Q: We are planning to take a taxi or shuttle bus from the airport to Barcelona. We will be  travelling with an infant. Could you advise of how infants are to travel in  public transport, are car seats required?

A: We unable to give advice on specific legal subjects, however we rang  up both the Barcelona taxi association and the Aerobus representative and asked  them the rules regarding carrying infants and children on the public transport  system and taxis. The information below was derived from these telephone calls.

We spoke to a representative of the taxi association (Institut  Metropolita del Taxi) in Barcelona  and they informed us that there is a difference in the rules between urban and  interurban transports. Barcelona  airport is considered as urban transport. Taxis in Barcelona do not need to ask you to carry a  baby seat. The baby can simply travel in your arms. According to the person we  spoke to at the Barcelona Taxi Associations this is legal for urban taxi  transports. If you wish to travel from Barcelona  to another location (interurban transport) you do need to carry a baby seat.  Otherwise the taxi can get in trouble and is quite within their rights to  refuse driving you.

When I spoke to a representative at the Aerobus (Airport shuttle bus  service) they told me when travelling on metropolitan buses in Barcelona, it is your  responsibility in which conditions you travel with the baby. On all  metropolitan buses there is a space reserved to park baby carriages.

Please note we are unable to advice you on legal aspects for carrying  children, babies and infants and the information we have given above is what  the above transport representatives have told us.

Barcelona airport El Prat General information  and transport options

Barcelona general information regarding taxi  services and fares