Getting Around Morocco: Trains, Buses, Taxis & Cars

It depends on your route and budget. Between major cities — Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, Fes and Tangier — the ONCF rail network is the most comfortable option: air-conditioned, reliable and reasonably priced. For the south (the desert, the gorges, Ouarzazate, Agadir), trains do not reach, so you choose between intercity buses like CTM or Supratours, renting a car or booking a private driver. Most first-time visitors end up mixing: train for the imperial cities, private car or guided tour for the desert. That combination works well and avoids the logistical headaches of the south.

For the right traveller and the right route, yes — renting a car unlocks the Draa Valley, the anti-Atlas back roads and mountain villages that buses simply do not serve. However, city driving, especially in Marrakech and Fes, is genuinely chaotic: narrow medina streets, aggressive mopeds and limited parking. A sensible middle ground is to rent only for the southern loop, dropping the car in Ouarzazate or Marrakech before heading back into the cities. An international driving licence is technically required, though enforcement varies. Always photograph every scratch before leaving the lot.

Morocco’s national rail network ONCF covers the northern corridor — Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, Meknès, Fes, Oujda — plus the high-speed Al Boraq line to Tangier. Trains have 1st and 2nd class; 1st class is air-conditioned, comfortable and worth the modest price difference on longer journeys. Buy tickets at any ONCF station or on the official website (oncf.ma). Bring your passport, as it is sometimes checked. The Casablanca–Marrakech run takes about 3 hours and costs indicatively 110–180 MAD depending on class and whether you catch an express service.

Yes, licensed Moroccan taxis are safe for tourists. Petits taxis (usually a single colour specific to each city) operate within city limits and should use their meter — insist on it or agree a fare before moving. Grands taxis are shared Mercedes estates that ply fixed intercity routes; they leave when all six seats are filled. Both are legitimate and widely used. The main scam to avoid is unlicensed drivers approaching you at airports or bus stations with suspiciously good prices — always find a taxi rank or use a hotel-arranged transfer if you are unsure.

Yes, but it is a commitment. CTM and Supratours run daily services from Marrakech to Ouarzazate (about 4 hours), and from there you can connect onward to Zagora or take a shared taxi toward Merzouga — though the final leg to Erg Chebbi requires a grand taxi or prearranged pickup. A direct bus from Marrakech to Merzouga can take 8–10+ hours with connections. For most travellers, a private car or guided desert tour is a much more practical choice: it is faster, covers more ground and the logistics are handled for you.

Both are Morocco’s main reliable long-distance bus companies with fixed schedules, assigned seats and online booking. CTM (Compagnie de Transports au Maroc) has the wider network, including routes to Dakhla in the far south. Supratours is partly affiliated with the national rail operator ONCF, so you can buy combined train-plus-bus tickets — useful for routes like Marrakech to Agadir where the bus connects with the rail network. Prices are similar; for popular routes on Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings book at least a day ahead to guarantee a seat.

Morocco’s public transport is very affordable by European standards. A train from Casablanca to Marrakech costs roughly 110–180 MAD (about $11–18). A CTM bus from Marrakech to Agadir is around 100 MAD. A petit taxi ride across Marrakech city should not exceed 20–30 MAD if the meter is running. Where costs rise is in the south, where distances are long and there is no rail — a private car rental adds 250–600 MAD per day, and guided desert tours are priced per person per day depending on group size and itinerary.