Everything You Need To Know About Hiring A Taxi in Barcelona
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This page will cover everything you need to know when hiring a taxi in Barcelona. We cover the following frequently asked topics about Barcelona taxis so you will have all the essential information you need to hire a taxi with confidence no matter what you requirements are.
- How to recognize an official Barcelona Taxi
- Barcelona taxi operating hours
- Barcelona taxi prices
- How to get a taxi from Barcelona Airport, Barcelona Cruise Port, Barcelona Sants railway station and Barcelona Nord Bus station
- How to flag down a taxi in Barcelona
- How to book a taxi
- How to book a VIP taxi, a large taxi or an eco taxi
- Barcelona taxi payment facilities
- English-speaking taxi drivers in Barcelona
- Baby and child seats on Barcelona Taxis
- Taking a Barcelona taxi with a dog
- Barcelona taxi Lost Property
Official Barcelona taxis at Plaça Catalunya taxi stop
Please note that when we use the word “Barcelona Taxi” in this page we mean an official taxi in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona. The metropolitan Area of Barcelona includes the following cities: Barcelona city centre and the surrounding districts which include, L’Hospitalet, El Prat (where Barcelona Airport is located), Cornella, Esplugues, Sant Just Desvern, Sant Joan Despi, Viladecans, Sant Boi, Sant Adria de Besos, Badalona, Santa Coloma, Montcada.
How do you recognize an official Barcelona taxi?
The official taxis in Barcelona are black and yellow. They have a taxi sign at the front of the taxi roof, which also shows a green light if the taxi is free.
You will notice the following elements inside an official Barcelona taxi:
- The taximeter that displays the rate applied, the supplements and the total amount. Is it connected to a small electronic printer for your taxi receipt. The taximeter is located in the center of the front board.
- The identity card of the taxi driver that is located in the right corner of the front window.
- The taxi ID plate with the taxi license number, the number of passenger seats and the registration number on the taxi front board or left side.
- The black and yellow taxi fare sticker on the back right window of the taxi.
- The black and yellow metropolitan inspection sticker that certifies that the taxi has passed the annual metropolitan inspection and indicates the validity of the inspection. Is it located on the upper right side of the front window.
Barcelona Taxi Operating Hours
Taxis in Barcelona operate every hour of every day of the year i.e. 24/7/365 (except during a taxi strike).
Two different taxi rates per km apply depending on the day and time of the ride.
Rate per km (from Monday - Friday: 08:00 - 20:00): €1.21
Rate per km (from Monday - Friday, Sunday and Public Holidays: 20:00 - 08:00): €1.45
Note that the rates indicated above apply if you hail a taxi in the streets of Barcelona. Different rates apply when you book a taxi online or through an app.
A supplement applies at night (20:00-08:00) on special nights:
Special night dates: January 1, June 23, June 24, December 24, December 25, December 31
Special nights supplement: €3.10
Barcelona Taxi Prices
Flag fall rate: €2.55
Rate per km (from Monday - Friday: 08:00 - 20:00): €1.21
Rate per km (from Monday - Friday, Sunday and Public Holidays: 20:00 - 08:00): €1.45
Supplement from/to Barcelona Airport: €4.30
Minimum taxi rate from Barcelona Airport: €20.00
Supplement from Barcelona Cruise Port: €4.30
Supplement from Barcelona Sants railway station: €2.50
Other supplements may apply. We recommend you read our page on Barcelona taxis fares and supplements.
How To Get A Taxi
How to get a taxi from Barcelona Airport
There are taxi ranks located outside both Terminal 1 (T1) and Terminal 2(T2) at Barcelona Airport. Follow the taxi signs in the arrival hall of the airport, they will take you to the taxi ranks.
There are usually taxis waiting at the taxi ranks. However the wait will vary depending on how many people are already waiting in line for a taxi.
The taxi ride duration from Barcelona Airport to Barcelona city is between 20 and 40 minutes depending on your destination and the traffic.
We recommend you read our page on the Barcelona Airport taxi service.
How to get a taxi from Barcelona Cruise Port
There is a taxi rank directly outside the Barcelona cruise terminal exit. Staff at the cruise terminal liaise with local taxis to ensure that there are enough taxis waiting at the rank to accommodate the amount of people who are leaving the cruise ship in one go.
The Cruise port is located in the city center of Barcelona.
The taxi ride duration from Barcelona Cruise Port to your accommodation is between 5 and 20 minutes depending on your destination and the traffic.
The taxi ride duration from Barcelona Cruise Port to Barcelona airport is around 25 minutes depending on the traffic.
How to get a taxi from Barcelona Sants Railway Station
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| Taxi ranks at Barcelona Sants station |
There is a taxi rank directly outside Barcelona Sants Railway station on Plaça dels Països Catalans square. Take the Plaça dels Països Catalans exit and turn to the right just after the exit, you will see the taxi rank.
Barcelona Sants is located in the city in Sants neighborhood which is a nice and safe area.
How to get a taxi from Barcelona Nord Bus Station
There is a taxi taxi rank directly outside Barcelona Nord Bus Station. Take the elevator to go to the upper floor, which is at the street level. You will see the taxi rank when you exit the station.
How to get a taxi from Girona Airport
We recommend you read our pages on Girona Airport Taxi and Transfer options from Girona Airport.
How do you flag down a taxi in Barcelona?
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| Official Barcelona taxis at Port Olympic taxi stop |
In Barcelona you can hail a taxi in the street or take a taxi at one of over 200 taxi stops in the city.
If you flag down a taxi in the street, you will just need to raise your hand when you see a black and yellow taxi. The taxis available have a green light at the front of the taxi roof.
