How to get around Morocco
Find your way through busy streets and across expanses of desert in
Morocco
While Morocco’s medinas are made for walking, the best
way to experience the country’s dazzling diversity is to
make like the locals and take advantage of an array of
transport options to traverse its grand expanse.
Here’s our guide on how to explore Morocco in its entirety, from fabled
cities and mountain villages to Mediterranean beaches, Atlantic rollers
and desert outposts.
Let the plane take the strain
If you’re cash-rich and time-poor, flying can knock hours off long,
dusty road trips in Morocco, although you should consider the
environmental impact of doing so.
Morocco’s flag carrier Royal Air Maroc flies from Marrakesh to
Errachidia – a couple of hours from Merzouga and the shape-shifting
dunes of Erg Chebbi – in around an hour, compared with eight hours
by road. The more wallet-friendly Air Arabia flies between Marrakesh
and Fez in an hour, shaving more than six hours off the bus journey.
Taxis can take you around and between cities in Morocco
Taxis are the most popular form of
transport in all cities and towns in
Morocco
If you’re traveling within the city limits, petits taxis – yellow in
Marrakesh, red in Casablanca, blue in Rabat – are cheap and
plentiful. You can flag them down on the street or find them near bus
or train stations.
They’re metered, so you shouldn’t need to haggle or fix a price before
you set off, but if the driver tries to avoid using the meter – telling you
it’s broken is a typical excuse – ask him to let you out and try another
taxi. A short ride is Dh7 during the day and Dh10 at night – remember
to carry change.
For longer journeys, shared grands taxis are often the best way to get
around. The vintage diesel-guzzling Mercedes are being replaced by
large vans, but they still run fixed routes, leaving from the terminal
when they’re full (usually six people).
To avoid a squeeze or unpredictable delay, offer to pay for more than
one place or even take the whole vehicle – an inter-city trip is around
Dh50. You can also negotiate to rent out a grand taxi and driver for a
country-wide itinerary.
Uber no longer operates in Morocco, but Careem is available in
Casablanca, Rabat and Tangier.
Renting a car can be a great way
to explore Morocco's remote
regions
If you want to get off the beaten path and explore Morocco at your
own pace, you can rent everything from a compact Fiat to a 4WD,
which is useful for navigating the Atlas Mountains and desert roads.
Expect to pay anything from Dh270 to Dh7500 per day, including
unlimited mileage. All the major rental agencies, such as Budget,
Hertz and Avis, are at Casablanca’s Mohammed V Airport and also
have branches in most major cities. Make sure you record any existing
damage and get comprehensive insurance.
Driving around Moroccan cities isn’t for the fainthearted, with bumper-
to-bumper traffic, no parking spaces and a general disregard for road
regulations. Neither are many mountain passes, with their hair-raising
hairpin bends, and driving after dark should be avoided everywhere.
In general, the main roads are in good condition. Local tour operators
can provide high-quality vehicles with multilingual drivers if you’d
rather relax and soak up the scenery.
Taking the train in Morocco can be a budget-friendly way to get around
Ride the rails on Morocco's trains
and trams
The two main lines of the national rail service, ONCF, link most of
Morocco’s major cities: from Tangier to Marrakesh, passing through
Casablanca and Rabat, and Nador or Oujda in the northeast
to Fez and Meknes. It’s budget-friendly and comfortable, even if it
doesn’t always stick to the timetable.
Morocco also has Africa’s first high-speed train, the sleek Al Boraq,
and you’ll whiz along at top speeds of 320km/h (200mph). Launched
in 2018, it halved the journey time from Tangier to Casablanca to just
over two hours, with stops at Kenitra and Rabat.
Both Casablanca and Rabat have modern and efficient tram services.
Buy tickets from kiosks and machines at the station and validate them
on the tram.
Buses can take you where the
trains don’t go
Buses are a wallet-friendly way to crisscross the country. The two
major national bus companies offer a reliable, comfortable service –
you’ll even get wi-fi and extra leg room if you go for the “luxe” option.
CTM covers most of Morocco, with designated stops that aren't
necessarily in the gare routière (central bus station),
while Supratours (owned by ONCF) offers through ticketing on buses
whose departure times are coordinated with the arrival of trains. If
you’re going deep into rural areas, there are numerous smaller bus
companies dubbed "market buses." They’re not always safe or
comfortable, but they can be hailed in every village they pass through.
Tip for buying train and bus tickets: Currently, ONCF, CTM and
Supratours websites don’t accept non-Moroccan bank cards, so for
popular destinations, you’ll need to buy your tickets in advance at the
bus or train station – be prepared to wait in line – or use a company
like Marrakech Tickets that will forward your tickets electronically for a
small fee, some of which goes toward supporting local vulnerable
children.
See Morocco by motorcycle
Away from the congested city centers, the lure of epic adventures on
the open road – winding through remote villages flanked by the snow-
tipped peaks of the Atlas or Saharan sand – means Morocco appears
on many a motorcyclist’s bucket list.
If you’re coming from Europe, you can take your motorcycle on a ferry
from Spain. The quickest route is across the Straits of Gibraltar from
Tarifa to Tangier. Make sure you carry a good toolkit and all the
necessary spares. You can also rent a motorcycle when you arrive
and hit the road solo or join a group tour.
Accessible travel in Morocco
With few accessible facilities, Morocco can be challenging for people
with mobility issues. Medina streets are often uneven and crowded,
riads rarely have elevators, and accessible transport is in short supply.
But the country needn’t be off limits if you rent a car and driver,
choose the right accommodations and use an operator such
as Morocco Accessible Travel.
