Money matters

Money matters |

Updated May 2026

Cash or card on the Camino de Santiago?

There’s a phrase that is repeated a lot in Camino forums and groups:

Cash is king.

And it’s true. Although many albergues, cafeterías & bares take cards, there are some places that only take efectivo (cash).

That means you’ll always need to carry some dinero (money) . Euros, to be precise. And céntimos (cents).

Avoid €100 billetes (notes), as some businesses might not take them. Stick to smaller notes  (€5, €10, €20) and a handful of monedas (coins) for your day-to-day expenses on the Camino.

Can you pay in dollars or another currency?

No. Whether you’re walking in Spain, France, or Portugal, you’ll need euros. 

You might be tempted to bring money in your home currency and exchange it at banks along the way. Not a great plan, for two reasons:

1. Banks don’t exchange currency on the spot; you typically need to request it a couple of days in advance; not practical when you’re trying to keep walking.
2. Even if you had the time to wait, most banks won’t exchange money for non-clients anyway.

The good news? You don’t need to arrive with a wallet stuffed with cash. If it gives you peace of mind, exchange a small amount before you travel, then use your tarjeta (card) to top up at cajeros automáticos (or simply cajeros) (ATMs) as you go. They’re available in most towns along the route, and withdrawing once a week is usually enough.

Prices have been rising considerably in recent times. At the time of updating this (May 2026), I would budget €50/day to cover accommodations, meals & snacks. If course, there are many factors affecting your budget, such as the time of accommodation where you’re planning to stay. You might be able to do it for less, but as I just mentioned, the cost of living in Spain has increased a lot lately and the Camino is no exception.

One note on cash acceptance: things have improved since the pandemic, and more albergues, bars and small shops now accept card payments. That said, cash is still king in many places, so always keep some cash on you just in case.

Most pilgrims carry at least one card, either de débito (debit) or de crédito (credit), or both. You can use them to withdraw money from ATMs and to pay at hotels, restaurants, and larger shops in bigger towns.

Card conditions vary depending on your country and bank, so it’s difficult to give one-size-fits-all advice. That said, here are some practical tips to make the most of your cards on the Camino:

Money tips for the Camino

• Before you travel, check your card’s conditions (fees and exchange rates) to avoid unpleasant surprises. For instance, credit cards generally attract more fees than debit cards when withdrawing cash from ATMS. 

If your card’s charges are too high, you might want to consider a prepaid card. Correos, the Spanish post office, has one. All info here: https://correosprepago.es

• Let your bank know you are travelling. Otherwise, they might think the activity on your card looks suspicious and block it.

• Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted cards. It might be hard to find places that accept others such as American Express.

• Make sure your card has a 4-digit PIN number. This is the standard in Europe. If your PIN is longer, you may run into problems at ATMs or even when paying in some places.

• If you are asked whether you want to be charged in euros or your own currency, always choose euros. The exchange rate will be better.

• As much as possible, try to use ATMs when the banks are open. If there’s any issue, such as your card being swallowed, you can go in and try to resolve it at once (opening hours are usually 8:30-14:30).

Today’s Spanish vocabulary for the Camino

¡Buen Camino!