Morocco Transport Options

Transport Options

Morocco’s main international airport is the Mohammed V International Airport with others including Fes, Ibn Batouta, Menara and Rabat-Sale. The national airlines are Royal Air Maroc and its twin low-cost carrier is Atlas Blue. Domestic air travel is not a popular means of transportation however Royal Air Maroc has an excellent but expensive network to most cities.

The Moroccan rail system run by Office National des Chemins de fer provides regular services at reasonable prices however a supplement must be paid for air-conditioned trains. Restaurant cars and sleeping cars are also available. The network runs from Tangier on the north coast to Fes and Marrakech in the interior, and Oujda in the northeast to Casablanca on the west coast. Unfortunately only a small part of the country is served excluding large centres such as Agadir and Essouira. The most useful routes are from Fes to Rabat, Kenitra to Rabat and from Casablanca to Marrakech.

Taxis are widely available and reasonably priced. There are two sorts: petit taxi (metered) and grand taxi (used for travel outside medinas and towns). The main road network in Morocco is in good condition and roads generally have good surfaces although very narrow. The major Moroccan roads are all-weather highways especially those covering the north and northwest, however in the interior south of the High Atlas Mountains road travel becomes much more difficult.

Traffic drives on the right, seat belts are compulsory and no alcohol is allowed in the bloodstream when driving. International and local car hire companies have offices in major cities and towns although car hire is expensive. The minimum age for driving a hired car is 21. Road signs are in Arabic and French and fuel is not so common in the country side so plan ahead and ensure you get a map. Take care when driving in Marrakech as drivers can be reckless and aggressive. The two lane roads become free-for-alls and Marrakchis like to beep their horns at everyone. Drive defensively and keep your speed down so any accident causes minimum damage. Driving in Morocco takes practice and patience but can take you to some breathtaking places.