Spanish Steps - Fact file - Taxis

Taxis in Madrid are characterized by a diagonal red stripe down the front doors. The taxi sign on the roof carries a green light that's lit when the cab is available. In the rest of Spain they follow the same convention, except in Barcelona, where taxis are black and yellow.

You can hail taxis in the street or book them by phone. They all have meters, though you can expect to pay the usual supplements for extra passengers, luggage, and journeys late at night, on a Sunday or during los días de fiesta, bank-holidays. It's customary to give a tip by rounding up the bill.

In other Spanish-speaking countries you'll find collective taxis, which are a cross between taxi and bus. They can pick up different passengers during a single trip or one single group of strangers with drop-off points along the same route and are called colectivos, in Mexico, or por puestos, in Venezuela.

Links

City Guides Madrid - Practical info on taxis

Frommers Madrid - comprehensive transport advice

Fodor's Guide - hints on getting around Madrid

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