The Red City of Marrakech is the fourth-largest city in Morocco, and it is a former imperial city brimming with interesting things to see and do.
There are several fascinating neighborhoods to explore during your time in Marrakech.
The Medina is the heart of the old city and is where you’ll find the largest concentration of historic and cultural hot spots. Mellah, the former Jewish area, is located next to the Medina’s high walls.”
Newer than the Medina but still with plenty of history, Gueliz is the old colonial part of the city and it has a distinctly European vibe.
Palmerie and Hivernage are two of the most upmarket areas of Marrakech. But, how can you get from place to place?
There are several ways to travel around Marrakech, including both public and private transportation. Here’s everything you need to know about transport in Marrakech:
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Getting from the Airport to Marrakech
Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) is situated around three, kilometres from Hivernage, five kilometres from Gueliz, and six kilometres from the Medina.
Bus number 19 makes regular trips every day between the airport, Gueliz, and the Medina. Services run every half an hour from 6.30am to 11.30pm.
The bus stops near Koutoubia Mosque for the Medina.
You can also take a petit or grand taxi from the airport directly to your accommodation. Be sure to arrange the price in advance if the meter isn’t being used.
If you are staying in the Medina it can be useful to arrange your transportation through your riad—not only will the driver drop you at the closest point to your accommodation but it is likely that somebody from your accommodation will meet you to assist you to find the property in the maze-like streets.
By Taxi
Taxis are widely available around Marrakech and can be a quick, convenient, and inexpensive way of travelling between points that are some distance away from each other.
You can take a taxi from one of the many taxi stands around the city or ask your accommodation to order a ride for you.
It is also possible to flag down taxis on the street but, depending on where you are, it might be some time before a vacant cab passes by.
There are two types of taxis in Marrakech: petit taxis and grand taxis.
Petit taxis are the smaller vehicles and they can carry up to there passengers.
They generally travel within the city. Taxis have meters and you should ask the driver to switch it on before your journey begins.
If the driver is unwilling to do so, negotiate the fare before your ride. (Ask your accommodation for a rough idea of what the price should be.)
If you want to charter a taxi for a day to travel to other places of interest, such as Essaouira, Ourika Valley, or Ouzoud Cascades, you should arrange the price in advance.
Grand taxis are larger and can seat five people. They are ideal for larger groups and offer more comfort for longer rides.
By Foot
Walking is often the only way to access parts of the labyrinth-like Medina. Some of the narrow maze-like streets aren’t large enough for vehicles and you’ll have to rely on your two feet to get you from A to B.
This really shouldn’t be much of a problem though; you can soak up the atmosphere and energy of the old city and stumble across sights that you would probably otherwise have missed.
Do keep a sharp lookout for landmarks, though, to help you find your way around.
Finding a detailed map of the Medina is all but impossible, and many street names are different to maps as on road signs, adding to the confusion.
If all else fails and you find yourself lost within the Medina look for the top of the soaring Koutoubia Mosque and make your way to the famous landmark; it is often fairly easy to get your bearings from there.
Keep in mind that if you ask locals for directions it’s quite common for them to take you to where you want to go and then ask for a substantial tip. You can try to avoid this by asking people inside shops.
The wide, leafy street of Gueliz are a lot easier to navigate than the twisting streets and alleyways of the Medina, and taking a stroll here can be very pleasant.
Stay hydrated, especially in the hotter months, and wear adequate sun protection when walking around Marrakech. Avoid dark and quiet areas too, particularly after dark.
By Bus
Although not often used by tourists, there are local bus services that operate frequently around Marrakech. Buses can be crowded and the vehicles are generally old.
Fares, however, are very cheap—have small change to pay the driver. You can catch local buses from the main bus station at Place El Mouarabitene and many services also stop at the large and lively square of Djemaa el Fna.
Useful services include route number 1, which connects the Medina and Gueliz, route number 8, which travels to the train station, and route number 19, which goes to the airport.
There are buses to other cities from the main bus station too. This is an especially useful place to find transport from Marrakech to Essaouira, Casablanca, Agadir, Fez, and other Moroccan destinations.
By Rented Scooter / Moped
There are several outlets around Marrakech where you can rent a scooter or moped for travelling around the city.
Although you can use scooters in many parts of the Medina you should take extra care on the narrow, busy streets.
Also, make sure you park in a secure and safe spot and don’t cause an obstruction to other road users. Always wear a helmet.
Zipping around Marrakech’s streets is not for the faint of heart—only ride if you are competent and confident to do so.
You will need to show your passport and relevant license from your home country to rent a scooter in Marrakech. Ensure you have comprehensive insurance cover too.
By Bicycle
Cycling is another good way of getting around the Medina. You can cover more ground in less time.
Do ride carefully, though, and watch out for pedestrians, other cyclists, donkeys, carts, and stalls set up at the edges of the streets.
You can also cycle between Marrakech’s different neighborhoods with relative ease. Having GPS is handy, though road signs are generally pretty easy to follow.
Wear a helmet and be aware of other road users, particularly bigger and faster-moving motorized vehicles.
Always lock your bike up securely when sightseeing, eating, or otherwise taking a rest.
There are several places where you can rent bicycles around Marrakech and, in 2017, the city implemented the first bike sharing scheme in Africa.
There are several bike stations around the city and you can return a bike to a different point than where you rented it. Bicycles are available around the clock.
By Horse-Drawn Carriage
Although many tourists take a sightseeing ride in a horse-drawn carriage for the novelty factor, they can also be chartered for short private journeys, rather like a taxi.
They can be ideal for reaching places around the city that are difficult to access by motorized transportation.
Be sure to agree the price before starting your journey. The horse-pulled carriages are known locally as calleches.
By Rented Car
Renting a car to road-trip around Morocco is becoming increasingly popular, and there are several car rental companies in Marrakech.
You need to have a driving license from your home country and you should have full insurance.
While the outer areas of Marrakech are easy enough to drive between, you cannot drive in the Medina. Also keep in mind that traffic can be bad and finding parking can be difficult.
If you park on the street, be aware that you may be expected to give a small tip to people who watch the vehicles.
If your accommodation is in the Medina it is perhaps better to rent a car when you are ready to continue your onwards trip from Marrakech and use other means to get around the city itself.