Taxis: Convenient at Any Hour
Taxis in Barcelona: fares, booking and how to get one
Barcelona's taxis are easily recognisable by their black and yellow colour. You can hail them on the street, pick them up at a taxi rank, or order them through an app like FREENOW. The fares are regulated by the Institut Metropolità del Taxi (IMET).
In Barcelona, the black and yellow taxis can be hailed on the street, picked up at a taxi rank, or booked via FREENOW, with fares regulated by the IMET.
- Official fares
- Available day and night
- Card payments
- Book with FREENOW
2026 fares
Taxi fares in Barcelona
| Base fare | €2.80 |
|---|---|
| T1 - Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 8 PM | €1.35/km |
| T2 - night, Saturday and public holidays | €1.66/km |
| Waiting time | €27.75/hour |
| Airport surcharge | €4.60 |
| Moll Adossat surcharge | €4.60 |
| Surcharge for departures from Sants station | €2.55 |
| Surcharge for departures from Fira Gran Via | €3.30 |
| 5 to 8 passengers | €4.60 |
| Minimum from the airport | €21 |
| Airport ↔ Moll Adossat | €46, fixed price |
The T1 rate applies on weekdays from 8 AM to 8 PM. The T2 rate applies from 8 PM to 8 AM, as well as on Saturdays and public holidays.
The official rates are set by the Institut Metropolità del Taxi de l’Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona.
Source: Institut Metropolità del Taxi - official rates 2026.
In Brief
Taxis in Barcelona at a Glance
| Colour | Black and yellow |
|---|---|
| Available taxi | Green light on the roof |
| Pricing | Regulated taximeter |
| Booking | FREENOW, another app, phone, or a taxi rank |
| Fixed price | Possible with certain reservations via the app |
| Payment | Card or cash |
| Airport | Surcharge of €4.60 |
| Departure from the airport | Minimum of €21 |
| Port Moll Adossat | Surcharge of €4.60 |
| Airport ↔ Moll Adossat | Fixed price of €46 |
The light on the roof indicates whether the taxi is available. When a taxi has the green light on, it can pick up passengers. This is also specified by the Institut Metropolità del Taxi.
In the city
How do you get a taxi in Barcelona?
In Barcelona, you can simply hail a taxi on the street.
Official taxis are black and yellow. To know if they are available, look at the light on the roof: the green light means the taxi is available. Then, wave to the driver.
The Institut Metropolità del Taxi recommends choosing a spot where the taxi can stop safely, such as near an intersection or a road widening.
You can also use a taxi rank. These are common around train stations, hotels, monuments, shopping centres, and major transport hubs.
© barcelona.com
Recognising a Taxi in Barcelona
© Enric, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Spotting a free taxi
At a rank such as the one on Plaça d’Espanya, the green roof light and the Lliure sign behind the windscreen mean the taxi is available.
The easiest way in the city: spot a black and yellow taxi with the green light on the roof, then wave it down.
In advance
How do you book a taxi in Barcelona?
To book a taxi from your phone, FREENOW is currently a widely used, easy-to-use app in Barcelona. It allows you to book an official taxi, track its arrival, and pay within the app. FREENOW offers standard, XL, accessible, and electric taxis in Barcelona.
The Institut Metropolità del Taxi also lists several apps operating in the metropolitan area that comply with taxi regulations. Local alternatives include Taximés, TaxiClick Easy, JoinUp, and Click Moveapp.
Prefer to call? Several taxi dispatch centres are also listed by the IMET:
- Fono Taxi: +34 93 300 11 00
- Ràdio Taxi 033: +34 93 303 30 33
- Urban Radio Taxi: +34 93 468 68 68
- Taxi Ecològic: +34 93 278 30 00
The official IMET directory allows you to find operators and their updated contact details.
When you book by phone, the assigned taxi number can be communicated to you by call or SMS. The taxi arrives with the meter already running, within the limits set by regulations.
Our Choice: FREENOW. For a visitor, it's usually the simplest solution to book an official taxi without needing to know a local dispatch centre.
Taxi or private hire vehicle
Is Uber available in Barcelona?
Yes, Uber is available in Barcelona. You can order a ride through the app, which allows you to book a local taxi with a licensed driver. To see the options available for your trip, enter your starting point and destination, then check the type of vehicle, the quoted price, and the pickup point before confirming.
Source: Uber: book a taxi in Barcelona.
In Barcelona, FREENOW is particularly popular for booking an official taxi.
The app allows you to choose from a standard taxi, a Taxi XL, an accessible taxi, or an electric vehicle. Depending on the option chosen, some trips may also be offered at a fixed price in advance.
