Getting a taxi at Barajas: where to find the taxi rank at each terminal and how to skip the queue

To get a taxi at Barajas, just follow the “Taxi” signs as you leave the arrivals area: each terminal has an official taxi rank where taxis wait in line and passengers queue in order of arrival. The other option is to book your pickup with your flight number, so the taxi waits for you at an agreed point, with no queue and at a fixed price. If you land at rush hour, with children or with a lot of luggage, booking saves you the wait.

Every day Barajas welcomes many repeat travellers: people who come to Madrid for work every week, students, families coming back from holiday. If that is you, it pays to know the routine so you do not lose time on every trip.

T1, T2 and T3

These three terminals are connected to one another. The taxi ranks are at the exits from the arrivals areas, outside the building and clearly signposted. If you land at one and the queue is very long, do not switch terminals blindly: the usual thing is to wait your turn.

T4 and T4S

T4 is a separate building, with its own rank at the arrivals exit. If your flight lands at the T4S satellite, you will first have to get to the main T4 building on the internal train; from there, follow the “Taxi” signs.

Before leaving the baggage reclaim area, check that you have everything: once you are out, you cannot go back in.

The queues at the rank depend on how many flights land at the same time. They tend to get longer when several long-haul arrivals coincide, in high season, on long weekends and on Sunday evenings, when lots of people come back from the weekend. The weather also plays a part: on a rainy day, everyone wants a taxi.

The surest way to avoid the queue is to arrive with your taxi already booked, an advantage we explain in don’t wait for a free taxi to pass.

With an airport pickup the process changes:

• You book before you fly with your flight number, destination address, passengers and luggage.
• We check the terminal and confirm the meeting point.
• If your flight is delayed or you are moved to another flight, let us know by phone or on WhatsApp and we adjust the time.
• The price is fixed for your area: €33 to anywhere inside the M-30, and for other destinations you see it before you confirm.

If you want to know how the price of a taxi from the rank is worked out for your destination, we explain it in taxis from the airport to Madrid.

A standard taxi has limited boot space. If there are five or more of you, or you are carrying several large suitcases, pushchairs or sports equipment, you may need two cars at the rank. With a booking you can ask for a 7-seater taxi so you can all travel together. To work out whether your luggage will fit, see how to choose the right taxi for your suitcases.