Is Uber In Spain? Yes, BUT There Are Easier Options

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Planning a trip to Barcelona, Madrid, or smaller cities like Bilbao and Sevilla, and wondering if there is Uber in Spain?

After all, this will dictate whether you need to rent a car, arrange transportation to and from the airport, and figure out how to get around from spot to spot.

The short answer to “Is There Uber In Spain?” is YES, but it’s honestly my last resort. It’s available in many large cities, including Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Granada, and Seville.

That said, in my months of traveling through Spain, I used Uber only a handful of times. Why? Because taxis are safe, common, and regulated (meaning there’s a taxi stand and line at every airport and major city intersection), public transport like trains and metros is well-organized and cheap. I rent a car or fly for longer distances and day trips.

Quick Guide to Getting Around Spain

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Is There Uber in Spain?

Ever since Uber expanded into Spain, it has been gaining popularity. Uber is currently available in many large cities throughout Spain, including Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Seville. Just open your app and see.

But here’s the catch: it’s not as popular or readily available as it is in America or other big European cities (and don’t get me started on Uber in Rome!).

Because there are tons of comprehensive public transportation options in the big cities of Spain, and because taxis are super regulated and safe, there is not such a big demand for Uber. Because of the low demand, there is also a lower supply.

Which cities does Uber Operate In Spain?

Obviously, you can open your Uber app wherever you are in Spain and check, but here is the gist.

✅ Uber in Barcelona: Yes, you can use Uber in Barcelona. The way it works is this – Uber lets taxi drivers use its app, so you are actually calling a taxi driver. But it’s slower than going to a taxi stand, and there are not a lot of taxi drivers using the app. I recommend hailing a taxi in Barcelona (they are marked cars and everywhere), or public transportation (metro maps).

✅ Uber in Madrid: Uber is in Madrid, and it is even better than Barcelona. I’ve used Uber here just like I do back in the States.

✅ Uber In Most Major Spanish Cities like Valencia, Bilbao, Sevilla, Granada, San Sebastian. It gets more sparse in the smaller cities and towns and on the islands of Spain.

Is Uber in Spain cheap?

Yes, Uber in Spain is pretty cheap compared to the surcharges and costs in big cities back in the States.

Do You Tip Uber Drivers In Spain?

It’s not necessary to tip your taxi or Uber driver in Spain. I don’t, the Spanish don’t, and it’s not considered rude.

Is Uber in Spain safe?

Again, the answer is yes. Most of the time, you are getting taxi drivers who have jumped on the Uber App (especially in Barcelona). Because taxis and Uber are quite regulated, it’s pretty safe. Ride with ease either way!

Regarding tipping your Uber driver, there’s no need to. If they have gone above and beyond, helped with luggage, given you local tips, or hauled your butt from one part of the city to another in record time, then a 10% tip is ok.

Does Spain have Lyft?

No, Spain does not have Lyft yet. And if it somehow does by the time I publish this article, good luck finding drivers on the app! 🙂

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Better Alternatives to Getting Around Spain

Let’s be mindful that outside of the big cities of Barcelona and Madrid, Bilbao and Valencia, to a certain extent Sevilla and a few other smaller cities, Spain is a big country full of small to mid-sized little towns – that is its charm.

Ride-sharing apps, by nature, do not have a market outside of the big cities. You will either want to rent a car, use the good old public transportation, or use your footsies to get around.

Alternatives to Uber in Spain

Renting A Car

This is a great option for a few scenarios:

• If you want to get out of the city and explore
• If you are staying more than a week and want flexibility

➡️ I use Discover Cars to check prices! ⬅️

Renting a car in Spain is relatively easy and inexpensive (think about $20-30 a day, depending on the season).

The roads are great, and most of the beauty that is in Spain lies outside of the big cities. Here are a few of my favorites: Quick Road Trips From Barcelona.

Alternatives to Uber in Spain

Public Transporation

Public transportation in the cities is fantastic and comprehensive. Here are a couple of apps and tools that got me going:

• Barcelona metro maps.
• Madrid metro map.
• Ride-hailing app popular with locals in Spain: Cabify.
• For cross-city buses and trains, I use Omio to book tickets.

If you’re in the city, hop on a walking tour or grab the metro, which is great in bigger cities like Barcelona and Madrid.

The train system in Spain is also reliable, fast, and cheap, and so if you’re going from one city to another, I recommend the train. Now, if the train will take upwards of 4 hours, just fly – RyanAir and Iberia are great cheap airlines that operate in Spain.

Alternatives to Uber in Spain

Local Tours

One of the best ways to get around a city and really get to know it is to take a local tour. The great part is that transportation is usually included, so you don’t need to worry about seeing what you want to see and getting to where you need to be.

I use Viator to book all my tours in Spain.

Alternatives to Uber in Spain

Flying

For longer hauls, like Barcelona to Sevilla, Madrid to Valencia, or mainland Spain to the islands of Spain, I recommend flying.

The way I gauge it is if driving takes more than 2-3 hours, a quick cheap flight will make more sense. It’s how the locals travel too, and inter-Spain flights on RyanAir and local carriers can be around $30-$40 a person. Yes, unheard of in the States!

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Roads, Rules & Driving in Spain

Driving in Spain is a fun and easy experience and a great way to explore the beautiful country! The road rules are similar to those in America.

PRO TIP: If you’re in Spain traveling around, make sure you have travel insurance for any incidentals. I use SafetyWing Nomad Insurance because they are really responsive, and the price point is great – about €40 a month for me. Not trying to be your mom, but shit happens.

The highways tend to be well maintained, with a decently slow speed limit. Because of all the speed cameras, the locals drive pretty chill, so there’s room to enjoy the views from the road.

Driving is relatively safe and organized. Tolls are automatically tracked by your rental car, and parking is much easier in Spanish cities due to tons of curb space and well-marked spots.

All in all, I enjoyed Spain more when I had my own car compared to being limited to the cities. I did a fantastic 2-week road trip through Northern Spain, Bilbao to Santiago de Compostela, and the car rental was about $100 a week.

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Conclusion: Public Transport, Car, or Uber in Spain?

To answer the question of “Is there Uber in Spain?” conclusively, the answer is yes.

That said, I recommend using public transportation in the cities and renting a car for outside the cities and into the rest of Spain. Here are my favorites:

• Barcelona metro maps.
• Madrid metro map.
• Ride-hailing app popular with locals in Spain: Cabify.
• For cross-city buses and trains, I use Omio to book tickets.

And remember, taxis, trains, planes, and renting a car in Spain is super cheap and easy. And because everyone speaks English, people can help you out when you’re in a pinch.