Getting Around Morocco
Morocco's best way to get around between cities is the ONCF train network — Marrakech to Casablanca in about 2.5-3 hours from roughly $10-20. Within cities, petit taxis (cheap, metered, city-only) and Careem (not Uber, which doesn't operate here) cover most trips. A rental car or driver-guide is genuinely worth it for the Sahara route and the Atlas Mountains, where public transport thins out fast.
Getting to Morocco
Marrakech Menara and Casablanca Mohammed V are the two main international gateways, with Fes-Saïss and Tangier as secondary options depending on your route. Flight time runs roughly 3-4 hours from the UK/Europe, 7-8 hours direct from the US East Coast, and 20+ hours from Australia. Round-trip fares typically run $450-900 from the US or Europe.
Getting around: the real options
Morocco's train network covers the big cities well, but the country's real highlights — the Atlas Mountains, the Sahara route, and the smaller hilltop towns — sit outside rail range, which is where a rental car or driver-guide earns its keep.
- ONCF trains — Morocco's national rail operator, connecting Casablanca, Rabat, Fes, Marrakech, and Tangier comfortably and affordably (Marrakech-Casablanca runs about 2.5-3 hours, $10-20). Book online or at the station; first class is a modest upgrade worth it for longer legs.
- CTM and Supratours buses — Morocco's two main long-distance bus operators, reaching towns the trains don't (Chefchaouen, Essaouira, and the desert gateways). Generally comfortable and reliable, if slower than the train.
- Domestic flights — worth it mainly for the Sahara gateways; a roughly 1-hour flight between Marrakech and Fes can replace a 7-8 hour drive if your schedule is tight.
- Car rental / driving — genuinely useful for Provence-style detours: the Atlas Mountains, the Sahara route through Ait Benhaddou, and the Dades and Todra Gorges. Morocco drives on the right; expect mountain roads with real hairpin turns on routes like the Tizi n'Tichka pass. Renting runs roughly $30-50/day for a standard car.
Getting around inside cities
Petit taxis (small, city-limited, and metered — always ask the driver to run the meter, or agree a price up front if they claim it's broken) are the cheapest way to move around Marrakech, Fes, or Casablanca. Careem, not Uber, is the ride-hailing app that actually operates in Morocco (in Casablanca and a growing list of other cities) — Uber does not run here. Marrakech and Fes's old medinas are pedestrian-only mazes; no car or taxi gets you all the way to a riad door, so expect a short walk in with your bags.
| Route/option | Typical cost | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Marrakech Airport to the medina (petit taxi) | $5-10 | 15-20 min |
| Marrakech to Casablanca by ONCF train | $10-20 | 2.5-3 hrs |
| Petit taxi across town (Marrakech or Fes) | $1-3 | — |
Always agree on a petit taxi fare or insist on the meter before you get in — it's a common (and easily avoided) place to get overcharged, especially right outside a medina gate or train station. If a driver refuses the meter, it's usually easier to just find another taxi than to negotiate.
How to save money getting around
- Book ONCF second-class tickets online a day or two ahead on popular routes (Marrakech-Casablanca, Casablanca-Rabat) rather than at the counter — prices are the same, but it guarantees a seat during busy periods.
- Split a private driver-guide for the Atlas or Sahara route across a group — per-person cost drops fast with 3-4 people sharing one vehicle, often landing close to the shared-tour price with far more flexibility.
- Skip domestic flights unless you're specifically short on time — the roughly 1-hour Marrakech-Fes flight rarely beats the train's total door-to-door time once airport transfers and check-in are factored in.
Common transport mistakes
Assuming Uber works in Morocco is the most common mistake international travelers make — it doesn't; Careem is the real equivalent, and petit taxis cover almost everything else. Wandering into a medina expecting a car or taxi to drop you at your riad's actual door is another one — most riads arrange a porter to meet you at the nearest gate and walk you in. And trying to drive yourself through Marrakech's medina is a genuine non-starter — park outside and walk, or arrange pickup with your riad in advance.