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ONCF rail — updated 2026
Tangier to Fes by Train
Schedule, ticket prices, the Tangier Med port confusion explained, and whether the Blue City detour via Chefchaouen is worth it. Everything you need before you board.
Leila Tazi· Fes, Culture & Cuisine Editor
Fes-based journalist with a food and crafts obsession, Leila spends her weeks between the tanneries, the Qarawiyyin quarter and the kitchens of the old city. She covers Fes, Meknes, food and Moroccan culture. Fes · 11+ years covering Morocco
Published 3 November 2025 Last updated 13 March 2026
The Tangier-to-Fes train is one of the most useful rail journeys in Morocco — direct, comfortable, and genuinely fast if you take the Al Boraq high-speed service to Kénitra and connect onward. The total journey runs 4 to 5 hours depending on which service you catch, and a seat in 2nd class costs under 130 MAD (roughly $13). That is a remarkable deal for crossing the north of the country.
The main confusion point — and it trips up a surprising number of first-time arrivals — is the difference between Tangier Ville (the city-centre train station where your train departs) and Tangier Med (the ferry port, 40 km east on the Mediterranean coast, which has no rail connection). If you arrive by ferry, you need to get yourself to Tangier Ville before you can catch any train. Below is exactly how to do that, what the trains look like, and how much they cost.
Arriving at Tangier Med by ferry?
The ferry port has no train station. Take the free port shuttle to Tangier passenger terminal, then a taxi to Tangier Ville rail station. Allow 45–75 minutes for this transfer before your train departs.
How to Get from Tangier to Fes by Train
Four steps from ferry dock (or city-centre hotel) to the Fes medina entrance.
1
Arrive at Tangier Ville station — not Tangier Med port
If you crossed on a ferry, you arrived at Tangier Med port, which is 40 km east of town. Take the free shuttle bus to Tangier passenger terminal, then a petit taxi or grand taxi (~50–80 MAD indicative) to Tangier Ville train station. Allow 45–60 minutes for this transfer before your train.
2
Buy or collect your ONCF ticket
Tickets are sold at the guichet (counter) or the self-service machines at Tangier Ville station. You can also book online at oncf.ma or via the ONCF app and collect at station kiosks. The Tangier–Fes route is served by Al Boraq high-speed trains to Kenitra, then a transfer or direct Intercités service.
3
Board at Tangier Ville — Al Boraq or Intercités
The fastest option uses the Al Boraq TGV to Kenitra (about 1 hr) and then a connecting Intercités service to Fes (roughly 3 hrs), for a total of around 4–4.5 hours. Some slower direct Intercités services run the full distance in approximately 5–6 hours with more stops. Check oncf.ma for real-time departures.
4
Arrive at Fes train station (Gare de Fès)
The station sits in the new town (Ville Nouvelle), about 3 km from Bab Boujloud and the medina entrance. Petits taxis charge a metered fare of roughly 15–25 MAD for the short ride. Agree on the meter running before you get in, or agree a price beforehand.
Ticket Prices & Classes
All fares are indicative for the Tangier Ville–Fes route; check oncf.ma for live pricing.
| Class | Price (MAD) | Price (USD) | What you get | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd Class (Économique) | ~100–130 MAD | ~$10–13 | Assigned seats, air-conditioned | Comfortable for the journey; book ahead on busy Fridays and weekends |
| 1st Class (Confort) | ~160–200 MAD | ~$16–20 | Wider seats, quieter carriages | Worth the small premium on a 4–5 hour trip |
Al Boraq high-speed supplements apply on top of the base fare. If you book a TGV leg to Kénitra plus an onward Intercités to Fes, you pay two separate tickets — but total cost rarely exceeds 200–250 MAD for 1st class across both legs.
The Chefchaouen Detour: Worth It?
Chefchaouen, the famously blue-washed town in the Rif Mountains, sits roughly halfway between Tangier and Fes — and it has no train station. To stop there you must leave the rail network entirely: bus or grand taxi from Tangier to Chefchaouen (3 hrs), then another bus or grand taxi to Fes (4 hrs). It turns a clean 4-hour rail journey into a fragmented 10-hour day with luggage transfers at each step.
That said, skipping Chefchaouen on your first Morocco trip is a genuine regret for most visitors. The blue medina is calmer than Marrakech, the surrounding hills are walkable, and the light for photography is extraordinary in the morning before the tour groups arrive. The practical solution is a private car with a driver: you travel Tangier → Chefchaouen → Fes in one flexible day, stopping where you choose, with no bus station queues or luggage juggling. The drive covers spectacular mountain terrain regardless of which route you take.
