Getting To and Around Fes for the 2030 World Cup

Fès-Saïss Airport, about 15 kilometres south of the city, is the region's international gateway and handles a growing schedule of European and domestic flights, boosted by the airport-capacity investments Morocco is making across the country ahead of 2030. It is a compact, manageable airport — a relief after larger hubs — and reaching the city takes roughly twenty to thirty minutes by road depending on traffic.

From the terminal, the simplest option is a taxi; agree a fare before you set off, or confirm the meter is used, and expect a higher rate at night. Many riads and hotels will pre-arrange an airport transfer, which is worth doing if you are heading into the medina, since your driver can drop you at the correct gate and coordinate a porter for your luggage. There is also a train link, with the airport served on the rail network for onward connections.

If Fes is one stop on a multi-city World Cup trip, you may well arrive overland instead of flying in — the rail connections below often make more sense than short domestic hops between Moroccan host cities.

Fes is well served by ONCF, Morocco's national railway, and the train is the most comfortable way to travel between the country's major cities. The line runs west through Meknes and Kenitra to Rabat and on to Casablanca, with the journey to Casablanca taking roughly four hours. Trains are air-conditioned, punctual by regional standards, and far more relaxing than driving the same route in summer heat.

For Tangier and the far north, the fast option is to take a conventional train to Kenitra and change there onto Al Boraq, Africa's first high-speed line, which opened in 2018 and runs at up to 320 km/h between Tangier and Kenitra before continuing to Rabat and Casablanca. That interchange stitches Fes into the high-speed spine of the country. The separate Kenitra–Marrakech high-speed extension, under construction and scheduled to open before the 2030 World Cup, will further shorten north–south journeys across Morocco.

Book intercity trains in advance during the tournament, when demand between host cities will be exceptional, and check current times and fares on the official ONCF site. Our national high-speed rail guide explains how the Al Boraq network fits together for 2030 travel.

Within Fes, the red petit taxis are the workhorse of daily travel — cheap, plentiful and ideal for hops between the ville nouvelle, the train station, the medina gates and the stadium. They are metered in principle; insist the meter is running or agree a fair price before departure, and carry small dirham notes for change. Petit taxis are limited to three passengers and cannot leave the city limits, which is where grand taxis take over.

Grand taxis — usually older sedans — run fixed routes between towns and are the standard way to reach nearby destinations like Sefrou, Bhalil, Meknes or Moulay Idriss when you are not on an organised tour. They depart when full from set ranks, or you can pay for the empty seats to leave sooner. For day-trip planning, our Fes tours and day trips guide covers which excursions suit taxis versus a hired driver.

Ride-hailing availability is patchy compared with Casablanca or Marrakech, so treat petit and grand taxis as your default. Confirm fares up front and you will rarely go wrong.

The most important thing to understand about moving around Fes is that Fes el-Bali, the old medina, cannot be driven. As one of the world's largest car-free urban areas, it is a maze of alleys too narrow for vehicles, where goods still move by handcart, mule and porter. No taxi can take you to a medina address — it drops you at a gate such as Bab Bou Jeloud, Bab Rcif or Bab Guissa, and you walk in from there.

This shapes everything from luggage to daily sightseeing. On arrival, a porter carries your bags from the gate to your riad; day to day, you explore entirely on foot. Wear sturdy, comfortable shoes for the steep, uneven cobbles, download an offline map, and note the nearest gate to your accommodation so you can find your way back. First-timers often hire a guide for an initial half-day simply to learn the geography — money well spent. Our where-to-stay guide explains the porter system in more detail.

The upside of all this is profound: walking is not a limitation in Fes but the entire point, and the absence of traffic is exactly what makes the medieval city feel so complete.

For a multi-city World Cup trip, rail is usually the smart way to link Fes with Morocco's other venues. The train to Rabat and Casablanca is direct and comfortable, and Casablanca's Mohammed V Airport — the country's main international hub — is on the same line, making Fes an easy first or last stop on a wider itinerary. From Casablanca or Rabat you can continue toward Marrakech and, by changing at Kenitra, ride Al Boraq north to Tangier. Our overview of all six Moroccan stadiums helps you sequence a multi-match plan.

Short domestic flights exist between the major cities but rarely beat the train once you count airport transfers and check-in, especially for the shorter hops within the north. Where rail does not reach directly, comfortable long-distance coaches such as CTM and Supratours fill the gaps, including routes toward Chefchaouen and the smaller towns. During the tournament, reserve all intercity travel well ahead, because demand between host cities in June and July 2030 will be exceptional.

Plan your surrounding days as carefully as your match days: if you are radiating out to the Middle Atlas or the imperial cities, our Fes tours and day trips guide explains which excursions suit the train, a grand taxi or a hired driver.

The Complexe Sportif de Fès sits in the ville nouvelle, close to the train station and the modern hotels, which keeps match-day logistics simple by the standards of a World Cup. From a new-town base it is a short petit-taxi ride or, for some, a walk. From the medina, you must first walk out to a gate to pick up a taxi, then cross town — so build in extra time and set off early, especially given the afternoon heat.

Expect enhanced transport around fixtures of the kind deployed when Fes hosted matches during the 2025–26 Africa Cup of Nations, though the exact 2030 shuttle and public-transport arrangements will be confirmed nearer the tournament. Whatever the provision, aim to reach the stadium about an hour before kick-off to clear security calmly. For the full match-day picture, including where to sit and stay, see our dedicated Fès Stadium guide and the overarching Fes city guide.