This post will be a short summary of all the information you need to know about taxis in Barcelona. Are you currently planning to visit Barcelona and are wondering how taxis work? And you are debating whether you should order a taxi from the airport, the train station, or not? Or maybe it’s enough to just take public transport? Of course, we do not want to be scammed and end up paying ridiculous amounts of money for a short trip with a cab. So what is the standard price for a taxi in Barcelona? Those are all valid questions. Because taxis all work differently in every city. And those are all questions we will answer in this blog post.
This post will be your source for different types of taxi, safe local taxi drivers, and fares. I will also tell you about options for business travelers, families, and solo travelers.
Here are my tips for grabbing a taxi in Barcelona, transportation options, taxi fares, safe taxi trips and possible extra charges:
Affiliate links may be sprinkled throughout the free content of this blog post. If you purchase from one of the links I may receive a small commission while the price for you stays the same. This helps me cover the costs of The Lithuanian Abroad. Gracias!
Other blog posts about Barcelona you should check out:
Barcelona bucket list full of fun activities: This blog post is full of tips for visiting Barcelona for the first time. It includes a bucket list with more than 40 things to do in Barcelona!
Romantic things to do in Barcelona: I wrote this guide for all couples visiting Barcelona who would like to spend a romantic time together in the city.
What to do in Barcelona at night: With this post, you will never run out of ideas about what to do in Barcelona during the evening. This post includes 12 fun ideas for nighttime activities in Barcelona, that aren’t just partying.
Barcelona neighborhood map: Are you still getting confused about the different areas of Barcelona? I created a Barcelona neighborhood map with all areas of Barcelona that you can download!
Explore Barcelona on a free walking tour
I am a big fan of walking tours and love going on one every time I visit a new city for the first time. Free walking tours are an amazing opportunity to see the most important places and monuments of Barcelona in only one afternoon. And the best part: You get to learn so much about Barcelona’s history from your local guide.
So how do free walking tours work? Free walking tours do not come with a specific price tag. Therefore, they are free. You will spend a couple of hours together with your local guide walking around Barcelona. Barcelona is an incredibly walkable city and you will see so many beautiful places. And you get to ask your guide for recommendations on what you should be doing after the tour. Once the tour is over you have the chance to give your local guide a tip. And how much you would like to tip him is totally up to you. It usually depends on your budget and how much you enjoyed your walking tour.
Book your free walking tour in Barcelona here.
Let’s start: Everything you need to know about taxis in Barcelona
Let’s answer some very important questions first:
How do I recognise an official taxi in Barcelona?
Official and regular taxis in Barcelona have an eye-catching yellow-black color. Barcelona’s city council introduced this color code in order to prevent illegal taxis and scammers.
Is there Uber in Barcelona?
Yes, after years of legal battles, Uber is finally available in Barcelona.
Do taxis in Barcelona accept credit cards?
Yes, most of them offer cashless payments. I have never had problems paying with my credit card in a taxi in Barcelona. What can happen is that they have problems with the card machine. That is why I would advise asking before going in a taxi. “Can I pay with card” in Spanish would be “Puedo pagar con tarjeta?”. The card machines accept both, credit cards and debit cards.
If you need a taxi receipt, just tell the driver you need a “recibo”.
Are taxis in Barcelona safe?
Yes, taxis in Barcelona are incredibly safe.
In order to protect you from hidden fees, the prices are regulated by a taximeter to prevent overcharges. I would recommend checking that the taximeter is turned on and the numbers are changing to make sure that your driver is not trying to overcharge you (I have only heard things like this happen in the news, it has never happened to myself)
Apart from that, when it comes to your own safety, all taxis in Barcelona have an official document displayed in the car that shows the official license number of the driver. And if anything ever happens, you can report these drivers and make an official complaint using that number.
What is the best taxi app in Barcelona?
In Barcelona, most people use Uber, Cabify, Bolt and Freenow. To me, Uber and Bolt are the most reliable option. But I have all of them on my phone and usually compare prices to order the cheapest ride.
From my experience, Bolt is usually cheaper but has longer waiting times.
Personally, I do not have great experiences with Cabify because there are not that many cars available and the waiting time is quite high.
Do you recommend using the taxi apps in Barcelona?
Yes, I highly recommend them for several reasons: You can choose the type of vehicle/service you want and can chose between a regular or higher-end service. The apps are also safer, and show a fixed price. That way you have a full guarantee, even if you end up in a traffic jam etc.
Another reason why I recommend taxi apps in Barcelona is that it is easier to recover lost property. Since the app saves your previous trips, it is easier to reach out to drivers to see if they found your belongings.
What is the best solution for business travelers in Barcelona?
For business travel, I do recommend Uber. On the app, you can choose from different types of vehicles. Here, you can choose between Comfort (the normal option) and Black (high end cars with top-rated drivers)
In case you need to order a private transfer from the airport for an individual, I would recommend viator. On Viator you can book different kinds of airport pick-up services, or private transfer for other occasions in Barcelona.
This will be a premium taxi vehicle with professional drivers
How do I recognise an official taxi in Barcelona?
