How to Get a Taxi in Barcelona

The taxis in Barcelona are black and yellow vehicles with a sign that reads “TAXI” mounted on the front of the roof. Part of that sign glows green when the cab is free and that shows a number for the tariff when taken.

Most cabs are compact sedans that can seat up to 4 people (although, frankly speaking, only 3 can sit comfortably) and fit 2-3 large suitcases in the trunk. For larger groups, there are vans that can carry 5 to 8 people, depending on the make and model.

How Much Do Taxis Charge?

Getting around by cab in Barcelona is affordable and predictable. All taxi cabs in the city have the same rates and surcharges determined by the administration of the Barcelona province, Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB).

Day fare: From Monday to Friday, between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm, taxis in Barcelona charge €1.21 per kilometer and €23.40 per hour of waiting time. The minimum charge for a ride is €2.30.

Night, weekend, and bank holiday fare: On weekdays between 8:00 pm and 8:00 am, weekends, as well as on bank holidays, taxis in Barcelona charge €1.45 per kilometer and €23.40 per hour of waiting time. The minimum charge for a ride is €2.30.

Surcharges:

• A surcharge of €4.30 applies when taking a cab from and to El-Prat Airport
• A surcharge of €4.30 applies when taking a cab from the Moll Adossat cruise ship dock
• A surcharge of €4.30 applies when taking a large cab for groups of 5 to 8 passengers
• A surcharge of €3.10 applies when taking a cab on the nights of June 23rd and 24th, December 24th, 25th, 31st, and January 1st
• A surcharge of €2.50 applies when taking a cab from the Barcelona-Sants train station
• A surcharge of €2.50 applies when taking a cab from the Fira Barcelona trade venue

Special rates:

• The minimum rate for a taxi from El-Prat Airport is €20
• The final price for a taxi from El-Prat Airport to the Moll Adossat cruise ship dock is €39

Are Taxis Here Safe?

To the extent that taxi drivers are licensed, their fares are regulated, and their vehicles are kept in good condition, cabs in the city of Barcelona and surrounding small towns are generally safe.

You don’t have to worry about fake taxis, and all companies and drivers have the same fares. That said, always make sure that you are hailing a black and yellow car with a “TAXI” sign, taximeter, and clearly visible driver ID card.

At the Barceloan airport and cruise ship port, cabs are always in a long line out front, and there’s almost always someone to direct you to the next cab in line. Don’t trust anyone who claims the line has moved and tries to take you elsewhere, like a parking lot.

The only kind of malicious behavior that cab drivers engage in here is to take a longer route—the tourist route—so that they can charge more money for the trip. It’s a good idea to use Apple Maps and Google Maps and say, “I’ll call the police and report your number to the AMB” if your ride gets out of hand.

How Can You Get a Taxi?

Getting a cab in Barcelona is not so different from hailing a cab in any other metropolitan city: stand on a busy street, look for a black and yellow taxi with a green sign, and raise your hand. Sometimes the locals will whistle or shout “Taxi!” to get the driver’s attention.

The good news is that you don’t have to stand on the street for long. There are plenty of cabs in Barcelona and getting one is rarely a problem, especially if you are in a neighborhood near the city center or by the beach.

There are also 300 taxi stands throughout the city and surrounding towns. The chances of finding a taxi at a stand are the highest at any time of the day. You can see them here.

Besides, you know very well what they say. If at first you don’t succeed, try again!

What’s the Best Taxi App?

If you prefer an app, know that the best taxi app in Barcelona is called Free Now, and it’s available for both Android and iOS. Although there are other apps that you can try, like Yellow Taxi, Free Now has the most drivers and is by far the easiest to use.

What I like about Free Now is that you earn loyalty points with each ride, which you can then exchange for discount vouchers in the app as well as for other services in the city, such as tourist lockers and food delivery apps.

Other useful features of Free Now include the ability to schedule cabs, choose whether to take a regular cab or hail a van for large groups, pay through the app instead of with cash or by card, and to be charged a fixed price for each ride instead of using on the taximeter.

When you order a cab through an app and choose a fixed price, know that the driver won’t use the taximeter. Instead, you will pay the fixed price when you arrive at your destination (whether with cash, by credit card, or in-app payment).

Lost Your Phone or Wallet in a Cab?

Lost something in a cab?

In Barcelona, taxi drivers are licensed professionals and they take pride in their work. As long as you lost your item in the cab—and not on the street while getting in or out—there’s a good chance of getting it back if you make a claim.

A central lost and found service managed by the municipality of Barcelona is available to both cab drivers and users to facilitate communication about lost personal items.

If you lost your phone, wallet, travel bag, laptop case, jewelry, or other personal item in a taxi in Barcelona, you can make a claim by calling +34 93 70 70 600 or by filling in this online form.

The phone line is manned from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm and from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm from Monday to Friday. There’s an automated service line during non-working hours.

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