Yes, there is Uber in Barcelona in 2026. However, that might change. Barcelona taxis are fighting against Uber and similar apps like Cabify and Bolt, and are campaigning to have them banned in the Barcelona metropolitan area. We’ll talk about what might happen in the future, but despite all uproar, I don’t recommend using Uber here anyway, as there are much easier, faster and cheaper ways to get around Barcelona. Read on to understand more about how Uber works in Barcelona, and to have all your questions about Barcelona Uber rides answered, as well as what I use instead!
Is Uber Banned in Barcelona?
Since Uber first launched in Spain in 2014, the taxi drivers here have been fighting to have it banned. They succeeded at first, and within a few months, Uber was banned in Spain from the end of 2014 to early 2018, and since then there have been various legal battles and changes in how and where Uber is allowed to operate.
Currently in 2026, Uber does now work in Barcelona but it looks a little different to what you might be used to as it also includes the option to call a traditional taxi as well as an Uber.
What will happen in the future is uncertain, as in March 2026 the Catalan Parliament approved the first stage of a new bill to ban Uber, Cabify and Bolt (see the Catalan News article here). However, these services have not been banned yet – the law is still going through the legislative process, so we will have to wait and see what happens!
Using Uber vs Taxis in Barcelona
In my experience using Uber in Barcelona I haven’t found the service to be anywhere near as good as the local taxis.
In Barcelona there are under 1000 licensed drivers for apps like Uber, Cabify & Bolt, compared to over 10,500 licensed taxis in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area, so there are always taxis around – and they come quicker than the Ubers I’ve ordered!
Official taxis are black and yellow, and any with a green light on top can be hailed wherever you are, either on the street or at taxi ranks around the city. If there aren’t any taxis around, you can order one through a Barcelona taxi app like FreeNow or another similar app.
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If you do want to use Uber, when you open the Uber app in Barcelona there are several options that you might see. Scroll down to see the full list as last time I looked there were 13 different options that came up!
Top options listed include:
- Uber options like UberX, Comfort, and Uber Pet which have the prices listed.
- “Taxi Precio Cerrado” which has a set price listed in the app
- Taxi which is metered like a regular taxi
- Taxi Access which is an accessible taxi (charged the same as a standard Taxi Precio Cerrado)
- Public Transport which shows you possible routes using public transport
Unlike Uber in other countries, the taxi prices are often cheaper than the Uber prices, presumably because there are far more taxi drivers here than there are Uber drivers. I have noticed recently that this is starting to change, perhaps because there are more Uber drivers in Barcelona then there used to be, but where the Uber prices are cheaper, you’ll usually have to wait a bit longer for them to arrive.
One Uber I called also got lost during the trip, so it ended up costing me more than I was quoted!
If you do call an Uber in Barcelona, often it will be a regular taxi that shows up, as the taxi driver also is registered as an Uber driver. I have also had a plain car arrive, and a car with Uber written all over it as advertising, so you never know what you’re going to get!
In most cases, I’d recommend just taking a normal taxi instead of an Uber, or using public transport.
Hailing Taxis in Barcelona
The easiest way to take a taxi in Barcelona is to hail one on the street. The black and yellow taxis are the only official taxis in Barcelona, do not get into other cars claiming to be taxis unless you have ordered an Uber and checked the number plate.
Can You Pre-Book an Uber in Barcelona?
You can reserve an Uber in Barcelona up to 90 days in advance, but I haven’t tried it out to see how reliable it is.
I did notice that the prices increased by about a third when checking for the options to book an Uber in advance though, so this certainly isn’t the best-value way to book an Uber in Barcelona although it could give you peace of mind knowing you have your airport transport booked!
I have used FreeNow to pre-book a taxi and it worked really well; the driver arrived in plenty of time and waited while we all got ready and we left at the exact time I had ordered it for.
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You could also consider booking a private transfer, asking your hotel to book a taxi the previous night, or waiting until you need to leave and hailing one on the street if you are in a high-traffic area.
