Currencies, cards and money in Zaragoza

Currencies, cards and money in Zaragoza

Only Euro. It is the official currency... but let's talk about money in Zaragoza

Currencies accepted

Only Euro coins/banknotes will be accepted anywhere. I haven't seen any place accepting other currencies incluiding US dollars, Swiss Francs or British Pound.

Until 2001 the official currency was Spanish Peseta. Even though a lot of years are run since then, it would be possible to find something (specially those things with a higher price) written with the two currencies, although peseta is not used anymore.

Where can I exchange money?

As far as there are less people with foreing currencies who ask for exchange, it is not usual to see exchange business.
But in almost all banks (never mind which one), all most common currencies will be changed with the official rate and usually a fee (not high. When there were a lot of exchange agencies, banks had the lowest fees).
Banks usually open 8:00 to 8:30 and close 14:00 to 14:30. Depending of the bank, they can open on Thursday evening.

Some specific bank agencies have a different timetable (for instance one of CAI in P.Independencia and two of CAI and ibercaja in the station, as well as several in shopping centres but also several banks for all their agencies can open several hours in the evening), incluiding sometime saturdays.

It is enough to arrive to the desk with the foreing banknote (they will not accept coins) and they will give you the equivalent into euro currency.


Main hotels can exchange money too (and obviously their schedule is longer than banks) but they can have worst rates or fees.

Can I use my credit card?

VISA and Mastercard are often accepted in absolutely all business. Never mind if it is a hotel, restaurant or just a little shop or supermarkets.
They will, usually, ask a minimum payment (this is... for a little purchase they will ask to pay in cash, they will accept cards only for higher purchases because they will have to pay a fee for any card).

Ask to your bank about using the card in Spain (fees because abroad, rates if necessary to exchange, etc...)

You will be able to use them in cash dispensers. Just introduce it and write the amount of money you want. Ask to your bank about fees if asking money in cash dispensers (take care that... it could be cheaper and safer than carrying foreing money in cash and later asking for a currency exchange)

In a lot of cash dispensers, when they will notice that it is a foreing card, the first thing they will do is to ask about the language you want to use there. That will make your operation easier.

Almost all cash dispensers will give 10, 20 and 50 euro banknotes. If you want to have a higher banknote (for instance 100), you will have to enter inside the bank and ask for a change (2x50 =  100, just that)

I have to point that I have seen few places in Zaragoza where American Express or Diners Club are accepted. I have seen them... but they are not usually accepted. Take care about it.

Patio de la Infanta

Patio de la Infanta

Can you imagine a modern age coutyard inside of a bank?
Keep reading

A bit of history

In the modern age, it was very usual in Zaragoza to have snob medium palaces with a typical coutyard in the middle.

One of them, before the building was demolished, was sold to a French Antique dealer who kept it for a lot of years in Paris.

In the middle 20th century it was bought by a bank. Ibercaja. In fact, it is the mainest bank with headquarter in Zaragoza. The main building is in the absolutely city centre.

When they desgined the building they got in contact with that antique dealer and... bought the coutyard. It wasn't still re-built, just kept in a warehouse... and they bring back to Zaragoza by smuggling (it was heritage and should have to pass custom control... but they took stone by stone. Nobody knew that all stones had an unique number and were part of an old coutyard).

And today you can see it inside the bank and with several original paintings inside. Some of them are by Francisco de Goya.



This is the bank, looking from outside:

and... entering in that bank, you will find a lot of bureaus and offices but also this corner:

There are too many pictures in the internet. Just google "patio de la infanta zaragoza" and have a look... but do not forget to visit it in your next visit to Zaragoza.

Where can I find it?

Quite, quite easye. In Plaza Paraiso. I think it would be impossible to stay in Zaragoza and not having a look to this building.

Looking from outside it is just another bank headquarter more.
Looking inside... they have a stunning corner!!!

When can I visit it?

