Barcelona is one of the most attractive tourist cities in the world. The fastest and most comfortable way to travel around the capital is by taxi. However, before using the taxi services in Barcelona, you should familiarize yourself with the specifics of the carriers.
How a taxi is organized
In Barcelona, as in any other city in old Europe, it is impossible to engage in a private taxi without registration. Therefore, all taxi drivers have the appropriate licenses.
In Catalonia, every local resident, if he has a car, has the right to obtain a special permit and carry passengers. The client can be sure that he will be quickly and comfortably taken to the right address. However, the driver may refuse the service if:
- drunk passenger;
- there are no free seats in the cabin;
- luggage cannot be placed in the car due to its dimensions.
How to find a car
There are three ways to take a taxi:
- Call one of the services operating in the city. In this case, you should provide the address where the car should arrive. All calls go to the central station, which determines the nearest free car to the place of order and sends a message to the driver. Here are some phone numbers:
- Radio Taxi - 34 933 75 55 55;
- Taxi Amic - 34 93 420 80 88;
- Fono Taxi - 34 93 300 11 00.
- Find it in the dedicated car park. There are more than 260 of them in the city. There are parking lots, as a rule, near hotels, bus stops and metro stations. The carriers' cars are easy to recognize - they are the same yellow-black color.
- Catch a car. Barcelona is a very busy tourist center, so hundreds of taxis run around the clock. If a car with a green indicator on the roof is driving along the street, it means that it is free and ready to receive a new passenger. The car with the yellow indicator is busy and will not stop for a wave of the hand.
A separate story is how to get into a taxi at the exit from the airport. Near the exits from the terminals, there are parking lots where taxis are located. However, the flow of tourists is so great that you will have to queue up for a free car. In order not to wait long, try to walk to the bus stop following the special signs on the walls. There is a chance to get to the parking lot, where the queue will be less.
On the way, you may be met by an airport employee (they are easily recognized by their special reflective uniform), who will help you find the car, bypassing the queue.
In addition, in Barcelona, you can call a car through the Uber car search service by downloading the appropriate application to your phone.
Russian taxi in the city
The tourist industry in Barcelona is very well developed.
A Russian-speaking guest of the city can use the "Russian Taxi" service.
If you want to see the sights from the car with accompanying comments, it is better to order a guide who will give explanations and advice in your native language. If you only need a carrier with whom there will be no language barrier, it is enough to call a driver with the appropriate knowledge of the language.
All major taxi services provide a call service for multilingual drivers and guides. The main thing is that the specialists are free.
Service cost
The cost of the service depends on the time of the trip, as well as on when the transportation is carried out - on a weekday or a weekend. The cheapest taxi can be ordered on a weekday during working hours. So, the following tariffs can be distinguished:
- Valid during the week from 08.00 to 20.00. Call charge - 2.10 euros. 1 km of travel costs 1.07 euros.
- Actual on a weekday from 20.00 to 08.00. 1 km trip - 1.30 euros.
- Valid for travel on weekends and holidays. Payment for the order - 2.30 euros. 1 km trip - 1.40 euros.
- It is used when traveling from the airport to the city and vice versa. The transfer will cost 39 euros, regardless of the mileage.
In addition, in some cases, the passenger will have to pay extra:
- Entry and exit to the airport and seaport - 3.10 euros.
- The cost in the city on the days of major holidays (San Juan, Christmas, New Year) increases by 3.10 euros.
- When ordering a car for 5 or more people, the payment will increase by 3.10 euros.
- When transporting baggage, the dimensions of which exceed 55 x 35 x 35 cm, you will have to pay extra 1 euro.
How to pay for the service
The system of organizing the work of a taxi and guaranteeing the observance of the rights of the carrier and the passenger in Barcelona does not differ much from the standards recognized in the world. You should pay attention to the following points:
- When boarding a passenger in a car, the driver must turn on the taximeter.
- After the trip, the driver issues a check in which the date and time of the trip, the mileage and the price of the service must be recorded.
- If the passenger is dissatisfied with the quality of the transportation, he can file a complaint about the driver with the Barcelona City Taxi Institute.
- Cash is accepted for payment. Terminals that accept bank cards are also used. It is better to ask the driver about the availability of this equipment when boarding (if it takes place at a specialized parking lot) or order such a car during a telephone conversation with the operator.
Where to go if you forgot things in a taxi
There is a special service in the city that stores things found in cars and gives them out to their owners. Its working hours: 08.00–20.00 from Monday to Friday, on weekends, calls are accepted automatically.
Phone + 34902101564. Email [email protected].
Features of the taxi
Taxi drivers in Barcelona are free to decide when to deny a service. Common reasons for refusal have been mentioned above. You can add a messy appearance of a person or luggage, as well as the presence of pets.
There are special taxi services for traveling with pets. It is common practice to transport animals in special cages in regular taxis. Drivers usually agree to this option.
In addition, they do not have the right to refuse to transport a visually impaired or blind person with a guide dog.
There are specially equipped vehicles for the transportation of people with disabilities. The fact that such a car is required should be warned when calling a taxi.
Useful services
Let's name a few resources that will be useful for tourists in Barcelona:
- Institut Metropolitá del Taxi is an organization that coordinates taxi transfers in the city. On its electronic resource you can find all the necessary information http://taxi.amb.cat/s/home.html.
- Taxi Ecológic is a round-the-clock transport service, whose vehicles are specially equipped so as not to pollute the environment. Phone +34 932 783 000.
- Cat & Gos is a service that specializes in the transportation of passengers with pets. Website www.gatanddog.com, phone +34668584308.
Conclusions
So, a taxi in Barcelona will help city guests get to their destination quickly and comfortably. All carriers are officially registered. It is recommended to inquire in advance how to book a car and transportation rates in order to organize a trip and calculate its approximate cost.