Uber at Barcelona Airport
Uber in Barcelona Airport works the same way as anywhere else in the city, with listings for a fixed-price taxi, UberX and for a metered taxi.
When I flew into Barcelona airport the last time at around 2am, I checked prices and saw that UberX was slightly cheaper than a taxi, but as there were taxis waiting already at the taxi rank I just took a normal taxi without using the Uber app as I wanted to get home as soon as possible.
The cost of my taxi ride was slightly cheaper than the fixed tax price that I had been quoted in the Uber app, but within €1, so there doesn’t seem to be much difference between the prices of taxis available in Uber and airport taxis.
Uber prices from and to the airport will vary, as do taxi prices, as it depends on the time of day and amount of traffic, and the type of taxi or Uber you choose. Sometimes Uber may be slightly cheaper, other times it can be a lot more expensive, as you can see in the examples below from screenshots of the Uber app.
I suppose that if there aren’t any Ubers at the airport when you arrive they would also have to travel from the city to the airport, I’m not sure if that affects the price or not but it would certainly affect wait times.
If you arrive at the airport during the day then there are various other ways of getting from Barcelona Airport to the city centre, and usually I would recommend taking the train from the airport if you land at Terminal 2 or the Aerobus from Terminal 1, depending on where you are staying in Barcelona.
However, for convenience and peace of mind, pre-booking an airport transfer is a sure way of knowing that your driver will be waiting for you and you won’t need to call an Uber at the airport.
Is Uber Safe in Barcelona?
In terms of safety, Barcelona Ubers work the same way as anywhere else in the world, with the Uber Safety Toolkit available on every ride. Through the Uber app, you can contact emergency services and report a safety concern, as well as share your journey with a trusted contact. There are also options for female drivers when they are available.
In that way, Uber is safer than a normal taxi in Barcelona, however, taxis in Barcelona are carefully regulated and always run on a meter so the risk of taking a taxi in Barcelona is very low. I have taken taxis in Barcelona many times and never had any issues so I would also say that taxis are safe in Barcelona, as well as Uber.
These days every taxi also accepts credit cards for payment, which used to be an issue in some cases where they only took cash, but not anymore.
Do you Need Uber to Get Around Barcelona?
No, Uber isn’t necessary although it can be useful at very quiet times or if you are in a quiet area with no passing traffic and need to call a taxi. However, as I’ve already said I prefer to use FreeNow to book a taxi as it is quicker and often cheaper than Uber.
Barcelona taxis are plentiful, and public transport in Barcelona is safe and cheap (although pickpockets can be an issue on the metro) so you can get around Barcelona easily without Uber.
Is Uber in Spain?
Uber does work “normally” in other cities of Spain, and Uber in Madrid is faster and cheaper than Uber in Barcelona.
Is Uber Cheaper than a Taxi in Barcelona?
No, Uber is not always cheaper than taxis in Barcelona, while it can sometimes be cheaper, more often it is the same price or more expensive than a taxi as there are Uber fewer drivers, and it takes longer to call an Uber.
Other Taxi Apps in Barcelona
Uber isn’t the only taxi calling app in Barcelona, you can also use Uber alternatives in Barcelona like Bolt or Cabify which work in a similar way to Uber. Lyft is not currently available in Barcelona. I usually use FreeNow to book a taxi, I’ve found it works really well when calling a taxi immediately and pre-booking one for a set time.
Is Uber Eats in Barcelona?
Yes, Uber Eats is available in Barcelona, as well as other food delivery apps like Just Eat and Glovo. You can also use Uber Eats in Barcelona to order groceries from supermarkets and to get orders delivered from other stores like a local pharmacy or delicatessen. Get €10 off your first Uber Eats order of €20 or more by using my code at checkout: eats-claires7147ue Terms apply.
Do you have any more tips for using Uber in Barcelona? Or do you prefer taxis? Head over to our Facebook group and share your experiences.