Uber

Regardless what I or anyone else thinks about Uber and similar services, note that taxis in Madrid -much like in Barcelona- are quite decent both in prices as well as in service. Just saying because some foreign friends of mine desperately seek out Uber-like services wherever they travel because in their home countries the regular taxi services are awful. Well, that's not quite the case here.

In your particular case, a regular taxi from the airport to Plaza del Sol will cost you 30€ (flat fee). It's the only fare (airport-centre and vice versa) that has a flat fee, everything else is metered. Also note that you have other options, cosy enough and far cheaper:

• train (<3€): Straight to Atocha, then merely four stops on the metro (1.5€) to Sol. http://www.renfe.com/viajeros/cercanias/planos/madrid.html

• metro (<5€): I grant you, this one might not be so cosy as you have to transfer a couple of times, Sol is in line 1, line 2 or line 3 (it's a hub), the airport line is line 8: https://www.metromadrid.es/export/sites/metro/comun/documentos/planos/Planoesquematicoingles.pdf

• bus Airport Express (5€): Straight to Atocha, then merely four stops on the metro (1.5€) to Sol http://www.emtmadrid.es/Bloques-EMT/Aeropuerto.aspx?lang=en-GB

PS: Just in case you're not familiar... public transportation is, in Madrid, the most used form of transportation for almost everybody: it's cheap, clean, safe and efficient.

To add to Enric's post, there's no need to tip taxis in Spain. I took a taxi from Madrid airport to the center, and it worked great for €30 - well worth it if you're jet lagged or have a few people.

I also agree that taxis in Spain are fine; I've taken them in various cities and never had a problem with them using the meter and charging me a fair rate. There are legitimate extra charges, such as for putting things in the trunk, but these will be posted in the cab.

Ah yes, thanks Harold for pointing out...tipping. It's indeed not necessary nor will the driver frown upon you if you don't. What we locals normally do is to round up to the nearest euro.

Thanks for information from you all. A question for Harold...you mentioned "extra charges" like things put in trunk. Does that mean there would be an extra charge for putting my small suitcases in the trunk?

Yes, there are charges for that. Lower than you would have tipped.

Edit: check the table below for the minimum size charged for.

Yes, it's just one of those cultural differences. Taxis in many places in Europe charge per bag put in the trunk. They also often charge extra for picking up at the airport or train station, for a dog, for more than three passengers, etc. But as I said, such charges are listed on a sign in the cab; it's not a scam.

not the case for fans842, but anyone visiting Barcelona, these are the fares and the "additional charges" for 2017: http://bit.ly/BCNtaxi2017