If your schedule is tight, the train is the sensible, fast choice. If you have an extra day, break the journey.
Train only
4–5 hrs total
With Chefchaouen (bus)
~10 hrs across 2 days
Train ticket from
~130 MAD (~$13)
Practical Tips Before You Board
- Book on oncf.ma or the ONCF app to guarantee a seat. You can pay by card; collect tickets at station kiosks.
- Arrive at Tangier Ville at least 20 minutes before departure. The station is well-organised but gets busy around midday.
- Large bags fit in the overhead rack or at the end of the carriage. There is no checked luggage system — everything travels with you in the cabin.
- Food on the train is limited to a trolley service. Buy pastries and water at the Tangier Ville station café before boarding.
- From Fes station to the medina, petit taxis run on a meter. Insist on the meter — 15–25 MAD is the going rate to Bab Boujloud.
- If you miss your train, tickets are nominally non-refundable but can sometimes be exchanged at the guichet for the next service on the same day.
Train vs Private Car: Which Is Right for You?
The train is the budget traveller’s default and genuinely pleasant. A private car suits you if you have luggage, are travelling as a family or group, or want to make stops along the way.
Choose the train if…
- You are travelling solo or as a couple with light bags
- Budget is a priority — train wins on raw cost
- You want to travel early morning without waiting for a driver
- You enjoy the window scenery through northern Morocco's hills
Choose a private car if…
- You want to stop at Chefchaouen or Asilah en route
- You are travelling with family or three or more people
- You have large bags you don't want to haul through stations
- Arriving door-to-door at your riad matters more than cost
Tangier to Fes Train FAQs
How long is the train journey from Tangier to Fes?
The fastest routing — Al Boraq high-speed train to Kenitra followed by an Intercités connection — takes around 4 to 4.5 hours total, including the transfer wait at Kenitra. Slower direct Intercités services that stop at more stations run closer to 5.5–6 hours. The high-speed option is significantly more comfortable for the money and only costs a modest premium over the slow service.
Do I need to book Tangier to Fes train tickets in advance?
For weekday travel you can often buy on the day at the station, but on Fridays, public holidays, and during school breaks seats fill quickly — especially in 1st class. Booking a day or two ahead on oncf.ma or the ONCF app costs nothing extra and guarantees your seat. Peak summer months (July–August) see heavier tourist traffic on this route, so booking further ahead is wise.
Is there a direct train from Tangier to Fes without changing?
Yes — some Intercités services run the full Tangier Ville to Fes route without a transfer, though they take longer (typically 5.5–6 hours) and stop at intermediate towns including Asilah, Kénitra, Meknès and others. The Al Boraq service requires a change at Kénitra but cuts total travel time to around 4–4.5 hours. Either way, you end up at Gare de Fès in the city's Ville Nouvelle.
How do I get from Tangier Med port to the Tangier train station?
Tangier Med port is the ferry terminal for most international routes from Spain (Tarifa, Algeciras) and is 40 km from Tangier city centre. A free shuttle bus connects the port to the Tangier passenger terminal in town; from there you take a petit taxi or grand taxi to Tangier Ville train station. The full transfer takes 45–75 minutes depending on traffic and customs queues, so do not cut it too fine before your train.
What is the difference between Tangier Ville and Tangier Med for trains?
Tangier Ville is the city-centre railway station where all ONCF trains depart. Tangier Med is the ferry port on the Mediterranean coast, 40 km east — it has no rail connection. First-time visitors stepping off a ferry at Tangier Med often assume they can walk to a train; you cannot. You must transfer to the city first. Taxis from the port to Tangier Ville train station cost roughly 200–350 MAD (indicative) if you skip the free shuttle bus.
Can I stop in Chefchaouen on the way from Tangier to Fes?
The train does not serve Chefchaouen — the Blue City has no rail link. To stop there, you disembark at Tangier Ville and take a CTM or Supratours bus to Chaouen (roughly 3 hours, ~50–70 MAD), then a separate bus or grand taxi onward to Fes. A private car with a driver is the most efficient way to do this detour: door-to-door, flexible timing, and your luggage travels with you rather than being juggled between three buses.
Is the train better than the bus from Tangier to Fes?
For comfort and reliability, the train wins. The Al Boraq high-speed service is genuinely fast and modern, with guaranteed air conditioning and reserved seats. CTM and Supratours buses are also air-conditioned and reasonably comfortable, but travel time is longer (roughly 6–7 hours to Fes) and road traffic can add unpredictability. The bus is cheaper by 30–50 MAD, but for a journey of this length the train is worth the small premium.
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