As mentioned before, the color of official taxis in Barcelona is black and yellow. Taxis even have a specific taxi lane in larger streets in the city center where they can go. You can recognize it by the signs on the road.
Apart from the significant color, you will find a taximeter in the front of the car. It shows the rate applied, the supplement you have to pay, and the total amount. The identity card of the driver is located on the window in front of the passenger seat, and the taxi ID card should be located on the front board as well.
By the way, if a taxi in Barcelona is available, the little taxi sign on the roof of the car will show a green light. I am mentioning it here because it took me a long time to realize that!
What are the fares and prices of taxis in Barcelona?
Here, I will explain how the cabs exactly calculate the prices of your trip. Thankfully, fares are completely regulated in Barcelona. That way, scams and overcharging can be prevented. As long as you take the correct route, of course. Here is a summary of the taxi prices in Barcelona:
- Flat Rate per Trip: 2,30€ (minimum charge)
- Monday to Friday 8 am-8 pm the rate per kilometer is 1,21€
- Monday to Friday 8 pm-8am, Saturdays, Sundays, and on public holidays, the rate per kilometer is 1,45€
- Additional supplement when you take the cab from the airport: 4,30€
- The minimum rate from Barcelona airport is 20€
- Additional supplement when you take the cab from the port: 4,30€
- Additional supplement when taking the cab from the Barcelona Sants Train station
- Flat Rate per Trip: 2,30€
- Monday to Friday 8 am-8 pm the rate per kilometer is 1,21€
- Monday to Friday 8 pm-8am, Saturdays, Sundays, and on public holidays the rate per kilometer is 1,45€
- Additional supplement when you take the cab from the airport: 4,30€
- The minimum rate from Barcelona airport is 20€
- Additional supplement when you take the cab from the port: 4,30€
- Additional supplement when taking the cab from the Barcelona Sants Train station
Where can I find a taxi at the airport in Barcelona
At the airport in Barcelona, there are specific taxi lanes outside Terminal 1 (T1) and Terminal 2 (T2). All you have to do is follow the signs inside the airport that will lead you to the area where you can grab a cab. There are always (and I mean always) taxis waiting outside. But it will depend on how many people are in line for a taxi in front of you. Usually, you should be able to grab a taxi at the airport fast.
At the taxi stand, there will be a person organizing the pick-ups. They will ask you how many people you are and assign you a taxi accordingly. So, if you are five people in total, they will assign a bigger car to you.
The taxi ride from the airport usually takes around 20-35 minutes, depending on the traffic conditions, and will cost you around 35€ (That is the daytime rate, at night it will be a bit more expensive)
Where can I find taxi stands in Barcelona?
Close to all major streets, hospitals, and train stations are taxi stands where you can take a cab from. The most common ones you should know about you can find in:
- Plaça de Catalunya
- next to the Columbus monument
- outside of the Sants train station
- outside of big shopping centres and malls, like Maremagnum
- outside of the airport (Barcelona- El Prat airport)
- outside of the Cruise terminals
- by the Sagrada Familia
If I am in a rush I sometimes do not order a cab from the apps, and simply get it on the street. The only time you will have a problem finding taxis in the street will be during peak hours (Friday evening, Saturday evening, on public holidays, when the weather is bad) Since taxis in Barcelona are very safe, I do recommend doing so.
Can I just grab a taxi in the streets of Barcelona?
To me, stopping a taxi in the streets is still the most comfortable option when you are looking for a taxi. In that case, just stand close to the taxi lane and raise your arm to the bypassing taxis. You can also recognize available taxis if the little sign on the roof of the car has a green light. You will not have any problems grabbing a taxi if you are close to any main street or square.
How much do you tip taxi drivers in Barcelona?
Spanish tipping culture may be different than in your home country. Tipping is completely optional in Spain. I do want to mention though, that tips are highly appreciated in Spain. So even if you cannot leave a huge tip, small tips or just rounding up the price of your trip is very much appreciated!
I wrote a blog post about tipping in Spain, which you can find here.
I need to order a taxi to my accommodation in Barcelona. What number do I have to call?
Here, I will leave you the contact details of a couple of active taxi companies in Barcelona. If you are not comfortable calling them yourself, maybe you can ask a receptionist in your accommodation.
Taxi Class: +34 933 07 07 07
Taxi Barcelona: +34 930 15 56 46 (You can even book online: Change the language of the website on the top right)
Som Taxi Barcelona: +34 622 79 96 80 (You can even make the reservation on WhatsApp, so you don’t have to talk to anyone on the phone!)
Useful Spanish vocabulary for ordering a taxi in Barcelona
Here are some useful words for ordering a taxi in Barcelona. If you end up ordering a taxi on WhatsApp you can just paste it into the WhatsApp channel of one of the taxi companies I mentioned earlier.
Hola! Necesito un taxi. – Hello! I need a taxi.
La direccion es … – The address is …
Ahora – Now
Mañana – Tomorrow
A las (your time) – At (your time)
El destino es – The destination is
Somos … personas – We are … people
Gracias – Thank you!
