This guide will show you all the options about how to get from Marrakech airport to downtown, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs and start your trip in the best possible way.
In the Menara International Airport of Marrakech, located about 6 kilometers from the center, most of the large companies including low cost land such as Ryanair, Vueling and EasyJet land. And despite being close to the city, the transfer by public transport is not as easy as you might think, so you have to choose well to have a good first contact with the city.
Based on the experience of our trip to Marrakech and Essaouira, we tell you the different ways of how to make the transfer from the airport to Marrakech or your hotel.
Bus
The bus is the only means of public transport that performs the transfer from Marrakech airport to downtown. Tickets are purchased directly on the bus and it is almost essential to indicate to the driver the hotel where you are staying, so that he will notify you when I arrive at the nearest stop. If your destination is in the famous Jamaa el Fna square, you will realize it being the stop where most people get off.
The two bus lines that make the journey from the airport to Marrakech are:
- Bus 19: This bus, which operates between 6 am and 9:30 pm, passes through the most important places in the city such as Plaza Jemaa el Fna, Gueliz, several hotels, the bus station and the train station. The journey costs less than 3 euros and takes about 20 minutes to reach the first stop, the Jemaa el Fna Square. The departure of the bus is from the arrivals terminal 2, crossing the taxi area.
- Bus 11: This local bus will take you from Marrakech airport to the city center, stop at Jemaa el Fna Square, for just over half a euro. The disadvantages are that you will have to walk about 10 minutes to the stop, it does not have much space for luggage and it takes much longer to cover the distance by having several intermediate stops.
Recommendation: If your hotel is located in a narrow street of the Medina and you do not locate it, you can ask for help from a place that accompanies you by a small tip to the door of your accommodation.
This was our case when we stayed at the recommended Riad Assalam, located just 10 minutes from the Jamaa el Fna Square, which we did not find when we arrived the first day and we were able to locate thanks to the help of a neighbor who accompanied us.
The riads are small and old Arab palaces with an inner courtyard that have been adapted as hotels and that for us are the best accommodation option to have a complete experience in Marrakech.
Jamma el Fna Square, one of the stops on the way from Marrakech airport to downtown
Private transportation, the most comfortable way to go from Marrakech airport to downtown
Private transport is for us the best alternative and one of the best tips for traveling to Marrakech, if you want to avoid waiting on the bus, sometimes they do not leave until they are full, and bargains and anger with taxis.
When booking this service here a driver will wait for you inside the airport with a sign with your name and will take you directly to your Marrakech hotel. Keep in mind that if you stay in the Medina, the historic center of the city, most streets are pedestrian and the driver will leave you as close as possible, indicating the way to reach the riad.
The price of 14 euros for a 4-seater car and 17 euros for one of 7. As you can see the price is quite competitive so this is another reason to choose this type of transport to do the transfer from Marrakech airport to downtown.
Cab
The experience with taxis in Marrakech begins as soon as you leave through the airport arrivals door, when several taxi drivers approach you offering you a 15-minute run at exorbitant prices. We recommend you to go from these taxi drivers or drivers and go directly to the taxi rank, where you will see a panel with the official rates, which do not usually exceed 10 euros the journey.
This official rate can serve as a reference to negotiate a fixed price, since they usually do not want to put the taximeter on tourists. A strategy to get a good price is to get away from the taxi rank in the direction of the main avenue, where there are more taxis and then they will lower the price.
In addition to setting the price before, you have to keep in mind that in Marrakech there are two types of taxis: the grand taxi and the petit taxi. The first is a bit more expensive, but it is more advisable if you carry luggage.
We recommend that to get off to a good start the trip is preferable to pay a little more and opt for the security offered by private transport and after a first contact with the city, jump for taxis if necessary.
Streets of the Medina
A last option would be to rent a car to make the transfer from the Marrakech airport to the center, although due to the chaotic traffic of the city and the few parking possibilities in the Medina, it is not recommended.
Once you are in Marrakech, you can prepare your routes around the city with these guides optimized according to the days you have:
Do you want to organize a trip to Marrakech?
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The best offers of Flights to Marrakech here
The best hotels at the best prices in Marrakech here
Book the best tours and excursions in / from Marrakech in Spanish here
50 things to see and do in Marrakech
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
Rent your car in Morocco at the best price here
The best offers of Flights to Marrakech here
The best hotels at the best prices in Marrakech here
Book the best tours and excursions in / from Marrakech in Spanish here
50 things to see and do in Marrakech
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
Rent your car in Morocco at the best price here
