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Essaouira has no train. Here is everything you need — Supratours and CTM bus times, shared grand taxi logistics, and when a private transfer is worth the extra cost.
Sofia Marín· Coast, North & Practical Travel Editor
Spanish travel writer based in Tangier who criss-crosses northern Morocco and the Atlantic coast by bus, train and ferry. She covers Chefchaouen, Tangier, Essaouira and the practical side of getting around. Tangier · 10+ years covering Morocco
Published 19 July 2025 Last updated 5 April 2026
The fastest way from Marrakech to Essaouira is a shared grand taxi or a private car — roughly two and a half hours when the road is clear. The Supratours coach is slightly slower at around three hours but far more comfortable, with assigned seats and air conditioning. There is no train and no immediate plan to build one; the road is the only option.
The 200 km route follows the P8012 through flat plains of argan and olive trees, past cooperatives where women crack argan nuts by hand. It is one of the more pleasant drives in Morocco — the landscape opens up after the sprawl of Marrakech fades, and you begin to smell the Atlantic before you see the ramparts. The question is not whether to go; it is which transport suits your bags, your budget, and how much of the morning you want to spend standing at a taxi rank waiting for five strangers.
Journey time
2 h 30 min – 3 h 30 min
From (bus)
~75–110 MAD pp
Distance
~200 km via P8012
There are four realistic ways to make this journey. Below is an honest breakdown of each — times and prices are indicative and can shift with fuel costs and season.
The Supratours bus is the obvious pick. It is cheap, reliable, and far more comfortable than a shared taxi. The main Marrakech departure point is near the ONCF train station in Gueliz — easy to reach by petit taxi from the medina (budget 20–30 MAD for the petit taxi). Book online or at the desk the day before; do not rely on walk-up availability on Friday mornings or around national holidays.
A private transfer makes economic sense the moment you are two or more people. Splitting 700–900 MAD between two people works out at 350–450 MAD each — not much more than the bus, and you leave from your door. Add a stop at an argan cooperative or a roadside cafe, and the extra cost feels well-spent before you even arrive.
A private guided day trip is genuinely the only sensible choice for a day in Essaouira. Bus day trips require early departures, leave limited time in town, and carry the real risk of missing an overbooked return. A guided day trip includes transport both ways, a local who knows the best grilled sardine stalls at the port, and the flexibility to stay until late afternoon before the two-hour drive back.
Grand taxis have almost no boot space; fitting a full travel pack for six strangers is an optimistic exercise. The bus has a hold but you still need to haul bags across Marrakech to the departure station. A private vehicle eliminates both problems: it collects from your accommodation, loads everything in a proper boot, and no one is sitting on a suitcase.
The P8012 threads through argan forests unique to this corner of Morocco — visible from every window seat.
Supratours and CTM drop passengers at their respective stations on the edge of the new town, about 1 km from the medina walls. Petit taxis wait outside both — a fare to the medina gate is roughly 10–15 MAD. Essaouira's medina is car-free inside the walls, so your taxi will drop you at one of the gates (Bab Marrakech or Bab Doukkala) and you walk from there.
Shared taxis from Marrakech arrive at the main taxi rank near Bab Doukkala. You are already at the medina edge, which is one of the advantages of the taxi over the coach for people with reasonable luggage.
Your driver will take you as close as possible to your riad or hotel. Most accommodations inside the walls will meet you at the nearest gate with a trolley or cart for luggage — confirm this when booking your stay.
There are ATMs just outside the medina near Bab Marrakech and on Avenue de l'Istiqlal. Draw cash before exploring the souks — most small vendors and restaurants inside the walls operate in MAD only.
The most popular option for independent travellers is the Supratours coach from the Gueliz district, which runs roughly 3–5 times daily and takes about three hours. Alternatively, CTM operates similar services at slightly fewer times. Shared grand taxis from the Bab Doukkala area are faster when full (around two and a half hours) but require waiting for a full load of six passengers. Private transfers are the most comfortable, door-to-door, and can include roadside stops — useful if you want to visit an argan cooperative or the Cascades d'Immouzer area en route.
The Supratours coach covers the roughly 200 km between Marrakech and Essaouira in about 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes, depending on traffic around Marrakech on departure and any scheduled stops. The bus is air-conditioned with assigned seating and a luggage hold underneath — significantly more comfortable than a shared taxi for longer journeys. Morning services tend to be punctual; the return journey (Essaouira to Marrakech) fills up fast on Sundays, so pre-booking for the return is wise.
Yes. Grand taxis for Essaouira depart from stands near Bab Doukkala in Marrakech's medina. They are large Mercedes saloons that take six passengers (three in the front bench, three in the back) and cost around 120–150 MAD per seat. The catch is that taxis only leave when all six seats are sold, so you may wait 20–40 minutes, longer if arriving at an off-peak time. The drive itself is often quicker than the bus. If you're in a hurry or just two people, you can charter (pay for multiple seats) to leave immediately.
Indicatively, a one-way Supratours or CTM ticket runs 75–110 MAD per person (roughly $7–11 USD at current exchange rates). Prices vary slightly by departure time and seat tier on Supratours. Grand taxis cost around 120–150 MAD per person for a shared seat. A dedicated private transfer — meaning the whole vehicle is yours, with a driver — starts from roughly 600 MAD (about $60) and rises depending on the vehicle type and any stops you request.
Technically yes, but it is tight and tiring. A typical Supratours departure from Marrakech is in the morning; you arrive mid-morning and have 4–5 hours in Essaouira before catching a return service. The problem is that afternoon return buses fill quickly, especially in summer, so you risk being stranded overnight. Most travellers who want a proper day in Essaouira — enough time to wander the medina, eat freshly grilled seafood at the port, and browse the souks — find a private day trip a far better option: you leave on your schedule and come back when you are ready.
No. Essaouira has no railway connection, and there are no plans to add one. The coach (Supratours or CTM) is the most structured public transport option. The road — mainly the P8012 — winds through argan forest and semi-arid plains and is well-maintained, making driving or being driven a pleasant two-and-a-half to three-hour experience.
With heavy luggage or young children, a private transfer is the clear winner. Shared taxis squeeze six adults into a standard saloon with limited boot space, and the bus, while comfortable, means navigating Marrakech's busy streets to the Gueliz departure point with all your bags. A private vehicle collects you from your riad, stows everything in a proper boot, and lets you stop for snacks or photos of the argan forests along the way. The price per vehicle (not per person) means the cost difference shrinks considerably for two or more travellers.
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