Getting around in Barcelona

Walk and use the metro. The Barcelona metro is excellent.

Barcelona is very walkable and as the previous poster said, there is also very good public transport.

Taxis are plentiful and cheap. They take tap to pay. Best to look at your route on Google maps as we had a few take the long way around.

Hello Jeff,

yes, Uber is available in Barcelona and it works the same as it does in the U.S. As others have noted, there are also taxi's readily available and the Metro (subway) is an inexpensive and efficient way to get around. Just beware of pickpockets.

Taxis are the recommended choice by most Barcelonans. Ride-hailing services (Uber and the like) are referred to as VTCs in their official legal form.

Main differences:

Prices: Taxis have a set price, regulated annually by the Transport Authority, and a fare is calculated on a meter, with one exception: the fare to/from the airport to the port (the old port that is, Port Vell, as there are several ports and marinas in Barcelona). VTCs, on the other hand, are free to set whatever price they want. Once agreed upon with the customer, it remains unchanged, regardless of traffic conditions. Note: On days or hours of high demand, VTCs apply dynamic pricing: the cost of the same trip can vary significantly. Sometimes it can be cheaper to take a VTC vs a taxi, but other times it can be more expensive.

Pick-ups: Taxis can be caught at designated stands, reserved via phone or app, or hailed directly on the street. VTCs, however, must be booked through a phone or app, with a required 15–20 minute wait between booking and pick-up -this is a legal provision.