Getting from a Spanish airport to your first address

Key rules

• Madrid taxi fare: A taxi between Madrid-Barajas and any address inside the M-30 ring road costs a fixed 33 euros, luggage included.
• Other airports: Taxis from Barcelona, Málaga, Valencia and Palma airports run on the meter, so ask for it to be switched on.
• Where to board: Use only the official taxi rank outside arrivals, never a person who offers you a ride inside the terminal.
• Receipt: Ask for a receipt that shows the licence number when you pay.
• Late landing: Check the last metro, train or bus against your landing time, or plan on a taxi.

The short answer

With one or two bags and a daytime arrival, take public transport: it is cheaper and often as fast. With heavy luggage, a late arrival or a tired family, take a taxi from the official rank. In Madrid the taxi price is fixed, so there is no surprise.

The timeline below lists the routes for each airport. The checklist below covers the steps at the taxi rank.

When public transport is the better choice

• Madrid: the metro takes about 12-15 minutes to Nuevos Ministerios. You pay a single ticket plus an airport supplement of about 3 euros. The Exprés Aeropuerto bus runs 24 hours to Atocha, in 30-40 minutes, for about 5 euros.
• Barcelona: the Aerobús to Plaça Catalunya takes about 35 minutes and costs about 7-8 euros single. The R2 Nord train from T2 to Sants and Passeig de Gràcia takes about 25 minutes. Metro L9 Sud is slower (35-40 minutes) and uses a special airport ticket of about 5 euros.
• Málaga: the C-1 train is the cheapest and quickest, about 12 minutes for about 1.80 euros. The airport bus A takes 20-25 minutes for about 4 euros.
• Valencia: metro lines 3 and 5 reach the centre in 20-25 minutes for about 5 euros in total, airport supplement included.
• Palma: there is no train or metro. Bus A1 takes 20-30 minutes to Plaça d'Espanya and the Port for about 5 euros.

Fares and routes change, so check them with the operator before you travel.

With luggage, remember that stairs and changes between lines are hard work. Choose a direct bus or train to a station near your address.

Late arrivals

Most metros and trains stop between about 23:00 and 1:30. Check the last departure against your landing time, including weekends and holidays, because timetables differ.

• Madrid: the Exprés Aeropuerto bus runs all night, about every 35 minutes.
• Barcelona: night bus N16 serves the airport.
• Valencia: night bus N4 serves the airport.
• Palma: bus A1 runs until about 3:00, less often at night.
• Málaga: the airport bus stops around midnight, so plan on a taxi after that.

If you land after the last departure or arrive very tired, a taxi is the simplest option.

Taxis: what you pay

Madrid: a taxi between the airport and any address inside the M-30 ring road costs a fixed 33 euros, luggage included, with no airport supplement. It works in both directions. For addresses outside the M-30, the meter applies.

Barcelona, Málaga, Valencia and Palma: there is no fixed airport fare. The driver uses the meter under the official tariff, with an airport supplement and sometimes a luggage charge. Look for the tariff card displayed in the taxi. Ask the driver for an approximate price before you set off, or check the current amounts with the local taxi authority.

How to avoid being overcharged

• Use only the official rank outside arrivals. The taxi should have a municipal licence plate and a roof light.
• Ignore anyone who approaches you inside the terminal offering a ride.
• Before leaving, ask the driver to turn on the meter, or in Madrid to confirm the fixed fare.
• Pay by card or cash and ask for a receipt that shows the licence number.

If you are overcharged, every taxi must carry a hoja de reclamaciones. Ask for it, or complain to the local taxi authority or your town hall's consumer office. The complaint route differs by region.

Uber, Cabify and Bolt

These apps work in all five cities. They are licensed hire cars, not taxis. Pick-up is usually in a designated zone, often in a car park or on a separate level near arrivals, and the app shows the exact point. The price is shown in advance. Rules are stricter in Barcelona, so follow the app's instructions.

Timeline and deadlines

• Madrid: take Metro line 8 to Nuevos Ministerios: from about 6:00 to 1:30

• Madrid: take the Exprés Aeropuerto bus or the Cercanías C-1 train to T4: the bus runs 24 hours, about every 35 minutes at night; the train runs from early morning to about 23:00

• Barcelona: take Metro L9 Sud, Rodalies R2 Nord or the Aerobús: the metro runs from about 5:00 to midnight, the train from about 5:40 to 23:40, the Aerobús from about 5:00 to 1:00

• Barcelona: take night bus N16 when the others have stopped: overnight, after the Aerobús stops

• Málaga: take the Cercanías C-1 train or airport bus A: the train runs from about 5:30 to 23:30, the bus from about 7:00 to midnight

• Valencia: take Metro line 3 or 5, or night bus N4 later on: the metro runs from about 5:00 to 23:00, later on Fridays and Saturdays

• Palma: take bus A1 into the city: from about 5:30 to 3:00, with fewer buses at night

These are typical timetables; weekend and holiday times differ, so check the operator's current times for your landing day.

Checklist

• Check the last metro, train or bus from your airport against your landing time, including weekends and holidays.

• Compare fare and journey time of the metro, train and bus for your airport before you leave the terminal.

• Choose a taxi over public transport if you have heavy luggage or land after the last departure.

• Walk to the official taxi rank outside arrivals and check the taxi has a municipal licence plate and a roof light.

• Ask the Madrid driver to confirm the fixed fare before you leave, if your address is inside the M-30.

• Ask the driver to turn on the meter in Barcelona, Málaga, Valencia and Palma, and for Madrid addresses outside the M-30.

What to watch out for

• Touts inside the terminal: People offering a taxi inside the terminal may be unlicensed and charge far more than the official rate.

• A ride without a meter or agreed fare: If the meter is off and no fare is agreed, the driver can name any price at the end. Ask for the meter to be turned on, or confirm the fixed fare in Madrid, before the car moves.

• No receipt: Without a receipt you cannot prove what you paid or which taxi you used if you need to complain.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use Uber, Cabify or Bolt from a Spanish airport?

Yes, Uber, Cabify and Bolt operate at the Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga, Valencia and Palma airports, but you are picked up in a set zone. The zone is often in a car park or on another level near arrivals, and the app shows the exact point. The price is shown in the app before you book.

Do taxis from Barcelona, Málaga, Valencia and Palma airports have a fixed fare?

No, taxis from these four airports run on the meter under the official local tariff, unlike Madrid. An airport supplement applies, and in some places luggage costs extra. The tariff card must be displayed inside the taxi, so ask to see it if you are unsure.

What if my Madrid address is outside the M-30 ring road?

A taxi to an address outside the M-30 is charged by the meter, with the airport supplement added. The fixed fare only covers journeys inside the M-30. Ask the driver to switch the meter on before you set off.

How do I complain if a taxi driver overcharged me?

Ask for the hoja de reclamaciones, the official complaint form that every taxi must carry, and fill it in on the spot. You can also complain to the municipal or regional taxi authority, or to a consumer office such as the OMIC. Keep your receipt, which shows the licence number.