Taxis in Madrid are white with a diagonal red band on their front door bearing the emblem of the city. They have a green light that is on when they are free. To hail a taxi all you need to do is raise your hand.

There are also several taxi ranks around the city, indicated by a blue sign with a white letter ‘T’. Taxis must be taken from the corresponding ranks at railway and bus stations and at the airport. Throughout the rest of the city, they can be easily stopped on the street.

With over 15,000 taxis in Madrid, finding a free one on any of the city’s main thoroughfares is rarely difficult. All vehicles accept payment by credit card and can also be paid in cash (taxi drivers are required to have coins in sufficient quantity to facilitate change to the user up to the amount of 20 euros). It should be noted that some taxis have wifi service available to passengers.

Some taxis are equipped with car seats so you can travel with small children. If you book a taxi in advance, you must inform the taxi company that you require a seat in the car. Small pets can travel at the discretion of the driver, although travelling with guide dogs is always permitted.

There is a fixed airport transfer of 30 euros, which applies 24 hours a day every day of the year for services to and from the airport and to or from the area inside the M-30 ring road. If you are in a hurry, it's better to get a taxi that has priority when driving through certain streets, such as access to the departures areas of the airport.

Fares

Fares are based on a price per kilometre and a price per hour, which is applied alternately depending on the speed of traffic. Zone A applies to the city of Madrid and Zone B to the rest of the region.

The following rates are applicable:

• Journey Commencement (minimum fare): 2.50 € Monday to Friday from 6 am to 9 pm; 3.15 € Saturday and Sunday and at other times.

The fare is based on a price per kilometre and a price per hour, which is applied alternately depending on the speed of traffic.

• Day-time hourly rate: 23,75 € (from 7 am to 9 pm).
• Night-time hourly rate: 27 € (from 9 pm to 7 am).
• For services booked electronically, a minimum fare of 5 € in Zone A and 8 € in Zone B will be charged to get to the passenger pick-up point.

Surcharges or special rates

• Special Rate on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and Three Kings’ Night (trips ending between 9 pm and 6 am on the following day): 6.70 €.
• Journeys departing from Train (Atocha, Chamartín) and Coach Stations (Avenida de América and Sur Méndez Álvaro), and from the IFEMA MADRID fairgrounds: 7.50 €.

Fixed Airport Rate

Journeys between the airport and the inner M30 area, or vice versa, including those reserved electronically, are subject to a fixed rate of 30€. This fixed rate is exempt from all surcharges, including the maximum surcharge for services reserved electronically, providing the passenger is at the pick-up point at the agreed time.

At the same time, applications such as Free Now (mytaxi) have begun to work with closed rates on all routes.

Madrid City Council makes the official application TXMAD (App Store / Google Play) available to travellers and professionals in the sector to provide information of interest on the Madrid taxi service.

Radio Taxis

There are various private taxi companies you can ring to order a taxi, although you need to bear in mind that the metre will be turned on as soon as the driver starts heading towards your location. There are also mobile apps available, however, that will only start charging you once you get into the taxi.

Taxi Apps

• ​Free Now (mytaxi) - Telephone: +34 902 050 570
• Join Up Taxi - Telephone: +34 915 331 464
• Tele Taxi - Telephone: +34 913 712 131
• pidetaxi - Telephone: +34 915 478 200
• TxMAD - Telephone: +34 914 04 33 24