Seeing Madrid by taxi: a practical guide to getting around by taxi

To see Madrid by taxi you only need to know three things: official taxis are white with a red stripe on the front door, you can hail them in the street when their green light is on or take one at a rank, and they charge by meter according to the City Council’s official fare, except on journeys with a fixed or set fare, such as airport runs. With that, the taxi becomes an ally for seeing a lot in a short time, especially at night, at Christmas or on hot days.

How to spot an official taxi

Madrid taxis are white and have a diagonal red stripe on the front doors with the city’s coat of arms and the licence number. On the roof they have an illuminated sign: the green light means the taxi is free. Inside, the meter and the fare table must be in view. We tell their story in the colour of Madrid taxis.

Three ways to get one

• Hail it in the street. Raise your hand when you see one with its green light on. On streets such as Gran Vía, Alcalá or the Castellana they pass very often.
• At a rank. There are signposted taxi ranks in squares, at hotels and at hospitals. At the airport and at train and bus stations, taxis are always taken at the official rank, not on the pavement.
• By phone or app. Useful at the busiest times or if you are in a quiet area. To get to or from the airport, the most convenient option is to book your airport taxi in advance at a fixed price.

How you pay

On urban journeys you pay what the meter shows, plus any supplements laid down by the regulations in each case. The amounts are updated periodically and displayed in the vehicle; if you want to understand how they work, we explain it in taxi fares in Madrid. You can pay in cash or by card, and you can always ask for a receipt, which will come in handy if you leave something in the car or need to make a complaint.

At night

As evening falls, the Cibeles fountain and the Palacio de Cibeles, the Puerta de Alcalá, the Metrópolis building and the big signs on Gran Vía light up, and the Palacio Real takes on another dimension seen from Calle Bailén. A night-time journey from the hotel to dinner, with a short detour, makes a great plan. If you are staying nearby, the Gran Vía taxi page explains how to get to or from the airport from there.

At Christmas

The Christmas lights turn the streets of the centre into a spectacle: Calle Alcalá, Gran Vía, Calle Serrano, the Puerta del Sol and the Plaza Mayor, with its traditional market, fill up with visitors. With so many people on foot, touring the lights by car is a comfortable alternative, although it is best to avoid the rush hours of shopping evenings.

In spring and autumn

These are the most pleasant seasons for combining taxi and walking. The trees on the Paseo del Prado and the Castellana, the Retiro and the Campo del Moro gardens are at their best, and the temperature lets you get out at every stop without discomfort. In summer, on the other hand, an air-conditioned taxi is almost a necessity in the middle of the day.

These are the sights best appreciated from the car or with a short stop: the Palacio Real and the Almudena cathedral, the Puerta de Alcalá, the Plaza and Palacio de Cibeles, the Plaza de Colón, Gran Vía, the Plaza de España and the Templo de Debod. The Puerta del Sol and the Plaza Mayor are pedestrianised: ask to be dropped nearby and explore them on foot. If you want to see them all in one outing and in order, follow our sightseeing taxi tour of Madrid, and if you are still undecided between taxi, metro or walking, we help you decide in “Madrid, a perfect city to visit by taxi”.