Taxis from Madrid airport into the city: what you pay depending on your destination and how to choose

What you pay for taxis from Madrid airport into the city depends above all on where you are going. If your destination is inside the M-30, the journey from Barajas has a fixed price; if you are going to an outer neighbourhood or another town, a taxi from the rank runs on the meter and the final amount depends on the route. By booking in advance, on the other hand, you have a fixed fare for your zone from the outset: with us, €33 to anywhere inside the M-30, and you see the price for each neighbourhood or town before you confirm.

The fixed price to the centre is the best known, but not every traveller is going to the centre, and that is where the questions begin.

Destination inside the M-30

Madrid City Council sets a fixed fare between the airport and anywhere inside the M-30 ring road: the historic centre, Salamanca, Chamberí, Retiro, Arganzuela, part of Chamartín or Moncloa. It is the same from any terminal and at any time. With us, the Inside M-30 fare is €33, fixed when you book. We explain it in depth in what you need to know about the 33-euro airport fare.

Madrid neighbourhoods outside the M-30

For outer neighbourhoods such as Hortaleza, Vallecas, Carabanchel or Fuencarral, a taxi from the rank calculates the price on the meter according to the official fares. With a booking, each zone has its fixed price; many outer addresses without their own zone are covered by the Outside M-30 fare.

Other towns in the Madrid region

Alcobendas, Getafe, Alcalá de Henares, Las Rozas… From the rank, also on the meter, and the amount can vary a great deal depending on traffic and the route. When you book, each town has its fixed fare, which you can look up on the taxi to towns in the Madrid region page.

Both options are official taxis, and both take you to your destination. The difference lies in certainty:

• Taxi rank: no advance planning. It works well if you are going to the centre and the queue is short. To find out how the ranks work at each terminal, read how to get your taxi at Barajas.
• Booked taxi: a fixed price for any destination, a confirmed meeting point and no queues. With your flight number we check the terminal, and if the flight is delayed, you just have to let us know.

Booking clearly wins when your destination is outside the M-30, when you land at peak arrival times, when you are travelling in a group or with children and when you arrive in the early hours and want no surprises.

1. Use only official taxis: in Madrid they are white with a diagonal red stripe on the front doors. Be wary of anyone offering you transport in the arrivals area; we tell you why in unlicensed taxi drivers at Barajas.
2. Have your address clear: street and number, or the exact name of the hotel.
3. Ask for a receipt at the end of the journey, especially on business trips.

If you book with us, you can pay online by card through the secure Redsys payment gateway or pay the driver at the end of the journey, by card or in cash. For anyone arriving from abroad without euros in cash, paying by card saves looking for a cash machine in the terminal.