Are you planning a trip to Morocco and planning to land in the Pearl of the South? Here’s everything you need to know about transferring from Marrakech airport to the center. « Yallah! »
Marrakech is a must-see destination on any trip to southern Morocco. Indeed, its gigantic palaces, incredible mosques, Berber heritage and famous Jardin Majorelle are particularly popular with tourists from all over the world. And thanks to its central airport, access to the city’s riches is easy.
Marrakech Menara airport owes its name to the sumptuous olive grove that surrounds it. Located 6 km from the gates of the old city, to the north-east of the historic center, this 22-hectare international airport is also the Kingdom’s second largest. With its three terminals, it handles over 5 million passengers a year! From Menara airport, you can quickly and easily reach the center of Marrakech to explore its main sights. It could even be the starting point for a wonderful adventure in the south of the country…
The cheapest way: by bus
Photo credit: Shutterstock / lunopark
Duration: approx. 30 minutes
Fare: 30 MAD (€2.80) per ticket
Timetable: between 6.25 a.m. and 10.30 p.m., with a bus every ten minutes
If you’re on a budget, we recommend you take the bus from Marrakech airport to the city center. Meet up near the airport’s Terminal 2, from where bus no. 19 will take you to the city’s most emblematic landmarks.
You can buy your ticket directly from the driver. Make sure you have the exact amount in Moroccan dirhams, or « small change » if necessary. And if you have to catch your return flight from Marrakech airport at the end of your trip, keep this precious sesame in a safe place, as the price of a bus ticket includes one outward and one return trip.
Then, from the bustling Place Jamaâ El-Fna, for example, you can walk to your accommodation, or take a small cab if you’re heavy.
The most comfortable way: private shuttles
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Authentic travel
Duration: approx. 12 minutes
Price: between €15 and €24, depending on number of people
Opening hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
You can book a private cab online in advance of your trip. This is particularly useful if you have a lot of luggage. However, when it comes to choosing a shuttle company, prices can vary widely for transfers between Marrakech airport and the city center.
With a private shuttle transfer, the driver will be waiting for you at your terminal with a sign, then drop you off directly at your accommodation. The journey is made in vehicles that are often more comfortable and better equipped than the city’s cabs.
So, before you set off for Marrakech, we recommend that you discuss your arrival with the person in charge of your hotel or accommodation, who will be able to organize your transfer between Marrakech airport and the city center. However, be sure to agree on the price of the transfer beforehand to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
The fastest and most available: small cabs or VTCs
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Ceri Breeze
Duration: approx. 12 minutes
Fare: 70 MAD (€6.50) per ride
Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Are you in a hurry to discover the riches of the Marrakech souk? No time to lose, let’s go for efficiency! For transfers between Marrakech airport and the city center, cabs are the fastest option. In fact, as with TaxiTender, a specialized online booking platform, many cabs will be waiting for you at terminal arrivals. Your driver will then take you to the center, to the location of your choice. Please note, however, that traffic jams can be heavy in the center, especially in the late afternoon.
Also, bear in mind that the fare for small cabs from the airport to the center is fixed. Beware, however, as some drivers will not hesitate to inflate their fares, taking advantage of tourism. If this is the case, be adamant and take another cab, as this practice is illegal.
You can also order a VTC on arrival. The Heetch app is available in Marrakech and will enable you to get a transfer between Marrakech airport and the center for the same amount as a small cab. All you need is an internet connection on your phone, or the airport wifi, to order your ride as soon as you arrive.
The alternative: rent a car near the airport
Would you prefer to take the wheel yourself? Of course! In fact, your transfer from Marrakech airport to the center of town will surely be your first stop before driving on the region’s wonderful roads.
You can book a rental car with one of the agencies available at Marrakech airport: Budget, Aircar, Global, Keddy or Green Motion. Prices start at around €20 for a day’s rental of a city or compact car. For fuller vehicles such as station wagons, SUVs or MPVs, the average price is €45 per day. We advise you to reserve your vehicle in advance on the Internet, as these vehicles go fast, especially in high season! Visit Rentalcars for a full list of agencies.
However, be careful. Driving in central Marrakech can sometimes be chaotic, and traffic regulations are not necessarily the same as in France.
Sleeping near Marrakech airport
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Andocs
There are plenty of hotels and apartments within easy reach of Marrakech airport. You can find nice rooms at the Prestigia, a hotel near the Oliveraie. There are also several AirBnb accommodations available in the residential areas near the airport: Hay Annahda and Lotissement Zerktouni.
You now have all the information you need for an easy transfer from Marrakech airport to the center of town. Now it’s time to relax in the red city!