Look at here for more information
http://obrasocial.ibercaja.es/v2_ficha_centro.php?centro=4

but currently:

Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 13:30 and 18:00 to 21:00
Saturday, 11:00 to 14:00 and 18:00 to 21:00
Sunday, 11:00 to 14:00

Be aware that they have two entrances. One of them from outside and the other one from the own building.
If you are going to visit it monday to friday in the morning, you will have to enter inside the bank and ask for it.
If you are going to visit it in the evenings or weekends, you will have to enter from outside the bank (San Ignacio de Loyola street).

Are you in Zaragoza because business and no time for visits?. No problem, it closes at 21:00 monday to saturday!!!

Visit is free. Nevertheless, there are guided visits with the cost that appears in that page.


Get noticed that they open on mondays. There are not many monuments that open on mondays and you can use this day for this monument.

How can I get there?

By tramway (Pza. Aragon stop), Touristic bus (P. Pamplona 14 is the nearest) and almost any other bus lines.

Or just walking...

UPDATED

This was the old courtyard in the original location:

and ruins after demolishing

YES, you can visit this courtyard inside a central office of a bank!!!!


The same bank has a beautiful museum located in an old courtyard and with a lot of Goya paintings. It is in the city centre and free: Camon Aznar museum

Foreing currencies in Zaragoza, credit cards and taxes

Foreing currencies in Zaragoza, credit cards and taxes

Are you coming from somewhere without the Euro currency?. Here there is some useful information

Are foreing currencies accepted?

No. I must say I haven't seen yet any shop, store, restaurant, etc... with double prices (in euro and other currencies). Even if before Euro, all prices were in Pesetas. Now, having this currency and with almost all foreing visitors from those countries it will not be easy to find somewhere to be accepted to pay with other currency.

Think in euros if you are going to pay a taxi from the airport or the station or just asking something there.

Where can I change my foreing currencies?

Bank offices (usually open 8:15 to 14:30 monday to friday and thursday evenings) will change almost all kind of foreing currencies with their fees... but I would say they have the lowest change fees.

Today there are not too many places just to change money as far as with the Euro you can go from Portugal to Greece, Estonia or Finland.

Some main hotels will change you money too (maybe higher rates) but open 24h.

Are credit cards available?

Yes... but let's say that mainly VISA and Mastercard (or someone joined).
In every restaurant, shop or anywhere they accept them it will be written in the main gate the name of the cards accepted.
Take notice that VISA (in all his versions) will be accepted almost anywhere but American Express is not common (I've seen some pics where they say they accept but not too many).

Ask to your credit card company about charges because using abroad and (if apply) using with Euro currency.

As a rule, if it is indicated that a credit card is accepted, the shop, restaurant, etc... must accept it, even if the system is down. They should have a back-up (but if it is down, be sure that paying in cash, it doesn't matter the amount, will be faster, faster, faster)

Ask to your credit card about charges if asking money in cash dispensers. Depending of the amount, and the days you will be in Zaragoza it could be faster and cheaper just using your credit card and asking for money in a cash dispenser.
Almost all cash dispenser will allow you to choose the language when they detect a foreing card, English included.

Which taxes should I have to pay?

Taxes will be included almost always in the final price. The common expression is PVP (precio venta publico = Price selling to public) which means that regular taxes are incluided.
In some restaurants or hotels they can say taxes not included. In that case consider a 10% more.

VAT is 10% for hotels, restaurants and some other goods and 21% for almost all things.
Anything you will buy in Zaragoza will include the 21%.

There will be some shops, mainly the biggest ones, where they will say that with a minimum of purchasing they will manage your VAT refund
Depending of your site of residence you can avoid this tax. You will pay full price but if it is not used at Spain and you have the invoice, you can declare at customs when leaving Spain. Your good will be duty free (and entering in your country will require to pay local taxes then). But you will be able to send to the custom office in Spain the invoice (it is not an easy and quick thing) and ask for tax refund.
If buying in several main great stores or some shops they can manage your tax refund but, first of all, they will need the custom paper.
Even if you find it surprising, it apply too for Canary islands, Ceuta and Melilla citizens as far as they have different local taxes.