Transportation in Marrakech

Marrakech is easily reached by plane, train or road, with good connections throughout the country. Once you're in Marrakech it is easy to get around on foot in the medina area, and much of this part of the city is pedestrain-only access. For places in other parts of the city it is easier to catch a bus or a petit taxi. 

For a different and more exotic way of getting around Marrakech, take one of the local horse drawn carriages called the caleche.

Getting to and around Marrakech is easy with our Marrakech Transportation Guide below. This, together with our Morocco Transportation Guide, details all the transport information you'll need for your Marrakech holiday. If you want to explore the city like a local and see some off-the-beaten-track sights, you might consider taking one of our locally operated Marrakech tours or activities.

Marrakech Transportation Guide

Getting to Marrakech

By Air

The Menara Airport in Marrakech is the main international hub for travellers arriving into the city. The airport is just six kilometres or four miles from the city. A quick 15-minute drive can bring you to the city centre by a taxi. Low cost carriers fly in to Minara and there are some good bargains to be had on tickets to Marrakech. Casablanca is just 45 minutes by air from Marrakech and you could catch a connection from there. There are flights from Marrakech to most European capitals. Germany is well connected to Marrakech with flights to as many as five cities by TUI.

By Bus

Supratours and CTM are reliable bus companies for long distance bus journeys. There are several operators with services between most major towns and cities in Morocco.

Catch a Line 19 bus to get to major locations within the city, including most hotels, Gueliz, the main bus station and Jemaa L'Fna. This is only feasible if you don't have too much baggage. A ride costs 20 Dirhams one way and 30 Dirhams for a return ticket.

If you are arriving into Marrakech by bus by ALSA or similar private bus companies you will be dropped off at the Marrakech bus station for long distance buses close to Bab Doukkala. This is a 20-minute walk from the Jemaa L'Fna. If you have baggage or are tired, a petit taxi will cost you 15 to 20 Dirhams. This a good place to catch buses to smaller towns nearby. Eurolines and Supratours buses also stop here.

There are connections to places like Casablanca, Safi, Fez, Meknes, Essaouira, Agadir, Rabat, Taroudant and Ouarzazate. The CTM bus company also has a separate bus station at Zerktouni Street in Gueliz.

By Taxi

If you choose to catch a petit taxi from the airport, ensure the driver turns on the meter or sets a price for the journey before you set out. Look out for the board near the airport terminal exit that lists taxi fares to various destinations in the city and make sure you aren't being overcharged. A journey to anywhere in the city centre from the airport shouldn't cost more than 60 Dirhams during the day. At night a surcharge is applicable, but the trip should not work out to more than 90 Dirhams.

If you're planning to go further or are staying at a hotel further out, then try and get the hotel to organise a transfer by grand taxi from the airport at a fixed rate. Grand taxis are more expensive but tend to be more roomy and are perfect if you have a lot of luggage.

When hailing a taxi, the norm is to first inform the driver where you want to go and tell them how much you are willing to pay. If the driver isn't ok with the deal, move on to the next taxi.

Rental cars from international companies are also available at the airport; just look out for their booths when you arrive.

By Train

Trains run frequently between prominent railheads like Casablanca, Tangier and Rabat. Services are frequent, with hourly connections to most big cities and towns. First class seats are usually more comfortable and compartments less crowded. You cannot book seats in advance for the second class option; however, since trains start at Marrakech, finding a seat will not be a problem if you can get to the main train station in Marrakech early.

Casablanca trains run every 2 hours on an average while services to other cities are also frequent. Try and make a trip to Tangier on your holiday. It is just 10 hours away and helps give you a better understanding of life in Morocco. On day trains you may need to switch to a different train midway through the journey. This changeover gives you a 30-minute breather on your trip. Night trains go straight through to Marrakech from Tangier. Marrakech is the southernmost railhead in Morocco.

Getting around Marrakech

Marrakech is best explored on foot, especially around the medina. Otherwise, buses and petit taxis are good options for getting around. Buses stop at Place Youssef Ben Tachfine and Jemaa El Fna and tickets cost between 2 and 5 Dirhams depending on how far you're travelling.

A more exotic and enjoyable way to get around is by the local horse drawn carriage called the caleche. These carriages are available for hire from the park near the Jemaa El Fna - the Square de Foucauld. Again, do remember to set a price before you hop on. You will probably need to pay about 80 Dirhams for the rental of one carriage for an hour.

The open top city tour bus offers a 24 hour ticket for 130 Dirhams. The bus goes to all the main sights and areas of the city and your ticket includes unlimited travel for 24 hours as well as a set of headphones to listen to the commentary in eight languages. You can hop on at any point on the route but a good place to get on board is at Square de Foucauld.