The most iconic taxis in the world

The most iconic taxis in the world are the New York yellow cab and the London black cab: you only need to see them in a photo to know which city you are in. Close behind are Tokyo's taxis, with their automatic door, Hong Kong's red taxis, Mexico City's pink and white ones and, for those who live here, Madrid's white taxi with a red stripe. Their shape, their colour or their customs have made them part of their cities' identity.

Unlike the most curious taxis (boats, tuk-tuks or vintage cars, which we cover in the most unusual taxis in the world), here we are talking about “ordinary” taxis that have earned a place in the collective memory.

The yellow cab is probably the most photographed urban vehicle on the planet. Its colour has a practical explanation: in the early 20th century, the businessman John Hertz chose yellow for his Yellow Cab company because, so the story goes, it was the colour that stood out best from a distance. The idea caught on and New York ended up making yellow the compulsory colour for its licensed taxis, the ones you can hail by raising your hand in the street.

For decades, its most emblematic model was the Checker, a big, sturdy car that today is only seen in films and museums. Cinema did the rest: from Taxi Driver to hundreds of romantic comedies, the yellow cab is synonymous with New York even for people who have never set foot in the city.

The London taxi, officially a hackney carriage, has an unmistakable silhouette: tall, with lots of room in the back and a passenger compartment separate from the driver. Its design responds to very specific needs, such as being able to turn round in narrow streets in very little space. Although it is called “black”, today they come in many colours and carry advertising, and the most recent models are electric.

What really makes it unique is its driver. To get a licence you have to pass The Knowledge, considered one of the hardest exams in the world for a taxi driver: memorising thousands of streets and points of interest within a six-mile radius of Charing Cross and being able to plot the best route between two points without a map. Preparing for it takes years.

Tokyo, the door that opens by itself

In Tokyo, a taxi is recognised more by the experience than by the car. The rear left door opens and closes automatically, so passengers should not touch it. Drivers usually work in uniform and white gloves, the interior is spotless and no tip is given. In recent years a model designed specifically as a taxi, tall and accessible, has spread and become a new image of the city.

Hong Kong, one colour per area

Hong Kong's taxis are distinguished by colour according to where they are allowed to work: red ones operate in the urban areas, green ones in the New Territories and blue ones on Lantau Island. It is a simple system that lets travellers know at a glance whether that taxi can take them to their destination.

For years, the Mexican capital's taxi was the green and white Volkswagen Beetle, the “vocho”, as famous as it was uncomfortable for passengers, who got in through the gap left by the removed front seat. It was replaced by modern cars and today Mexico City's taxis sport a pink and white combination that has become just as distinctive. There are more examples of colours in our article on taxi colours around the world.

For anyone landing at Barajas, Madrid's taxi is also a recognisable sight: white bodywork, a diagonal red stripe on the front doors with the city's coat of arms and a green light on the roof showing that it is free. We tell the story of that design, and why Madrid chose white, in the colour of Madrid's taxis. In Barcelona, on the other hand, taxis are black and yellow, and in other Spanish cities they are white with different markings.

That appearance also serves as a guarantee: an official taxi is identified by its livery, the visible licence number and the fares table inside. If you arrive at the airport, you can take one at the signposted rank at your terminal or have it booked with a pickup at the airport, which we arrange using your flight number. And if your destination is inside the M-30, the price is fixed: €33, as set by the Inside M-30 fare, to any terminal.

Going on a trip and want to know how to get around by taxi in another country? We explain it in our holiday special on taxis around the world.