How to get around Marrakech

Marrakech is not a large city, so it is not difficult for a tourist to learn how to get around its streets. It also has several means of transport that connect the different parts of the city quite well: bus, taxi, carriages, private transfers...

In this post we go over all the transport options available to you so you can learn how to get around while you enjoy all the things to see and do in Marrakech. Let's get started!

The best way to get around Marrakech, especially if you want to see the Medina, is to take a long walk through its winding, narrow, ancient streets and charming squares. There's no other way! Traffic is not allowed inside the Medina. Only bicycles, carts and motorbikes are allowed inside the Medina and they drive at high speed, so you should be careful when sightseeing in the centre as they could collide with you.

When you visit the Medina of Marrakech, remember to follow a few traffic rules to make the most of your visit.

• Always keep to the right.
• Give way to two-wheeled vehicles.
• Whenever you hear someone exclaiming balak (be careful) in the background, it is best to move to the side and give way to them.

Exploring the Medina of Marrakesh on foot is a marvel. Part of its charm lies in getting lost in its labyrinth of streets. If you were to drive through the Medina, the experience would lose its magic. Entering the Medina on foot is like taking an exciting journey back in time to the origins of the city, where there are always surprising and fascinating little treasures to see, such as the souks, riads and mosques along the way.

Taxis are another of the best ways to get around Marrakesh. You'll find them on the streets, in the tourist areas and at the airport. Compared to the service offered in some European cities, Marrakesh taxis are cheaper.

There are two types of taxis in the city. Both have the same light brown colouring but differ in size, type of car and the route they can take.

• Petit taxi: Small taxis are used to travel only within Marrakesh. They have a taximeter, although some drivers may forget to turn it on, so you will have to ask for it before starting.
• Grand Taxi: Large taxis are used to travel outside the city, connecting it to other cities or to some of the sights outside the city, such as the Marrakech Palm Grove or the Majorelle Gardens. They are not metered, so you'll have to haggle over the price of the fare with the driver and come to an agreement.

In Marrakesh you will also find some unofficial taxis that will take you from the airport. You'll recognise them because they don't have a taximeter or an official identification plate. This is not the most advisable option because it may not have the corresponding guarantees and it is not safe, but if you decide to use it, remember to negotiate before starting the price so that you don't have any problems later.

Compared to the aforementioned options, the bus is not the most popular way for tourists to get around Marrakesh (although it is a cheap option) as the journey is not very comfortable. For example, city vehicles are not very modern and are often overcrowded. Also, apart from the stops at the most touristy places, others are not so well identified, so it's easy to get lost in the city if you don't know it well.

There are about 30 bus lines in Marrakech and most of them are located around Jamaa el-Fna Square. As a guide, line 1 runs to the Gueliz quarter from the Kasbah, lines 8 and 10 operate between Jamaa el Fna and the train station and line 12 operates between the Jardin Majorelle and the Bab Doukkala bus station.

Bus schedules for getting around Marrakesh begin at around 6am and end at 10pm. The frequency of most routes is 15 to 20 minutes.

A fun way to get around Marrakech is to take the tourist bus, as it allows you to explore the highlights of the city in a very short time by taking either of the two routes that exist (Historical Tour and Palm Grove Tour) while you travel comfortably seated.

Moreover, unlike city buses where you buy a ticket for a single journey, the tourist bus is governed by the Hop-on Hop-off system where you pay for days of use and you can get on and off as many times as you like at the stops along the route. This is very practical because if you're visiting Marrakech for the first time, you can explore it at your own pace and design your own route to suit you.

Both routes of the tourist bus last approximately 1 hour and start at the Tourist Office bus stop.

The operating hours are as follows:

• Historical Tour: 9 AM to 7 PM (winter) and 8:30 PM (summer).
• Palm Grove Tour: From 10 AM to 5 PM (winter and summer).

In front of the big hotels in Marrakesh and in Foucauld Square, next to Jamaa el Fna Square, you will find beautiful green horse-drawn carriages that you can ride in for a ride around the city centre if you feel like discovering the city in a romantic way.

You can do several circuits. For example, the circuit around the city walls usually takes about 90 minutes and the one around the Palm Grove takes about 3 hours. These carriages do not have a taximeter, so you will have to haggle with the driver about the price depending on the route and the length of the trip.

Many tourists choose this option to get around Marrakech in an original way, so if you want to get a ride at a good price, I recommend avoiding rush hours (8 AM, 12 PM, 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM).

Another option for getting around Marrakesh is to rent a vehicle to drive yourself. In the case of a car or motorbike, to drive in Morocco you will need to have an international driving licence for the duration of the licence's validity period. However, this period cannot exceed one year.

This is a good option if you're travelling to Marrakech as a couple or in a group, as you can split the transport costs and it's cheaper overall. In addition, renting a car will give you more freedom to explore the city and other parts of the country, visiting landscapes and charming villages. To find out which rental agency is best for you, I recommend using a website where you can compare options such as Rentalcars.com or Auto Europe.

As for bicycles, they are the best option along with motorbikes if you want to visit areas such as the Medina and the Kasbah without getting too tired walking. You can rent bikes from shops in the city such as Atlas Sport or Pikala Bikes. And to rent motorbikes you can check the website Rentalmotorbike.com or Riderly.

If you are visiting Marrakech for the first time, another way to get around the city is to book a private transfer between the airport and your accommodation to take you to your destination in a comfortable, fast and safe way.

Private transfers are a great option that I recommend you try. By hiring this service, a professional driver will pick you up on arrival at Menara airport, help you with your luggage and take you to the door of your hotel without delay. With a fixed price and knowing in advance what it will cost you. No surprises, no eternal haggling.

Another advantage of the transfers to move around Marrakech is that you will travel in modern vehicles equipped with all the comforts and you will make a quiet trip accompanied by a driver who knows Marrakech perfectly and with whom you will be able to understand in Spanish, French or English to ask for any recommendation. This is fantastic, as Arabic is the predominant language in Morocco, so there will be no language barrier.