Fes to Meknes: Trains, Grand Taxis, Times and the Volubilis Day Trip

Fes to Meknes is about as easy as intercity travel gets in Morocco. The two imperial cities sit only 60 km apart on the main rail line, and trains run frequently between them — roughly every hour or better through the day — covering the gap in about 40 minutes for around 20–25 MAD in second class. It is quick, cheap, comfortable and needs almost no planning: turn up at Fes station, buy a ticket, and you are in Meknes before you have settled into your seat.

The alternatives are a shared grand taxi, handy when a train time does not suit, and buses, which offer little advantage on such a short and well-served hop. For most travellers the train is the obvious choice, whether you are moving on to Meknes for a night, basing in one city and day-tripping to the other, or using Meknes as the launch point for the Roman ruins of Volubilis. Our Fes-versus-Meknes comparison helps if you are still deciding which to base in.

This is also a natural leg of a car-free trip through the imperial cities — the Morocco by train itinerary strings Fes, Meknes, Rabat and beyond onto the rail network.

Over 60 km on a busy rail line, the train dominates, but each mode has its place. The train is fastest, cheapest and most frequent. The grand taxi is nearly as quick and useful when you want to leave right now rather than wait for a scheduled departure. The bus is comfortable but slower and no cheaper than the train. The table sets the realistic 2026 figures side by side. Note the train's edge is not just speed but frequency — you rarely wait long.

For solo travellers and couples, the train is the natural pick. For a family or small group wanting door-to-door convenience, hiring a whole grand taxi is affordable over this short distance. If you are carrying a lot of luggage or your accommodation is far from either station, a grand taxi or petit taxi saves the station transfer at each end. But in the ordinary case, the train wins on every count that matters.

The Fes–Meknes rail leg is part of the main line that continues to Rabat and Casablanca, so it is served by frequent, modern trains through the day. Second class is comfortable and costs only around 20–25 MAD; first class, at 30–40 MAD, buys a reserved seat and a little more room but is barely necessary for a 40-minute hop. Buy your ticket at the station counter or on the ONCF app; on this short route you rarely need to book ahead, though a first-class reservation guarantees a seat on a busy service.

The trains are punctual and the journey is short and scenic in a gentle way, crossing the fertile Saïss plain between the two cities. Because departures are so frequent, you can travel spontaneously — check the next departure, and if it is not for a while, a grand taxi is the quick alternative. This flexibility is what makes basing in one city and day-tripping to the other so easy: you are never tied to a rigid schedule. It also means you can time your visit around Meknes's quieter mornings, before the day-trip coaches from Fes arrive, and still be back for a late lunch or an afternoon train without any planning at all.

The one wrinkle on this easy route is the station-to-medina transfer. Fes's train station sits about 2 km northwest of Bab Boujeloud and the medina, in the ville nouvelle, so you will take a cheap petit taxi to or from your riad rather than walk — the medina's lanes are car-free and a fair way off. Agree the petit taxi is on the meter, or settle a price first; it is a short, inexpensive ride.

Meknes has two stations, which catches people out. The main Gare de Meknès is a little way from the centre, while the smaller El Amir Abdelkader station is closer to the ville nouvelle and a shorter hop from Place el-Hedim, Bab Mansour and the medina sights. Most trains stop at both, so aim for El Amir Abdelkader if your accommodation or sightseeing is near the centre. From either, a petit taxi covers the last stretch cheaply. The table summarises the key points.

One of the best reasons to make this hop is a day trip: Meknes, the Roman ruins of Volubilis, and the sacred hill town of Moulay Idriss can be combined into a full and rewarding day from Fes. Take an early train to Meknes, see the imperial monuments — Bab Mansour, the Moulay Ismail mausoleum, the vast Heri es-Souani granaries — then pick up a grand taxi for the 30 km out to Volubilis and Moulay Idriss, returning to Meknes for the evening train back. Our Volubilis and Moulay Idriss day-trip guide covers the logistics in detail.

The key thing to understand is that no train reaches Volubilis or Moulay Idriss — from Meknes you need a grand taxi, either shared or hired for the round trip with waiting time. Many visitors hire a whole grand taxi for the afternoon to link both sites, which is efficient and not expensive split between a few people. If you would rather stay overnight and take it slowly, our 2-day Meknes itinerary and the wider day-trips from Meknes guide lay out the options, and the imperial monuments guide covers the city's sights.

For almost everyone, the train is the answer: frequent, fast, cheap and needing no forward planning. Take it in second class, buy a ticket at the counter or on the app, and travel whenever suits. Reach for a shared grand taxi only when the next train is a while off, or hire a whole taxi if you are a group wanting door-to-door service or planning to continue straight to Volubilis. Buses offer no real advantage here.

Because the two cities are so close and so well linked, there is little to overthink — the main decisions are which Meknes station suits your accommodation and whether to fold in Volubilis. All fares are approximate 2026 figures and shift a little with season, so confirm on the day. Whether you are relocating for a night or day-tripping, Fes to Meknes is one of the smoothest journeys you will make in Morocco.