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Travel to Marrakech

Flying to Marrakech

Many European airlines fly direct to Marrakech, including Air France, British Airways, Iberia, KLM and Ryanair.

Royal Air Maroc, the national carrier, offers direct flights from many international cities to Casablanca with connections to Marrakech.

Flight times

From London - 3 hours 40 minutes; New York - 10 hours (including stopover); Toronto - 13 hours (including stopover); Sydney - 29 hours (including stopovers).

Travel by road

Morocco has a good road network that connects its major cities, including the Casablanca-Marrakech-Agadir expressway that reduces travelling time among these cities significantly.

The minimum age to drive is 18 years old, and an International Driving Permit is always recommended. Traffic drives on the right side of the road and speed limits are 60kph (37mph) in urban areas and 100-120kph (62-75mph) on expressways.

Due to congestion in Marrakech, tourists are encouraged to park at the hotel and use local transportation to get around the city.

Emergency breakdown services

If you break down with a rented car, call the company. You may also contact the police (tel: 150190) if it is an emergency.

Routes

Marrakech is linked to Casablanca by the A7, to Fes by the A2 and A7, to Ouarzazate by the N9, to Essaouira by the R207, and to Agadir via the A7.

Coaches

CTM (www.ctm.ma) has perhaps the most comprehensive network of coaches that link Moroccan cities, all served by its fleet of modern coaches with air conditioning, Wi-Fi and bathrooms. While you can buy your CTM tickets at the bus station, it is recommended that you reserve online in advance, so you can select your specific seat, bus type and journey length with ease ahead of time.

In Marrakech, the CTM terminal is located in Guéliz on Rue Abou Bakr Seddiq.

Time to city

From Casablanca - 2 hours 40 minutes; Agadir - 3 hours 15 minutes; Fes - 6 hours; Essaouira - 2 hours 40 minutes; Imlil (Atlas Mountains) - 1 hour 30 minutes.

Travel by Rail

Services

ONCF (www.oncf.ma), the national rail operator, connects Marrakech with other Moroccan cities. The service is excellent and you can purchase your tickets online (www.oncf-voyages.ma). The railway station is on Avenue Hassan II.

Journey times

From Fes - 6 hours 30 minutes; Rabat - 3 hours 50 minutes.

A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

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Book Accommodation

Featured Hotels

Riad Dar Aby

Situated just outside the Medina, Riad Dar Aby houses a number of en-suite rooms circled around a bright, tiled courtyard. The daily breakfast of Moroccan pancakes with lashings of jam provides a homely touch, while free Wi-Fi access, optional specialised tours and friendly staff complete the package.

Riad Cherihane

Notable for its vibrant rooftop garden where tortoises laze in sun, the well-priced Riad Chrihane is situated near the northern edge of the Medina, roughly a 15-minute walk from Jemaa el Fna. Though it can be tough to track down, due to its location down a quiet side alley, complimentary Moroccan tea and biscuits greet wearisome guests.

Riad L'Etoile D'Orient

Restored in 2010, this tastefully appointed riad mixes the modern with the traditional, meaning guests can upload snaps of the refined Moroccan decor using the speedy free Wi-Fi service. Just minutes from Jemaa el Fna, rooms here include flatscreen TVs and gorgeous bathrooms. There's also a rooftop terrace to enjoy.

Riad Al Massarah

This riad is the definition of Marrakech cool, with its blend of traditional lofty architecture, handsome custom-made furnishings and ultramodern bathroom fittings by Philippe Starck. Proprietors Michael and Michel are blazing the trail for responsible tourism with clever use of natural light and solar energy, contributions to local charities, and standard-setting wages for staff.

Riyad El Cadi

This elegant guesthouse is a maze of historic riads set around five courtyards and faceted with private balconies, terraces, staircases and light wells. Each of the rooms has its own décor scheme (stay in the cupola-capped Ottoman suite with Turkish tile and latticework harem balcony). It also has a pool with Jacuzzi, subterranean hammam and well-stocked wine cellar.

La Maison Arabe Marrakech

Opened in the 1940s, La Maison Arabe was a popular dining place for the rich and famous (Winston Churchill was a patron). It closed in the 1980s but reopened in 1998 as a hotel with Italian blueblood and African antiques collector Frederic Ruspoli at the helm. His collection is now the centrepiece of the hotel's luxuriously restored suites and rooms.

Introducing Marrakech

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