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Marrakech Airport is only about a 15-minute drive from the Medina – in theory, it should be a quick hop straight off your flight to the heart of the old city. But here’s the catch: getting through Marrakech Airport itself can be an absolute mission in itself.
When I visited Morocco, my private riad in Marrakech offered a private transfer, so I arranged for it to pick us up 30 minutes after our flight, thinking we’d breeze through the airport since we only had a carry-on bag. Well, let’s just say I ended up being way off. It took us nearly two hours to get through passport control, and pretty much all of that was spent in one never-ending queue. And honestly, this isn’t out of the ordinary – it seems like this is a pretty common experience for a lot of visitors to Marrakech. So, when you’re planning your transport from the airport to the Medina, definitely factor in some extra time.
There are a couple of ways to get from Marrakech Airport to the Medina, including a comfy option, a cheap option, and a wildcard option. Here’s a simple guide that breaks down all of these, so you can pick the one that works best for you!
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How To Get From Marrakech Airport to Medina
In a rush? Book the best option below:
- Private Transfer From Marrakech Airport to Medina | Book Here
Private Transfer from Marrakech Airport to Medina | The Comfort Option
In my opinion, the best option for getting from Marrakech Airport to the Medina is a private transfer. It's the quickest, comfiest choice, and since it takes you directly to your hotel or riad, it’s also the most convenient. It’s not overly pricey either – for two people, a private transfer costs around £5 one-way, and the price goes down the more people you have. If you're a solo traveller, you can still get a private transfer, but it’ll be a bit more expensive, around £15 one-way.
As I mentioned earlier, getting through passport control at Marrakech Menara Airport can take FOREVER. But with a private transfer, the drivers are pretty good at staying in touch and waiting for you – at least that was my experience. After a two-hour wait to finally escape the airport, we were pleasantly surprised to step outside and find our driver still waiting with a sign with our names on it.
I’d definitely recommend booking your private transfer in advance, so you don’t have to worry about sorting a taxi when you land. That being said, if you forget to organise a private transfer before you go, you’ll find plenty of taxis waiting just outside the arrivals terminal – just follow the signs inside the airport for the taxi stand. The official Marrakech taxis are light yellow with a rectangular sign on top, so you can’t miss them. A taxi is pretty similarly priced to a private transfer, costing you about £5-8. One important tip though: always agree on the fare before you jump in!
Bus from Marrakech Airport to Medina | The Cheapest Option
If you're looking for a budget-friendly option, catching the bus is the cheapest way to get from Marrakech Airport to the Medina. It’s certainly not going to be as comfy or convenient as your own private transfer, but the journey isn’t long, so you won’t have to endure it for ages!
To get from Marrakech Airport to the Medina by bus, you’ll need to get bus number 19, which is conveniently located just outside the arrivals terminal, near the taxi stand. The journey takes about 30 minutes, depending on traffic, with 11 stops in total, including two right in the heart of the Medina – Koutoubia and Jemaa El Fna Square. So, you'll still be taken straight to the main spots in the city.
The bus driver may not speak much English, so I’d recommend downloading Google Maps offline and showing them where you need to go. They’ll be able to let you know when to get off, or you can simply follow the journey on your map – your phone should still track your location via GPS, even without the internet.
Here’s the logistics: The bus runs every 30 minutes, seven days a week, from 6:20 am to 10:50 pm. A one-way ticket costs around 30 Moroccan Dirhams (about £2.50), and if you’re planning to return to the airport within 14 days, you can save a bit more by getting a return ticket for 50 Dirhams (~£4). Tickets can be bought directly from the bus driver in cash – I’m not sure about card payments, so it’s best to bring cash to be on the safe side. But otherwise, it’s a great option if you're looking for something cheap and cheerful!
Car Rental at Marrakech Airport | The Wild Card Option
Marrakech Airport is a handy spot to grab a hire car if you’re planning a road trip around Morocco – loads of rental companies are actually based right inside the airport, so it’s super convenient to pick up your car as soon as you get off your flight.
To be honest, I really wouldn’t recommend driving anywhere near the medina in Marrakech, especially after dark. It’s a bit of a free-for-all – scooters, donkeys, cars, horses and carriages, and tourists going in all directions. Honestly, your best bet is to just pick up your car and head straight out of the city.
I hired a car and road-tripped all the way from Marrakech to Merzouga, the gateway to the Sahara – and I absolutely loved it! If you’re toying with the idea, definitely check out my full guide to driving in Morocco. It’s packed with tips to help you get prepped for your driving adventure!
Driving gives you so much freedom to explore at your own pace, but it’s not without its challenges – like navigating unfamiliar Moroccan road signs or getting used to driving on the other side of the road to your home country. Still, if you’re up for it, it’s one of the best ways to see the country!
If you want to compare car rental companies, then use DiscoverCars or AutoEurope. Both are very reliable websites that will help you to find the best car rental deals by comparing the prices and ratings of hundreds of companies in Morocco.
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