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 or not? 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. By this time you probably already realized that there is no Uber in Barcelona. But don’t worry, I will show you an alternative in the blog post below.
Why should you trust me? My boyfriend lives in Barcelona, so I spend considerable time in the city. I regularly take a cab from the train station to his flat. And when going out in the evening we usually take a cab back home as well. Here are my tips for grabbing a taxi in Barcelona:
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:
25 free activities you can do in Barcelona: Visiting Barcelona does not have to be expensive. And this blog post is proof of that: I wrote down 25 free things you can do in Barcelona so that you don’t spend that much money during your stay. Check it out!
Barcelona couples guide, Romantic things to do in Barcelona: I wrote this guide for all couples visiting Barcelona that would like to spend a romantic time together in the city. This post shows you so many romantic things you can do in Barcelona together with your loved one.
What to do in Barcelona at night: 12 fun evening activities 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 with best places to stay in each area: Are you still getting confused about the different areas of Barcelona? I created a Barcelona neighborhood map with all areas of Barcelona. It includes the best places to stay and monuments you have to see in each area.
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 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?
No! Uber is currently not working in Barcelona. An alternative to Uber in Barcelona is an app called Cabify. It works exactly the same as Uber. You can download it in your app store.
Do taxis in Barcelona accept credit cards?
Yes, most of them do. 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?”
Are taxis in Barcelona safe?
Yes, taxis in Barcelona are incredibly safe. The prices are regulated by a taximeter to prevent overcharges.
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.
- 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
- 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.
The taxi drive from the airport usually takes around 20-35 min, depending on the traffic, and will cost you around 30€.
Wait, but what can I do since there is no Uber in Barcelona?
As previously mentioned, the Uber App will not help you during your Barcelona stay. That’s why I would recommend you download “Cabify”, which is the Spanish alternative to Uber. Personally, I do not use it a lot because I usually just stop a taxi in the street. But if you ever want to pre-order a taxi or want the taxi to pick you up from wherever you are, Cabify is a great option.
I especially love that their prices are usually very affordable. And they do not change if you end up in a traffic jam. They always chose the shortest option for your trip. So there is no way your rider can take a sudden detour. Cabify is also very useful if you are traveling to other Spanish cities, like Madrid or Valencia.
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 squares.
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 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!
