Barcelona Airport Taxi

Barcelona Airport Taxi Safety Tips & Scams To Avoid

The airport is about 12 miles (or roughly 19 kilometers) from the city center, and so you’ll have to decide on the best method of transportation to get you to your hotel or other accommodation.

Your options for the journey include taking public transportation including buses or trains, renting a car, or taking a taxi. There are several benefits associated with a taxi ride, including the fact that your luggage will be secure in the car’s trunk, you will get to travel by yourself or just with your travel group, and you will be taken to the front door of where you’re staying.

The vast majority of taxi drivers in Barcelona are very professional and will give you a safe and smooth ride, as well as charge you the correct fare for the journey. But unfortunately there are a few bad drivers who will try to scam more money out of their passengers. Keep reading to learn about their fraudulent tricks, as well as some simple tips to avoid falling for the scams.

• Driving a deliberately long route to increase your fare

Taxis in Spain use meters, which means you will be charged for your journey based on the length and duration of the trip. Some drivers might try to take advantage of tourists by taking them on an unnecessarily long route to their destination, which will increase the fare. You can avoid this situation by printing out the quickest directions to your hotel in advance, and then asking the driver to follow them. This will prevent them taking you on an alternative route.

• Unlicensed taxi drivers promising a much lower fare

You might be approached at the airport by someone claiming to be an official taxi driver who will help you get a reduced fare. You should never accept a ride from these drivers because they are likely unlicensed and they will try to scam you with a massively inflated fare. Only ever pick up taxis from the clearly designated pickup area at the airport.

• Charging a false flat fare or unnecessary fees

Another trick that some taxi drivers will try is to claim that your destination qualifies for a flat rate rather than a metered fare, and that the flat rate will save you money. This is usually a scam and the flat fare the driver is offering will be much more expensive than what you would have paid using a meter. Similarly, some drivers might try to claim you have to pay additional fees, such as excess luggage costs. You should push back if the driver tries either of these tricks.

• Using sleight of hand to give you less cash back

If you are paying for your Barcelona airport taxi ride using cash, be sure to count exactly how much you hand the driver in notes and to also carefully count the change that you receive. Some drivers try to use sleight of hand tricks to give you back much less money than you deserve — for example if you are owed €50 in change, they might attempt to give you a €5 note instead.