Casablanca to Tangier: Al Boraq High-Speed Train, Buses and Times

For Casablanca to Tangier there is a standout choice, and it is the train. The Al Boraq high-speed service — the first of its kind in Africa — connects the two cities in about two hours ten minutes at speeds up to 320 km/h, gliding across the coastal plain in comfort. It runs several times a day, arrives in the centre of Tangier, and costs less than you might expect for high-speed rail. For all but the tightest budgets, it is the obvious pick.

The alternatives exist but struggle to compete. A CTM or Supratours coach is cheaper than a first-class ticket but takes more than twice as long, five to six hours down the motorway. Flights are occasional rather than frequent, and once airport transfers and security are added they rarely beat the train door to door. A private driver is a comfortable splurge for groups. In short, the train is the default, and the rest are situational.

For the broader rail picture, our Morocco train guide covers the network and ticketing, and the flagship line itself is explained in the high-speed rail feature.

Each way of covering Casablanca to Tangier suits a different traveller, but the balance tilts hard toward rail. The Al Boraq train is fastest, most comfortable and arrives centrally, at a fare most travellers find reasonable. The bus wins only on the very lowest budget, trading more than double the time for a modest saving. Flights make sense mainly as international connections. A private driver buys door-to-door flexibility for groups. The table sets the realistic 2026 figures side by side.

The one number worth dwelling on is the flight's true door-to-door time. An hour in the air looks unbeatable, but reaching the airport, checking in, clearing security and transferring into Tangier at the far end pushes the real total to around three hours — barely faster than the train, and usually more expensive and less convenient. Unless you are already at the airport for an international connection, the Al Boraq almost always wins.

Al Boraq is Morocco's high-speed showpiece, and this is its core route. Trains leave Casablanca Voyageurs and reach Tanger Ville in about two hours ten minutes, touching 320 km/h on the dedicated high-speed section between Kenitra and Tangier. The carriages are modern, air-conditioned and quiet, with first and second class, luggage racks, and a café service on many departures. Second class is perfectly comfortable; first buys wider seats and a little more space at a higher fare.

Fares reflect a flexible pricing system: expect roughly 149–224 MAD in second class and 224–350 MAD in first, with the lower end for advance bookings and off-peak departures and the higher end for last-minute or peak trains. Book on the ONCF app or website, or at station counters, and reserve ahead in summer and around holidays when popular departures sell out. The train's central arrival at Tanger Ville is a real advantage — you step off into the city rather than a distant airport or a bus terminal on the outskirts.

Casablanca has more than one station, and this trips people up. Al Boraq high-speed services run from Casa Voyageurs, the main long-distance hub, not the smaller Casa Port near the marina and old medina. If you are arriving from Mohammed V airport, the shuttle train runs to Casa Voyageurs directly, so it is an easy connection. Give yourself a few minutes to find the right platform, as Voyageurs is busy and Al Boraq departures are punctual — the train will not wait.

At the northern end, Tanger Ville is the modern central station, well connected to the city by petit taxi and a short ride from the medina and the port. It is not to be confused with the ferry port or the airport, both a little way out. The table summarises the key stations, which trains use them, and how to move on from each. For onward journeys, Tangier is the hinge of the north — grand taxis and coaches fan out to Tetouan, Chefchaouen and Asilah from here.

The CTM and Supratours coaches are the budget alternative, running Casablanca to Tangier in five to six hours down the motorway for 120–160 MAD. They are air-conditioned and comfortable, but the time penalty against the 2h10 train is steep, and second-class rail is not much dearer. The bus makes sense mainly for travellers on the tightest budget, or when it slots into a wider CTM itinerary. Book ahead in summer.

Flights between the two cities are occasional rather than a frequent shuttle, and the door-to-door maths rarely favours them once airport time is counted — the train is nearly as quick and lands you centrally. A private driver, at roughly 2,000–2,800 MAD per car, buys door-to-door service and the freedom to stop, which can suit families or groups with a lot of luggage, but for individuals and couples the Al Boraq is both cheaper and faster. For a fully car-free trip, this route slots neatly into our Morocco by train itinerary.

Both Casablanca and Tangier are host cities for the 2030 World Cup, and the Al Boraq line is central to how fans will move between them. That has two practical implications for travellers. First, the high-speed corridor is exactly the infrastructure the tournament is built around, so it will be the recommended way to travel this leg — fast, high-capacity and central at both ends. Second, demand will spike sharply around match dates and any test events, so early booking will matter far more than it does today.

If you are travelling during the tournament window or a major event, reserve your Al Boraq seats as soon as tickets open, aim for off-peak departures where possible, and build in buffer time at the busy stations. The wider rail network is being expanded and upgraded ahead of 2030, including the planned extension of high-speed services further south — the background is in our high-speed rail feature. Outside the tournament peaks, the route is uncrowded and booking a day or two ahead is plenty.

For fastest, cheapest-per-comfort and easiest all at once, the answer is the same: the Al Boraq high-speed train. It covers the route in 2h10, arrives in the centre of Tangier, and costs a fair price even in first class. The only reason to look elsewhere is a rock-bottom budget, which points to the bus, or an international flight connection that happens to route this way. A private driver is a comfort splurge for groups.

Our all-round recommendation for almost every visitor is simple: book the Al Boraq, take second class unless you want the extra space, and reserve ahead in peak season. This route is the spine of northern Morocco travel, linking the economic capital to the Strait of Gibraltar, and it is genuinely one of the country's great-value journeys. All fares here are approximate 2026 figures — confirm on the ONCF app, as prices vary with the service and booking window.