Taxi from Barcelona airport: fares, ranks and what to expect

Where to find the taxi rank

Barcelona’s official taxis are black and yellow and wait at ranks at both terminals. According to Aena, at Terminal 1 the rank is on the ground floor (level 0), and at Terminal 2 there is a rank in each of the terminal’s zones. Follow the taxi signs from the arrivals hall.

If you land at one terminal and your hotel instructions say the other, remember that the two terminals are joined by a free 24-hour shuttle bus. Taking a taxi between them is not necessary. Our T1 vs T2 guide explains where everything is.

How the fare is built

Taxi fares in the Barcelona area are metered and set by the Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona. The AMB’s 2026 fares have two main rates per kilometre: tariff T-1, at €1.35 per km on weekdays from 8:00 to 20:00, and tariff T-2, at €1.66 per km at night (20:00 to 8:00), on Saturdays and on public holidays. Waiting time is charged at €27.75 per hour.

On top of the metered amount there are supplements. The one most travellers meet is the airport supplement of €4.60. Vehicles for five to eight passengers carry a further €4.60. There are also supplements for journeys that start at certain places, such as Fira Gran Via or the Moll Adossat cruise terminals, which are listed on the AMB page.

The minimum from the airport and the fixed port fare

For journeys that start at the airport, the AMB sets a minimum of €21, supplements included. In practice, that means a short trip to a nearby hotel is charged at least this amount, and longer trips are charged by the meter.

For the cruise port there is a fixed fare, tariff T-4, of €46 between the Moll Adossat terminals and the airport, in either direction. If you are travelling between the two, see our guide to the cruise port and the airport, which compares it with other options.

What it costs in practice

We do not give a single price for “a taxi to the city centre”, because the meter depends on the exact route, the traffic, the time of day and the tariff. What you can do is use the structure above: the airport supplement and the €21 minimum apply from the airport, and the rest is distance and time. If you want to know the final amount in advance, a pre-booked transfer is the alternative, with a fixed price agreed when you book.

You can ask the driver for a receipt at the end of the journey.

How long does it take?

To the centre of Barcelona the journey usually takes 25 to 40 minutes, depending on traffic and the exact address. In the morning and evening rush hours, allow more, particularly if you are heading to the north of the city. For the Sagrada Família, see the airport to the Sagrada Família.

When to book something else

• Five to eight people: you need a larger vehicle, which carries a supplement and may mean waiting at the rank. Booking one in advance avoids both.
• A large amount of luggage, a pushchair or child seats: tell the booked company beforehand, so the vehicle fits everything.
• A late or very early arrival: ranks work all day, but a pre-booked driver who tracks your flight removes any doubt.
• You want to know the price before you leave: the meter cannot tell you; a fixed price can.
• One or two people, ordinary luggage, no plans: the rank is often the most practical choice, and we say so.

For the full comparison with the metro, the train and the Aerobús, see every option from the airport to the city centre.