Other local apps also allow you to order official taxis, including Taximés, TaxiClick Easy, JoinUp, or Click Moveapp. Apps recognized by the Institut Metropolità del Taxi must adhere to the official rates applicable to metropolitan taxis.
Hail a taxi or use an app? On the street, just hail a taxi with the green light. To book in advance or from your hotel, we recommend FREENOW.
From El Prat
Taxi between the airport and Barcelona
Official taxis are available at the terminals of Barcelona-El Prat Airport.
A ride with the airport as the origin or destination incurs a surcharge of €4.60.
When the ride starts from the airport, the minimum fare is €21, including surcharges.
There is no official fixed rate between the airport and the centre of Barcelona: the price depends on the destination, traffic, and time of day.
These rates are published by the Institut Metropolità del Taxi.
To compare with the Aerobús, metro, train, and other ways to reach the city: Barcelona-El Prat Airport.
Important to note: there is no fixed taxi fare for airport to city centre. The fixed rate of €46 only applies to the airport ↔ Moll Adossat route.
Taxi Alternative
Book a private transfer to or from the airport
One-way Private Transfer
Barcelona Airport: Private Transfer
To or from El Prat Airport
- Private Transfer
- One-way
- To or from El Prat Airport
- Advance Booking
Cruises
Taxi between the airport and the cruise port
For cruise passengers, there is a specific official fare between Barcelona Airport and Moll Adossat.
Airport ↔ Moll Adossat: €46
This is the T4 fare, applicable in both directions. All supplements are included.
For other trips to or from the port, regular fares apply and a Moll Adossat supplement may be added.
Source: Institut Metropolità del Taxi - official fares.
To plan your journey and find terminal access points, check out our guide Barcelona Airport – Cruise Port.
Cruise Passengers: the €46 fixed fare only covers the transfer between the airport and Moll Adossat, not all trips to the port.
Good to Know
Practical taxi information
| Payment | Card or cash |
|---|---|
| Receipt | The taximeter is connected to a printer that can issue a receipt |
| Luggage | No general surcharge per suitcase |
| Groups | Surcharge of €4.60 for 5 to 8 passengers |
| Tipping | Optional |
| Accessible taxi | Adapted vehicles available by advance booking |
| Identification | Taxi licence number and information visible on board |
The taximeter displays the applicable tariff, the fare, and any additional charges. The receipt provides the main details of the journey. These features are part of the mandatory equipment in metropolitan taxis. See the information from the Institut Metropolità del Taxi.
In Barcelona, there's no need to complicate things: if you see a black and yellow taxi with the green light on, flag it down on the street. For a planned ride, especially early in the morning, after dinner, or when you're loaded with luggage, we prefer using FREENOW: you can see the taxi arriving and you don't need to find a taxi rank or a phone number. And for short distances in the centre, check the map before hopping in: Barcelona is very easy to explore on foot and by metro.
FAQ
FAQ - Taxi in Barcelona
Price, airport, booking, and apps: answers to your questions about taxis in Barcelona.
In 2026, the base fare is €2.80. The rate is then €1.35/km under tariff T1 and €1.66/km under tariff T2, with potential additional charges. Source: Institut Metropolità del Taxi.
The airport-to-city centre journey is paid by the meter, with no official flat rate. In 2026, a 20 km ride without waiting costs, for example, €34.40 under tariff T1 or €40.60 under tariff T2, including the base fare and airport surcharge of €4.60. The distance, traffic jams, and other possible surcharges can affect this amount.
Yes, Uber operates in Barcelona. The app allows you to book an official taxi with a licensed driver. Enter your starting point and destination to view available categories, the quoted price, and the pickup location.
Not necessarily. Uber can also offer an official taxi: compare the type of service, the quoted price in the app, and the ride conditions for the same route.
For a departure from the airport, enter your terminal and destination in the app to get a tailored estimate, rather than relying on a single price for all of Barcelona.
We primarily recommend FREENOW, which is widely used in Barcelona and easy to use for booking an official taxi. Other apps like Taximés, TaxiClick Easy, JoinUp, or Click Moveapp are also part of the metropolitan taxi network.
Booking in advance is helpful if you have a specific departure time, such as heading to the airport. You can arrange the ride using an app or a radio taxi service.
Booking does not guarantee a lower price. A metered ride is still subject to regulated rates and applicable surcharges. Some authorized apps offer a fixed T3 price, provided before confirmation: check the terms before booking.
Yes. Taxis in Barcelona accept payment by card.
The journey between the airport and Moll Adossat has an official fixed rate of €46, including supplements. Source: Institut Metropolità del Taxi.