Best Place to Exchange Money in Madrid

01Exchange

Where to change money in Madrid

Madrid Destino, the city's tourism company, says exchange shops cluster around Puerta del Sol, that any bank will change money and that some hotels do so for guests. Two chains publish central addresses and hours.

• Prosegur Change, Sol and Gran Vía ↗Eleven Madrid branches, most near Sol, among them Gran Vía 12, 15, 31 and 49, Calle de Preciados 19 and Puerta del Sol 6, all open daily until 22:00 or 23:00. Its zero-commission rate is for currency booked online, so ask what a walk-in exchange costs.
• Eurochange, Callao and Calle del Carmen ↗Calle de Jacometrezo 11, by Callao (Monday to Saturday, 12:00 to 19:00), and Calle del Carmen 27 (weekdays 10:00 to 21:00, weekends 11:00 to 20:00). Eurochange states that it applies no commission, which makes the rate the whole cost: set the euros quoted against a cash withdrawal.

02On arrival

Changing money at the airport

Aena names Global Exchange as the exchange operator at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas and lists no desk in Terminal 2. Landing at T1, you pass desks in baggage reclaim hall 1 (05:00 to 23:00) and hall 2 (06:00 to 22:00). T4 has arrivals desks by belts 1 and 2 (05:30 to 21:55) and belts 14 and 15 (07:30 to 23:25), with more beside check-in and at the gates; T3 has one, in boarding area D. These are the hours Aena showed in October 2026.

03Cash machines and cards

ATMs and cards in Madrid

Aena lists CaixaBank, Santander (Euro Automatic Cash) and independent Euronet cash machines at Barajas, with Euronet's in the T1 and T4 arrivals halls. In town, Madrid Destino says Visa and Mastercard are taken most often, American Express and Diners less so. When a Madrid till or cash machine proposes a total in pounds, turn it down and stay in euros: MoneySavingExpert warns that a merchant's rate tends to lose out to the one your card applies.

04Getting around

Paying for transport in Madrid

Since 1 June 2026, Metro de Madrid's gates have accepted a tapped bank card, phone or watch as payment for a single journey, with no transport card needed; only singles are sold this way so far. The launch price was a promotional flat €1.50 for the opening weeks, while the standard zone A single costs €1.50 for up to five stations, rising to €2.00. A 10-trip Metrobús ticket (€7.30 in 2026, valid on EMT buses too) or a tourist pass goes on a €2.50 Tarjeta Multi. At the two airport stations, singles and 10-trip tickets need a €3 supplement, valid only on the day bought; tourist and 30-day passes are exempt.

05Local know-how

Good to know

• Taxis charge a fixed €33 between Barajas and anywhere inside the M-30 ring road, day or night. Every cab takes cards, says the tourist office, and drivers must carry coins to change up to €20.
• Travelling together, several people can validate one card holding singles or a 10-trip ticket in turn. Tourist passes are personal: one Multi card each.