There is no direct train — you must change in Casablanca. This guide compares every option honestly, with times, costs and a clear verdict for each type of traveller.
YE
Yasmine El Amrani· Marrakech & Atlas Editor
Marrakech-born travel writer who has spent the last decade walking the medina’s souks and the High Atlas trails above Imlil. She covers the Red City, Berber villages and day trips into the mountains. Marrakech · 12+ years covering Morocco
Published 22 September 2025 Last updated 9 March 2026
The most common confusion about this route: travellers expect a direct train between Morocco’s two most-visited cities, and there simply isn’t one. The ONCF rail network runs north–south through Casablanca, which means every Fes–Marrakech train journey involves a change. That’s not the disaster it sounds, but it’s worth knowing before you plan your day.
The good news is that you have four genuinely different options — each with its own rhythm, price and scenery. The train is reliable but long. The overnight bus is cheap but tiring. A flight is fast door-to-door once you account for the airports. And a private car on the scenic inland road through the Atlas turns what would be a forgettable transfer into one of the best drives in North Africa.
Below is everything you need to choose, with indicative costs in MAD as of 2026, honest time estimates, and a note on what each option is actually like in practice.
All four ways to get from Fes to Marrakech
Each option suits a different traveller. Here is what to expect from each one.
Option
Door-to-door
Indicative cost pp
Best for
Train (change Casa)
7–8 hrs
160–220 MAD
Independent travellers, budget
Night bus
8–10 hrs
130–200 MAD
Budget travellers, flexible sleepers
Flight
4–5 hrs total
400–900 MAD
Speed, heavy luggage, flight lovers
Private car
6–8 hrs with stops
From ~$200 (car, not pp)
Comfort, scenery, flexibility
Train (via Casablanca)
7–8 hrs total ~160–220 MAD (~$16–22)Reliable but slow
ONCF runs frequent trains from Fes (Fes station) to Casablanca (Casa Voyageurs or Casa Port), then you change for the direct Casablanca–Marrakech service. Total journey is 7–8 hours with the connection. First class is worth the small premium — wider seats, air conditioning and fewer people jostling past. Book at oncf.ma. The change in Casablanca is straightforward: same station, trains are sign-posted, and you usually have 20–40 minutes.
CTM or Supratours Bus
8–10 hrs ~130–200 MAD (~$13–20)Cheap but long
CTM and Supratours both run overnight coaches from Fes to Marrakech, departing late evening and arriving early morning. Seats are reclining and the bus is airconditioned — not uncomfortable, but the road is long and the N13 via Midelt can involve steep switchbacks that make light sleepers regret the overnight choice. Advance online booking via ctm.ma is essential in peak season.
Royal Air Maroc and Ryanair both fly Fes (FEZ) to Marrakech (RAK). The flight itself is under an hour, but you need Fes-Saiss Airport (12 km from town) at one end and Marrakech Menara Airport (6 km from the medina) at the other. Factor in taxis, check-in and baggage — realistic door-to-door is 4–5 hours. On cheap fares it edges out, but last-minute prices can exceed 900 MAD. Good for travellers who hate long drives.
Private car or road trip
5.5–7 hrs driving Variable — from ~$200 indicative for private hireBest experience, most flexibility
The Fes–Marrakech drive covers roughly 540 km and takes 5.5–7 hours depending on stops. The scenic route via Ifrane, Azrou (cedar forest, Barbary macaques), Midelt, and the Ziz Valley gorges turns a journey into a genuine highlight. A private guided car lets you stop whenever you like and adds context to the landscapes you pass through — something no bus or train can offer.
The scenic road: why the drive is worth taking slowly
The N8 highway is the fastest driving option, but the inland route via Ifrane, Azrou and the Ziz Valley is one of the great road trips of Morocco — and most people never know it exists.
The road climbs quickly out of Fes into the Middle Atlas, where the temperature drops noticeably even in summer. Ifrane — with its tiled roofs and Swiss-style clock tower — feels disconcertingly un-Moroccan, in the best possible way. A few kilometres further, Azrou’s cedar forest is thick enough to feel primeval, and the Barbary macaques that beg at the roadside are irresistible to anyone with a camera.
South of Midelt the landscape dries and the road hairpins down into the Ziz Gorges, a narrow canyon where the river has cut hundreds of metres through red sandstone. It feels more like the American Southwest than Morocco. From there, the long run south to Errachidia and then west to Marrakech is straighter and faster, but the first half of this route is the payoff.
Key stops on the scenic inland route
Ifrane— Switzerland of Morocco — Alpine-style buildings, cooler air, 85 km from Fes
Azrou cedar forest— Wild Barbary macaques in the roadside forest; easy roadside stop
Midelt— Apple-growing town at the foot of the High Atlas — good lunch stop
Ziz Valley & gorges— Dramatic canyon dropping into a palm-fringed river; N13 road
Errachidia— Functional desert town; petrol, coffee and the road splits south to Merzouga
High Atlas pass— Tizi n'Tichka (2,260 m) if you come via Ouarzazate — longer but spectacular
Practical tips before you travel
Book trains and buses in advance
Peak season (March–May, September–October) and Moroccan public holidays sell out fast. ONCF trains book online at oncf.ma; CTM at ctm.ma; Supratours at supratours.ma.