Make sure to wait for a taxi where there is some traffic so that you have a better chance of finding a taxi and somewhere where the taxi will be able to easily stop.
You can check all the taxi stops in Barcelona and in the Metropolitan area of Barcelona following the link below:
Taxi stops in Barcelona and the Metropolitan area
How to book your taxi in Barcelona?
Barcelona taxi online booking
You can book your taxi online at a flat rate from/to any location in the city up to 30 minutes before your desired pick up time.
The taxi price will be shown upon booking and you will pay the indicated price online before your taxi ride. There won’t be any surprises with the price once you’re on the taxi and you won’t have to pay any supplements to the taxi driver.
The fixed prices for the most common taxi routes are the following:
Barcelona airport from/to Barcelona City:
€38.00 - €43.00 depending on the pick up time.
Duration: 35 minutes approximately.
Barcelona airport from/to Barcelona Cruise Port:
€38.00 - €43.00 depending on the pick up time.
Duration: 20 minutes approximately.
Taxi ride within the city of Barcelona
Flat rate: €20.00
Book your official taxi with the Barcelona AMB Taxi App.
The simplest way for a tourist to book an official Barcelona taxi is to download the AMB taxi app from either the Apple App store (iPhone) or from Google play for Android devices (links given below). AMB is the official taxi association of Barcelona. Once the app is download you can then set your pickup and dropoff points and the time you want to be picked up. You can either pay with cash or credit card.
Barcelona taxi booking by phone
You can also book a taxi over the phone however it is not guaranteed that the operator will speak your language. If you are staying at a hotel, your hotel concierge will be able to book a taxi for you.
Barcelona Taxis Telephone numbers:
Cooperativa Radio Taxi
Tel: +34 93 225 0000
Taxi Miramar
Tel: +34 93 433 1020
Barna Taxi
Tel: +34 93 322 2222
Fono Taxi
Tel: +34 93 300 1100
Radio Taxi 033
Tel: +34 93 303 3033
Servi Taxi
Tel: +34 93 330 0300
Barcelona Taxis Payment facilities
You can pay your taxi ride with cash or credit card in any of the taxis of Barcelona.
If you pay with cash, note that the taxi drivers must have €20.00 of change. It means that the taxi driver may not have change if you pay with a high value banknote.
At the end of the ride make sure to request the receipt of the taxi ride, whether you pay in cash or credit card. The taximeter is connected to an electronic device.
The receipt will show the price paid, the pick up and drop off location, the date, the tax identification number of the taxi license holder, the license number and the registration number of the taxi. You will need this taxi receipt to raise a complaint or if you forget a personal item on board.
How to raise an official complaint about a Barcelona taxi service.
If you book your taxi online and pay online before your taxi ride you won’t have to pay anything to the taxi driver or to request a receipt.
English-speaking taxi driver in Barcelona
Taxi drivers are not required to speak English to obtain their taxi driver license. Taxi drivers in Barcelona are required to speak the official languages of Catalonia, which are Catalan and Spanish.
However as Barcelona is a tourist city it is possible that some taxi drivers know the basics in English.
The taxi drivers of that taxi company speak basic English. You can also reinforce your English-speaking driver request adding a comment upon booking.
How can you order a taxi with a baby seat or a child seat?
Baby seats, child seats and booster seats are not mandatory in taxis within the metropolitan area of Barcelona.
The Metropolitan Area of Barcelona includes the following cities: Barcelona, L’Hospitalet, El Prat (where Barcelona Airport is located) Cornella, Esplugues, Sant Just Desvern, Sant Joan Despi, Viladecans, Sant Boi, Sant Adria de Besos, Badalona, Santa Coloma, Montcada.
It means that you can travel with your kids from Barcelona Airport to the city of Barcelona without a baby seat, a child seat or a booster seat.
However, in order for you to travel safely with your kids we recommend you to book a taxi in advance so that you can request a baby seat, a child seat or a booster seat upon booking.
Select an infant seat for babies aged 0-6months or up to 13 kg, a child seat for toddlers aged 1-5 years or up to 25 kg, a booster seat for kids aged 5-8 or up to 30kg. You can order up to 2 child seats or boosters per vehicle.
Price for a baby seat, child seat or booster seat: €3.00
If you request a baby or a child seat you will need to book your taxi at least 12 hours before your desired pick up time.
You can bring your own baby seat, child seat or booster seat in a taxi. The taxi has the obligation to accept your own baby or child seat if you have one. There is no extra charge for bringing your own baby seat, child seat or booster seat.
Take a Barcelona taxi with a dog
You have the right to take a taxi in Barcelona with your guide dog and other assistance dogs for people with reduced mobility. Taxi drivers cannot refuse to take you if you travel with this type of dog. There is no extra charge for taking a taxi with a guide dog or other assistance dogs for people with reduced mobility.
However taxi drivers do not have the obligation to accept non guide-dogs or non-assistance dogs.
Taxi drivers have the right to refuse to take you with an animal other than guide dogs and other assistance dogs that might dirty or deteriorate elements of the taxi or affect the safety.
Barcelona Taxi Lost and Found
If you lose any item in a Barcelona taxi call the following Lost Property numbers quoting the information given on your taxi receipt:
Tel: +34 93 707 0600
Tel:+34 93 707 0600
Operating hours: Monday - Friday: 09:00 - 14:00 and 17:00 - 20:00
We recommend you read our page on Lost Property in Barcelona Taxi
The Lost Property numbers indicated above are valid if you hail an official Barcelona taxi in the street, not for pre-arranged taxi transfers.