In short: which to choose
- Petit taxi: the best choice for most trips in town, as long as you insist on the meter.
- City bus: the cheapest, useful for the station, Guéliz or the airport (line 19), but the network is being overhauled.
- Carriage: for a ride, not for getting around. The price is fixed before boarding, for the whole carriage.
The petit taxi: the most practical
Petits taxis are beige, carry three passengers at most and do not leave the urban area. You hail them in the street or pick them up at ranks near the medina gates, the Koutoubia and the station. The meter is compulsory; at night, a legal surcharge of about 50% applies. A trip between two central districts costs, on the meter, a few dozen dirhams at most.
Points to remember:
- ask "the meter, please" before getting in; if refused, let the car go, there are others;
- if you accept a flat fare, agree the price before setting off, for the whole ride;
- pay with small change; change for a large note is often short;
- the driver may pick up another customer on the way: each pays for their own ride;
- a "quick" stop at a friend's herbalist or carpet shop is a commission: refuse.
Ride-hailing apps are an alternative when the meter is refused: Uber returned to Marrakech in November 2025, with the price shown before the ride.
The city bus: cheap, with limits
Since December 2025, Marrakech's buses have been run by Supratours. The ticket is very cheap, but line numbers and routes are still changing: ask the driver before boarding, and keep exact change. Line 19 links the airport to Guéliz, the station and Jemaa el-Fna (details in our airport to city centre guide).
The bus suits a simple trip between a known stop and the station; it is less practical for a sightseeing route with several stops, as it does not serve the medina's alleys. At rush hour it is packed: watch your pockets and bag.
The carriage: a ride, not transport
The green carriages wait along Place Foucauld, near Jemaa el-Fna, and in front of the Koutoubia. They suit a ride around the ramparts or to the Menara. No fare is reliably displayed: before boarding, fix the duration, route and price for the whole carriage, and pay only on arrival. Refuse "tours" that stop at a shop.
Look at the horses: a thin, lame or injured animal is a good reason to pick another carriage or to give up.
Which option for which trip
| Trip | Best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Jemaa el-Fna → Guéliz or Majorelle | Petit taxi | Fast, on the meter |
| Jemaa el-Fna → station | Petit taxi or bus | A few minutes, little luggage on the bus |
| Airport → centre | Bus 19, taxi or Uber | See the airport guide |
| Medina, between two monuments | On foot | Alleys closed to cars |
| Ramparts, evening | Carriage | A ride, price fixed beforehand |
| Palmeraie, excursion | Grand taxi or transfer | Outside the petit taxis' area |
When walking is simpler
In the medina, walking is often the quickest way: most monuments are less than half an hour's walk from each other. In summer, avoid walking between noon and 4pm. To get your bearings, our tourist map of Marrakech describes the zones.
Common pitfalls
The "tourist price", the detour to a shop and the fake guide who "knows a taxi" are the three scenarios that keep coming up. Our article on scams to avoid in Marrakech details them, and the one on the travel budget helps you plan your rides.
