick. You can also take advantage of its partnership with Wise to send money overseas.

Also, if you need the ability to handle several currencies at once (if you’re living or working between countries, for example), the money services provider Wise can be a good fit. With the Wise multi-currency account, you can send and spend in 40+ currencies and receive money like a local in 8+ currencies, including EUR and USD. It’s not a bank account but offers many similar features.

Sources used:

Monzo - Travel

Sources last checked on date: 08-Feb-2024

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.