Marrakech Transport

There are many gateways into Morocco and you won’t have trouble finding public transport into Marrakech, even if you don’t fly directly into Marrakech-Menara International Airport. Rail and bus services are good, and there are plenty of taxis at reasonable prices. The more adventurous can hire a car and make their own way around several destinations.

Marrakech-Menara International Airport is situated 6kms southwest of the city and receives a few direct international flights. However, you’ll find that most of the flights into this airport go via Casablanca, Morocco’s main international hub.

Marrakech-Menara International Airport is well equipped with banks, ATMs, a post office, a restaurant and snack bars, duty-free shops, a medical centre and tourist information. There are also hire car services. Morocco’s national airline is Royal Air Maroc. From the airport, bus number 11 runs sporadically to Marrakech city centre. There are taxi phones in the arrival and departure lounges and taxis can be caught near the bus stop. It’s best to agree on a fare before commencing the journey.

If you don’t fly directly into Marrakech, you can fly into Casablanca, just 30kms south of the city, and take ground transport with a travel time of approximately 35 minutes. The airport in Tangier is just 11km from the city and it takes approximately 20 minutes by car to get to Marrakech.

There are many public transport options available in Marrakech. There is an efficient railway network and popular bus networks which can take you to international destinations as well as national ones. Taxis are a good option for getting about the city and for the more adventurous; hiring a car is also possible.

Morocco has a good railway system with international routes to and from Oujda to Algiers or from Oran to Algiers. You can even take a train from London Victoria to gare du Nord in Paris, and then Gare d'Austerlitz to Algerciras, from where you can take a ferry to Morocco. Within the country, the Moroccan railway system runs along two branches: from Casablanca on the west coast to Oujda in the northeast and from Tangier in the north to Marrakech. All tickets can be booked in advance

If you plan on entering the country by road, the best route is from southern Spain or France via passenger/car ferries. If you are driving through Morocco, Marrakech is linked to Casablanca by the P7, to Fez by the P24, to Ouarzazate by the P31, and to Agadir by the P10 and P40. Driving within the city is not recommended and you should use taxis instead. Long term parking can be found in Guéliz at any of the big hotels or off the avenue Mohammed V. Scooters and bicycles can also be hired and are easier to navigate along the narrow roads.

Marrakech’s central bus station is served by Eurolines buses on a weekly route between London and Marrakech. Bus services between Morocco’s major cities and towns are run by CTM, the national coach company, and also by private operators. Coaches also offer routes within the city and these along with all local bus services leave from the central bus station. Fares are paid to the driver when you board. Buses are very good value for money, although some can get very crowded making them uncomfortable and hot.

Grand taxis are old Mercedes cars that carry up to six people for a fixed fare. Generally keeping to specific routes, the taxis leave when they are full and depart from three points in the city: the bus station, Djemaa El Fna and from the post office in Guéliz. Petit taxis are small hatchback cars that can be hailed from around the city. Agree on a price before getting in and expect to pay more at night.

A very romantic, but also very slow, way to travel is by horse-drawn carriage (calèche). Prices should be agreed upon in advance and up to five people can share a ride. Calèches can be found in Djemaa El Fna as well as in el Badi Palace and around expensive hotels.