Arriving at Marrakech-Menara
The airport, run by the national airports authority (ONDA), lies south-west of the city, beyond the Menara Gardens that gave it its name. Terminals 1 and 2 share one large building, recognisable by its white lattice of lozenges; the airport handled more than 9 million passengers in 2024. In 2026 ONDA is carrying out extension and upgrade works (forecourt, lighting, car parks, aircraft stands): access to the kerbs and pick-up areas can change from one month to the next, so follow the signs rather than a previous traveller's directions.
Before leaving the arrivals hall
After passport control, which can take more than an hour when several flights land at the same time, you will find exchange offices, cash machines and mobile phone operator counters in the hall. Withdraw a few hundred dirhams in small notes: taxi drivers, bus drivers and medina porters do not always have change for a 200 DH note. Advice on exchange and bank cards is gathered in our guide to money and tipping in Marrakech.
Taxis from the official ticket desk
This is the simplest option for most travellers. Since a decision by the governor of the Marrakech prefecture that came into force at the very start of 2024, fares from the airport are no longer negotiated: they follow an official zone grid, based on the straight-line distance between the airport and your destination. Small and large taxis charge the same amounts.
Here is how it works: go to the single ticket desk at the taxi rank, at the arrivals exit, give your destination (name of the riad or hotel, neighbourhood) and pay the amount for the zone. The desk's service fee, which organises departures, is added to the fare; the total appears on your ticket.
The official zone grid
| Zone | Distance from the airport | Daytime fare |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | under 3 km | 100 DH |
| Zone 2 | 3 to 5 km | 110 DH |
| Zone 3 | 5 to 7 km | 120 DH |
| Zones 4 to 7 | 7 to 15 km | 130 to 160 DH |
Zone grid in force since 2024 and still quoted by guidebooks in October 2026, with no official update published since: the exact amount is printed on your ticket. Prices per vehicle and not per person, excluding the desk fee; a 50% surcharge applies at night.
The medina, Gueliz and Hivernage are a few kilometres from the terminal; the Palmeraie, to the north-east, falls into the furthest zones. A small taxi carries three passengers at most; if there are four of you or you have large luggage, ask for a large taxi at the desk.
Taxi traps on arrival
- The tout in the hall: a man approaches you before the exit and offers you "a cheaper taxi". He takes you to an unmarked car, and the price changes on arrival. Only follow the official queue.
- The invented luggage fee or "night price": the night surcharge exists, but it is already included in the desk fare. Nothing more is owed to the driver.
- "Your riad is closed": a driver or a stranger claims your accommodation is full, under renovation or closed, and suggests another address where he will earn a commission. Call your riad yourself.
- Being dropped far from the address: a taxi cannot enter the alleys of the medina. It leaves you at the gate or the nearest car park, and you finish on foot. Tell your riad your arrival time so that someone comes to meet you.
Other common scenarios are described in our article on scams to avoid in Marrakech.
Bus 19, the budget option
Line 19 runs a loop between the airport and the centre: it serves Gueliz, the railway station and Bab Doukkala, then stops near Jemaa el-Fna square, on the Arsat el-Bilk garden side, before heading back to the airport. Tickets are bought on board. Under the previous operator they cost 30 DH one way, 50 DH return, valid for two weeks; no new official fare grid had been published when we checked in October 2026, so ask the driver for the price. Allow 25 to 40 minutes to reach Jemaa el-Fna, longer on the way back, since the bus first loops around the new town.
The Marrakech urban network changed operator on 14 December 2025: Supratours, a subsidiary of the national railway ONCF, replaced the Spanish company Alsa, which had run it for twenty-six years. Departures are roughly every 20 to 30 minutes, from early morning until the evening: for a late arrival, a taxi is the safer choice.
Bus 19 suits you best if you are staying in Gueliz, near the station or somewhere within walking distance of Jemaa el-Fna, with light luggage. With a big suitcase to drag through the alleys, a taxi to the gate nearest your riad saves a lot of time.
Uber and ride-hailing apps
Uber returned to Morocco on 27 November 2025, seven years after leaving, starting with Casablanca and Marrakech. The company now works only with professional drivers holding a tourist transport or VTC licence; the options offered are UberX and UberXL. The price is shown before booking, which avoids any haggling. Check in the app the pick-up point shown at the airport, which may differ from the taxi rank.
Heetch also operates in Marrakech, but it connects you with official taxis. inDrive, on the other hand, connects you with private individuals who generally hold no passenger transport licence: in the event of a police check or an accident, you are not covered. Better to avoid it.
A transfer arranged by your accommodation
Most riads and hotels offer an airport transfer, with a driver waiting for you in the hall holding a sign with your name. For a riad in the medina, this is often the best option on a first visit: the driver drops you at the nearest access point and a member of the riad's staff walks you to the door, sometimes with a handcart for the suitcases. The price is set by the property; ask for it in writing when booking and check whether it is per trip or per person.
If your flight is delayed, let the riad know: the driver usually tracks the landing time, but not always.
Summary: which option to choose
| Option | Observed price | Time to Jemaa el-Fna | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi from the desk | 100 to 160 DH by zone, plus 50% at night | 15 to 25 min | Most arrivals, day or night |
| Bus 19 | 30 DH, 50 DH return (check on board) | 25 to 40 min | Tight budget, light luggage, staying in Gueliz |
| Uber | Price shown in the app | 15 to 25 min | Knowing the price in advance |
| Riad transfer | Set by the property | 15 to 25 min, plus the walk | First visit, hard-to-find riad |
Latest known prices in October 2026, to be checked on the spot; journey times depend on traffic, which is heavier in the late afternoon.
Getting to the airport for departure
On the way back, any small taxi in the city can take you to the airport. Have the meter switched on or agree the price before getting in, and leave plenty of time: the security check at the terminal entrance, then check-in and border police take time in high season. Arrive at least two and a half hours before an international flight. Bus 19 also runs in this direction, from Jemaa el-Fna or Gueliz, but its loop makes it slower. How taxis work in town is explained in our guide to getting around Marrakech.
Further reading
Once in town, choose your base to suit your trip with our guide to where to stay in Marrakech. For your first steps in the alleys, read the Marrakech medina guide, and for the new town, where bus 19 runs, our guide to Gueliz and Hivernage.
