Getting around Morocco: trains, buses, driving and domestic flights

Match the mode to the corridor. The rail spine runs Tangier–Rabat–Casablanca–Marrakech, with a branch to Fes and Meknes; Al Boraq covers Tangier–Casablanca in about 2 h. Where the train stops, coaches take over: CTM and Supratours reach Essaouira, Chefchaouen, Merzouga and the south.

For the Sahara, most visitors book a one-way minibus or private driver from Marrakech to Merzouga and continue to Fes, rather than doubling back. Shared tours cost MAD 1,500–3,500; a private driver runs MAD 2,500–4,000 a day. Ask for the exact route and stops before paying, because cheap shared tours spend long days in the van and pause at commission shops.

Inside cities, petit taxis are cheap and metered by law; the night rate is 50% more. Between nearby towns, shared grand taxis leave when six seats fill — buy two seats if you want room. Driving yourself makes sense for the Atlas valleys and the coast, not for medina cities where parking and one-way streets eat the day.

ONCF trains are the easiest long-distance option on the Tangier–Rabat–Casablanca–Marrakech corridor and the Fes–Meknes branch. Second class is fine; first class costs little more. Buy on the ONCF app or at the station ahead of Fridays, holidays and Al Boraq, where prices rise as the date approaches.

Trains can run late, so do not build a tight same-day connection to a flight or a desert pickup. Keep your ticket for the inspector.

CTM and Supratours are the reliable coach operators, with routes to Essaouira, Chefchaouen, Merzouga and the south. Pay the small baggage fee and keep the tag. Other coach and local bus options exist but run slower and stop more often (check).

Shared grand taxis cover short regional hops and leave when six seats fill. Agree the price per seat before loading bags, and consider buying two seats for comfort on longer legs. They are a good fallback when the last coach has gone.

A rental car (MAD 300–600 a day, 2026 estimate) suits the Atlas valleys, the coast road and the south, where you want to stop when you like. It is a poor fit for Marrakech, Fes and Casablanca medinas, where parking is scarce and streets are one-way and congested.

Night driving outside cities is best avoided (check): unlit roads and road users without lights are common. In winter, Atlas passes can close with snow — check conditions before setting out. Speed limits are enforced with radar traps, so keep to the posted limit and carry your licence and rental papers.

Morocco's rail and coach network covers most routes, so domestic flights mainly save time on the longest legs, such as Casablanca or Marrakech to the south. Schedules, carriers and fares change often — check current routes and prices before booking.

Friday midday prayers slow business, and many shops shut on Eid holidays. Museums often close one day a week, usually Tuesday — check locally. In Ramadan, opening hours shift, with many restaurants opening only after iftar; transport timetables may also change (check).

Carry small notes for taxi fares and baggage fees, and keep a phone with data for maps and booking apps.