Built in 2008, the Marrakech Menara Airport is one of the largest and busiest in Morocco. The Abdellah El Ghari Architects, in collaboration with French Architect, Claude Costantini, combined the contemporary architecture of the airport with traditional Moroccan styles.
Marrakech airport is located only 7 km from the main Jemaa el-Fnaa square. By car, it takes around 20 minutes to get to the centre.
HOW TO GET FROM MARRAKECH AIRPORT TO THE CITY CENTER?
To get from the Marrakech airport to the Marrakech centre (I call centre the Medina/old town), you can use a public shuttle bus, private airport transfer or a taxi.
PUBLIC BUS
The airport bus line 19 operates from 6.30 a.m. to 11.30 p.m. The bus leaves from the stop located after the parking lot. The price is 30 MAD one way and 50 MAD to return (around 3&5 euros).
How to get from Marrakech Airport by Bus 19 to City Center? Line 19 takes you directly to Jemaa el-Fnaa square and after stops at the local Bab Doukkala bus station.
Then continues toward Gueliz, stops at the train station, and returns to the airport. If your hotel is in Gueliz, I recommend taking a taxi, as the bus makes a big circle around the town.
TAXI
After leaving the Marrakech airport building, find the stairs that lead to the taxis place. There is an employee redirecting travellers to the empty taxis. He will show you the available driver. Small taxis circulate within city boundaries only and can take only 3 people. Big, Grand Taxis can seat up to 6 people.
How much is a taxi from Marrakech airport to the city?
The board next to the taxis states that prices are fixed:
SMALL TAXI in the city (3 people max):
70 MAD/taxi day time and 100 MAD night time*.
BIG TAXI in the city (up to `6 people):
100 MAD/taxi during daytime and 150 MAD at night time.
If your hotel is located outside the city, in the Palmeraie district or around, prices jump 50 MAD more.
*night time is after `8 pm in the winter season and after `9 pm summer season.
Taxi drivers at the airport rarely take you for 70 MAD, so 100 MAD is a good bargain. Often taxi drivers will tell you that your hotel/riad is far from the airport, but it’s not true. Most of the riads are located in the old town, Medina.
Negotiate the fare before boarding the taxi, and remember this rule for any taxi ride in Marrakech. It’s common to experience that without asking first, the taxi driver takes your luggage and travellers don’t have time to negotiate. Never step into the taxi before negotiating the price.
Taking taxi in Morocco: a survival guide
More about taxis in Morocco and how to not get scammed you can read in my article “Taking taxi in Morocco: a survival guide”.
However, if you are staying in a big hotel chain, it will probably be located outside Marrakech. Double-check the map first before flying to Marrakech.
Private transfers
If you booked an airport transfer, your driver would be waiting outside the airport right after you leave the main door. Only some drivers can remain inside the airport at the arrival gate.
ALTERNATIVE
To save money, walk outside the airport to the roundabout and catch a taxi. If the meter is on, it will cost you around 15-20 MAD to reach Medina. Or, stop a shared grand taxi which is already travelling to Medina. The cost will be 5 MAD per seat. Close to the same roundabout, you can also catch No 11 city bus, which also stops at Jemaa El Fna. The bus costs 4 MAD.
These local options are unsuitable if you have bigger luggage as you share the taxi with others or the local bus is often crowded.
Morocco:SIM & INTERNET
Want to stay online while travelling in Morocco? Get local SIM card in Marrakech airport.
TO CONCLUDE
I hope that this step-by-step guide on how to get from Marrakech airport to the city centre will help you to start your Moroccan adventure smoothly. Taxi drivers love ripping off tourists in many world airports, and the Marrakech ones are no exception.
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