How Do You Get Around Morocco?

Getting Around the Country

Morocco is a large and wonderfully varied country, and travelling efficiently between its cities, mountains, coast, and the remote desert is genuinely key to making the most of any trip. The best way to get around depends on your budget, your schedule, and the kind of experience you are after, and thankfully there are several good options to choose from.

At Desert Exploration Trips, we are very often asked about the best ways to travel around the country, and especially about the most comfortable way of reaching the remote Sahara desert far to the south. Each mode of transport has its own particular strengths and drawbacks. From modern trains and comfortable coaches to taxis, car hire, and fully private tours, understanding the choices helps you plan a smooth journey. In this guide we explore exactly how to get around Morocco and which options suit different kinds of travelers, from the modern trains and comfortable coaches to taxis, car hire, and the comfort of a fully private tour. Our 3-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fes take all the stress and hassle out of travelling around the whole country.

Travelling by Train

Morocco has a good rail network linking many of its major cities, and the train is frequently the most comfortable and efficient way to travel between them. The network connects cities such as Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Fes, and Marrakech, and the sleek high-speed line between Tangier and Casablanca has made journeys along that busy corridor remarkably quick.

The trains are generally clean, reliable, comfortable, and reasonably priced, with both first-class and second-class options available to suit different budgets on the longer journeys between cities. For travel between the main northern and central cities, the train is a genuinely excellent and relaxing choice, letting you watch the countryside roll gently by in comfort while someone else does all the driving. It does not, however, reach the desert, the mountains, or many smaller destinations, so it cannot cover every leg of a trip. It is ideal for the main city routes. It is, all in all, a genuinely pleasant and civilized way to travel between the main cities, comfortable and reliable and leaving you free to relax and enjoy the passing scenery. Our Explore All Morocco Tours combine the very best of Morocco’s great cities, the desert, and beyond.

Buses and Coaches

For destinations the trains do not serve, or for travelers on a tighter budget, buses are a widespread and affordable option. Several reputable national coach companies operate comfortable, air-conditioned services connecting towns and cities right across the country, reaching many smaller places that the railway simply cannot and forming a useful backbone for independent travel.

These main national coach operators are reliable, comfortable, and genuinely popular with both locals and foreign visitors alike, forming a dependable backbone for budget travel across the country. The journeys can be long, however, and the schedules a little less flexible than other options. For adventurous, budget-conscious travelers with time to spare, buses open up much of the country affordably. They reach far more places than the trains do. They are an economical and dependable way to cover long distances, and for adventurous travelers with a little time to spare they open up a great deal of the country very affordably indeed. Our 7-Day Tour from Tangier to Marrakech reveal the diverse regions of Morocco.

Taxis: Petit and Grand

Taxis are a common and useful way to get around Morocco, and they come in two distinct types. The small, colour-coded petit taxis operate within the cities for short local hops, and it is always wise to agree a fare or insist on the meter before you set off, keeping things clear and fair from the start.

The larger grand taxis, usually older Mercedes saloons, run between towns and on longer routes, often shared among several passengers to keep costs down, though they can also be hired privately. Taxis are flexible and convenient for filling the gaps, but agreeing the price in advance is important to avoid misunderstandings. They are very much part of the local experience. They reach where other transport leaves off. Our Morocco Tours from Tangier let you explore Morocco with ease and comfort.

Hiring a Car

For travelers who particularly prize their independence, hiring a car allows you to explore Morocco entirely at your own pace and reach off-the-beaten-track corners that public transport never quite manages to touch. The main roads are generally good, and driving grants the freedom to stop wherever you please and discover places that public transport never reaches along the way.

Driving in Morocco is not, however, for everyone. City traffic can be chaotic, mountain roads narrow and demanding, and local driving styles unfamiliar, while the long drive to the desert is tiring to do yourself. For confident, experienced drivers it can be rewarding, but many travelers happily prefer to leave the driving to someone else, especially on the long desert routes. It requires care and confidence. It suits the independent-minded. Our 3-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fes let you enjoy the scenery without the stress of driving.

The Comfort of a Private Tour

For a great many travelers, especially those heading to the desert, the most comfortable and rewarding way to get around Morocco is with a private tour and a dedicated driver. This removes all the stress of navigating, driving, and arranging transport, leaving you free to relax and enjoy the ever-changing scenery, which matters enormously on the long desert roads.

A private tour offers a flexible, tailored itinerary, the freedom to stop at will, and the invaluable local knowledge of an experienced driver-guide. It is especially ideal for reaching the Sahara and the mountains, where distances are long and public transport limited. It combines comfort, flexibility, and peace of mind. It is the easiest way to see the whole country. Our Explore All Morocco Tours offer the comfort and freedom of a private tour.

Travel Morocco with Desert Exploration Trips

So how do you get around Morocco? The train is excellent for travel between the main northern and central cities, buses are affordable and reach more places, taxis are flexible for local and intercity hops, and hiring a car offers independence for confident drivers. For comfort, flexibility, and above all reaching the remote desert and mountains with ease, however, a private tour with a dedicated driver is very often the most rewarding choice of all.

The team at Desert Exploration Trips specializes in private tours with comfortable transport and expert driver-guides, taking the stress out of travel so you can focus entirely on enjoying Morocco and its desert. To explore the whole country in genuine comfort, and above all to reach the remote desert with ease, get in touch with our friendly team using the button below. Our 7-Day Tour from Tangier to Marrakech are your gateway to genuinely effortless and comfortable private travel right across the whole of Morocco.

Frequently Asked Questions