Tangier to Tetouan: Grand Taxis, Buses, Times and Onward Links

Tangier to Tetouan is one of Morocco's simplest journeys — 60 km of coast and hill road covered in about an hour. Because the distance is so short and the demand so steady, the shared grand taxi rules this route: the old sedans leave a dedicated rank all day long as soon as their six seats fill, and the fare is only around 35–45 MAD a seat. For most travellers that is the fastest and most flexible way to make the hop.

The alternatives are a CTM or Supratours coach, comfortable and cheap but tied to fixed departure times, and a private car, which is inexpensive over such a short distance and worth it for groups, luggage or a door-to-door drop. There is no practical direct train between the two cities, so the choice is really taxi versus bus versus private car. The whole trip is a matter of an hour or so, and Tetouan is usually a stepping stone to Chefchaouen or the beaches rather than a destination in itself for those passing through.

For what awaits at the far end, our things-to-do in Tetouan guide covers the UNESCO-listed white medina, and the Tetouan medina guide goes deeper on its Andalusian old town.

Over 60 km the trade-offs are small, which is why the flexible grand taxi wins for most. The bus is a little slower and cheaper but runs to a timetable. A private car costs more but goes door to door and takes the whole group at once — genuinely affordable on a hop this short. The table sets out the realistic 2026 figures. Note that the grand taxi is quickest not because it is faster on the road, but because it leaves whenever it is full rather than to a schedule.

For solo travellers and couples, the grand taxi is the obvious pick — cheap, frequent and quick to organise. For families with children and luggage, or a group of three or four, hiring a whole grand taxi or a private car makes the trip effortless and still costs little. The bus suits those who prefer a fixed seat and a set departure, or who are continuing on a CTM through-service.

The shared grand taxi is the local backbone of northern travel and the natural choice here. Tangier's Tetouan-bound taxis leave from a dedicated rank, filling with six passengers and setting off as soon as the last seat is taken — no timetable, rarely a long wait. The fare is around 35–45 MAD per seat, agreed as a fixed line price rather than negotiated, and the run takes about an hour along the N2. It drops you at Tetouan's own grand-taxi stand near the edge of the medina.

The one thing to get right is what you are paying for. State clearly whether you want a single seat (a 'place') or the whole car (a 'course') — hiring all six seats for around 250–300 MAD gives you space, privacy and a door-to-door feel without a private-transfer price. Our grand-taxi guide explains the etiquette, the six-passenger norm and how to avoid the handful of common overcharges. With luggage or children, buying an extra seat or two is money well spent on comfort.

CTM and Supratours run air-conditioned coaches between Tangier and Tetouan several times a day for 25–35 MAD, taking about an hour and a quarter. They are comfortable and a fraction cheaper than the taxi, but the fixed timetable means you may wait longer than you would for a grand taxi that leaves when full. The bus makes most sense if a departure happens to line up with your plans, or if you are booking a CTM through-service that continues beyond Tetouan.

A private car or driver is the comfortable option: door-to-door pickup, luggage space and the whole group together, for roughly 400–600 MAD. Over 60 km that is a modest sum split between three or four people, and it removes the taxi-rank negotiation entirely. It also lets you fold in a stop — the Tamuda Bay coast at M'diq or Martil, for instance — on the way. Book through your riad or a reputable local operator rather than a street tout.

Few travellers stop at Tetouan and go no further — it is the hinge of the north. The most popular onward leg is Chefchaouen, the blue city about an hour further inland, reached by another grand taxi or a CTM coach from Tetouan's stands. This makes a natural chain: arrive from Tangier, see Tetouan's white medina, then continue up to Chefchaouen the same day or the next. Our Tetouan day-trip from Chefchaouen guide covers the pairing in the other direction.

The other draw is the coast. The Tamuda Bay beaches — M'diq, Martil and Cabo Negro — are only 15 to 30 minutes from Tetouan by grand taxi or petit taxi, turning the city into an easy base for a beach day in summer. Our M'diq and Cabo Negro beach guide covers the resort strip. Whether you are heading for the mountains or the sea, Tetouan's compact size and central position make it a convenient pivot rather than a place you need to linger.

For almost everyone, the shared grand taxi is the answer: frequent, fast, cheap and flexible over such a short distance, with no timetable to work around. If you are travelling with children or luggage, hire a whole grand taxi or take a private car — both are affordable on a 60 km hop and far more comfortable. The bus is a solid fallback when a departure suits you or you are continuing on a through-service, and it is the cheapest of all.

Because the journey is so short, there is little to overthink here — the main decision is really how much space and comfort you want to pay for. All fares are approximate 2026 figures and shift with fuel and season, so confirm on the day. However you travel, Tetouan is best seen as the gateway to Chefchaouen and the Tamuda Bay coast, so plan your onward leg before you arrive.