No direct train — plan the connection
Give yourself at least 30 minutes for the Casablanca change. Casa Voyageurs and Casa Port are separate stations (a 5-minute taxi or 15-minute tram between them), so know which one your onward train departs from.
Night bus sleeping tips
The overnight bus from Fes leaves around 21:00–23:00. Bring a pillow, an eye mask, a light jacket (the air-con is aggressive) and noise-cancelling earbuds. The mountain bends can disturb light sleepers in the first few hours.
Airport logistics for the flight
Fes-Saiss Airport is 12 km south of the city — allow 30–40 minutes by petit taxi (indicative 50–80 MAD). Marrakech Menara is 6 km from Jemaa el-Fna — petit taxi is about 80–100 MAD, or there is a bus (line 19, cheap but slow with luggage).
Private car: depart early
If you want to stop at Ifrane, Azrou and the Ziz Valley and still reach Marrakech by early evening, aim to leave Fes by 7–8 AM. The light in the cedar forest is best in the morning anyway.
Route via Ouarzazate?
The longer loop south via Midelt, Erfoud, Ouarzazate and Aït Benhaddou adds 2–3 hours but includes some of Morocco’s most dramatic scenery and the UNESCO kasbah. It’s a two-day road trip in its own right.
Fes to Marrakech: Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a direct train from Fes to Marrakech?
No — there is no non-stop train from Fes to Marrakech. You must change in Casablanca, either at Casa Voyageurs or Casa Port, depending on which southbound service you catch. The connection is well-signed and usually takes 20–40 minutes, but the total journey adds up to 7–8 hours. If time matters, a direct overnight bus or a flight removes the need to change, though neither is dramatically faster when you add airport or terminal transfers.
How long does it take to get from Fes to Marrakech by train?
Allow 7 to 8 hours in total: roughly 3.5–4 hours on the Fes–Casablanca leg, a connection of 20–40 minutes, then another 3.5 hours on the Casablanca–Marrakech service. Trains run frequently throughout the day from Fes station; the earliest departures let you arrive in Marrakech by mid-afternoon. Book first class (about 20 MAD more) for comfort on a journey this long — the seats are noticeably wider.
Is it faster to fly from Fes to Marrakech?
The flight itself takes under 60 minutes, but when you add a taxi to Fes-Saiss Airport, check-in and security, the flight, and then a taxi from Marrakech Menara Airport into the medina, real door-to-door time is typically 4–5 hours. That is comparable to a private car on the direct N8 route, and considerably longer than it first appears. Flying makes most sense if fares are cheap and you have heavy luggage — or if you simply hate long road journeys.
What is the best scenic route from Fes to Marrakech by road?
The inland route via Ifrane, Azrou and the Ziz Valley is far more rewarding than the highway. From Fes you drive through Ifrane (the "Alpine" town in the Middle Atlas), then into the cedar forest around Azrou where Barbary macaques roam among roadside trees. South of Midelt, the road drops through the spectacular Ziz Gorges before flattening into the pre-Saharan plains. This route adds an hour or so over the faster highway but transforms the drive into a journey worth remembering.
How much does the night bus from Fes to Marrakech cost?
CTM and Supratours charge around 130–200 MAD (roughly $13–20) for the overnight coach from Fes to Marrakech, depending on the operator and how far in advance you book. Seats are allocated, reclining and airconditioned. The coach is perfectly adequate for budget travellers, though the journey takes 8–10 hours and the mountain sections on the N13 are twisty. Book ahead on ctm.ma or supratours.ma — both companies sell out in summer and around public holidays.
What towns can I stop at driving from Fes to Marrakech?
On the scenic inland road you can stop at Ifrane (30 minutes, worth a stroll through the European-looking streets), Azrou (cedar forest and macaques, 10-minute roadside stop), Midelt (good lunch — try the local trout or a tagine), and the Ziz Valley viewpoints south of Rich. If you take the longer Ouarzazate loop, Aït Benhaddou and the Dades Valley open up, turning the transfer into a two-day road trip. A private car gives you the freedom to stop everywhere; a bus stops nowhere useful.
Is a private car the best way to travel from Fes to Marrakech?
For most travellers — especially those who have already done the imperial cities and want to see the Atlas landscapes between them — yes. A private guided car is comfortable, stops where you want, explains what you are seeing, and can include Merzouga or the Dades Gorge if you have an extra day. The cost is higher than a bus ticket but you are not just moving between cities: the drive itself becomes part of the trip. It is the option most returning Morocco visitors say they wish they had chosen first time.
Plan it with a local expert
Travel Morocco with Serenity Morocco Tours
Crafting extraordinary journeys through Morocco's timeless landscapes. 100% private journeys, handcrafted around you.
ONMT Licensed 100% Private Tours 100% private tours since 2018
