Getting to and around Marrakech: airport, taxis, money, phone

In short

• Official airport taxi: 100 to 150 MAD by day to the Medina, Guéliz or Hivernage, up to 240 MAD at night. Posted fare, no haggling.
• Bus 19: 30 MAD, serves Jemaa el-Fna and Guéliz every 20 to 30 minutes.
• Petit taxi in town: 20 to 40 MAD a ride, meter mandatory, 50% surcharge after 8 pm.
• Money: withdraw dirhams at ATMs and refuse the euro conversion the machine offers.
• Phone: eSIM from 15 € for 10 to 20 GB, or a local SIM at the airport.

Marrakech-Menara airport

The airport (code RAK) is 6 kilometres south-west of the centre, 15 minutes from the Medina, Guéliz and Hivernage, 25 minutes from the Palmeraie. Direct flights from most European and Gulf cities. Immigration takes 20 to 60 minutes depending on the time: fill in the police form handed out on board, passport valid for the whole stay, no visa for EU, UK, US, Canadian and Gulf nationals for 90 days.

Reaching your accommodation

Our transfer

A driver waits at the exit with your name, drives you to the door and, for the Medina, walks you to the riad with the luggage. From 350 MAD for a sedan up to 3 passengers, minibus on quote. Bookable with your stay on the airport transfer page. The only friction-free option if you land at night or stay in the Medina.

The official taxi

At the terminal exit, the beige grand taxi rank applies a posted grid: 100 to 150 MAD by day to the centre (Medina, Guéliz, Hivernage), 150 to 240 MAD at night, more for the Palmeraie or the Ourika road. The price is per vehicle, not per person. Politely refuse touts inside the terminal.

Bus 19

The Alsa Airport Express links the airport to Jemaa el-Fna, Guéliz and the railway station in 20 to 30 minutes for 30 MAD one way (50 MAD return valid two weeks). Departures every 20 to 30 minutes from 6 am to 11:30 pm. Handy solo with a light bag, impossible with three suitcases for a riad.

Getting around town

The petit taxi

Beige petit taxis take up to 3 passengers. The meter is mandatory by law: ask for "le compteur, s'il vous plaît" before getting in, or decline. A ride in town costs 20 to 40 MAD, 50% more after 8 pm. They do not go to the airport or out of town. There is no Uber in Marrakech; local apps (Careem, inDrive, Roby) work unevenly.

On foot

The Medina is entirely walkable. So are Guéliz and Hivernage. From Jemaa el-Fna to Guéliz, allow 25 minutes along avenue Mohammed V, a pleasant late-afternoon walk.

Driver by the day

For the Palmeraie, the Ourika road or a day of excursions, a private driver with an air-conditioned vehicle is booked by the day. We arrange these services, see our excursions.

Horse-drawn carriage

The carriages parked at place de la Liberté and on Jemaa el-Fna offer the tour of the ramparts and the Menara. The official fare is displayed on the carriage, around 150 to 250 MAD an hour per carriage (up to 4 people), to confirm before boarding.

Rental car

Pointless for a city stay. Useful if you stay in the Palmeraie or on the Ourika road and want to explore. Allow 300 to 500 MAD a day for a compact. In the Medina, guarded car parks at the gates, 50 to 100 MAD a day.

Money

The dirham

The Moroccan dirham (MAD) is a non-convertible currency: you cannot buy it before departure nor legally take out more than 2,000 MAD. Reference rate in 2026: about 10.8 MAD for 1 €, 10 MAD for 1 $.

Withdrawing

ATMs are everywhere in Guéliz, Hivernage and around Jemaa el-Fna. Fees of 20 to 30 MAD per withdrawal on the Moroccan side, plus your bank's: withdraw larger amounts at once. Refuse dynamic currency conversion: when the machine offers to debit in euros "at a guaranteed rate", always choose debit in dirhams, otherwise the rate is 5 to 8% worse.

Exchanging

Exchange bureaus in Guéliz and in hotels apply the official rate without commission. Those on Jemaa el-Fna and in the souks are less favourable. Keep the receipt to change the balance back on departure.

Paying

Cards accepted in restaurants, Guéliz shops and monuments. Cash essential in the souks, for petit taxis, tips and the Jemaa el-Fna stalls. With us, the quote is paid as stated, in dirhams.

Tipping

5 to 10% in restaurants, 10 to 20 MAD for a porter or car-park attendant, 50 to 100 MAD a day for villa house staff, 100 to 200 MAD for a day driver.

Staying connected

The three operators, Maroc Telecom, Orange and Inwi, cover Marrakech in 4G and are rolling out 5G. Three options:

• Travel eSIM before departure: 15 to 25 € for 10 to 20 GB over two weeks, activated on landing. The simplest.
• Local SIM at the airport counters: 20 to 50 MAD with a few GB included, top-ups in every grocery. Passport required.
• Wi-Fi: all our properties have Wi-Fi, fibre in most apartments in Guéliz and Agdal.

Departure

Arrive 2.5 hours before a European flight, 3 hours during school holidays. Security and police checks can take an hour. Change your dirhams back before the departure area. Our return transfer is booked together with the arrival one.