Mohammed V airport is about thirty kilometres from central Casablanca. There are three ways to cover the distance: the train, which leaves from beneath the terminal and reaches the centre in 35 to 45 minutes; a grand taxi, available at the exit at a posted fare; or a booked transfer, with a driver waiting for you in the arrivals hall. The right choice mainly depends on your arrival time, your luggage and exactly where you are staying. Here is how to decide, with no unpleasant surprises.
The short answer
| Situation | Our advice |
|---|---|
| You travel light and are staying near a station | The train |
| You land late in the evening or at night | Taxi or booked transfer |
| There are three or more of you, with suitcases | Booked transfer |
| You are staying in Ain Diab, Anfa or Sidi Maarouf | Taxi or transfer; the train does not bring you closer |
| You are going straight on to Marrakech or Rabat | Direct transfer, without going through the centre |
The train
This is the cheapest option and the most predictable at rush hour, since it avoids the traffic jams. The station is beneath the terminal: follow the signs after baggage reclaim. Trains usually run every hour from early morning until late evening, calling at Casa-Voyageurs and then Casa-Port, the downtown station near the harbour and the old medina.
The train’s limits:
- It does not run all night. If your flight lands late, check the time of the last train on the ONCF website before you travel.
- It does not take you to your hotel. From the station you still need a petit taxi or the tram, with your luggage.
- The wait can be long: if you just miss a train, expect nearly an hour until the next one.
For a solo traveller with one bag, in the daytime, it is a very good solution.
The grand taxi
Outside the terminal, white grand taxis wait for passengers. Official fares to the main districts are usually posted near the taxi rank, and prices go up at night. A few habits help:
- Ask the price before loading your bags, and check that it matches the posted fare.
- Have dirhams: withdraw cash at the terminal before you go outside, as cards are almost never accepted.
- Ignore touts who approach you in the hall offering “a cheaper taxi”: go straight to the rank.
The taxi is practical and available at any hour. Its only real drawback is the negotiation on arrival, when you are tired and loaded with bags.
A booked transfer
Your driver tracks your flight, waits in the hall with a sign bearing your name, carries your luggage and drops you outside your hotel. The price is fixed when you book, for the whole vehicle:
- Premium SUV, up to 3 people: €35.
- Mercedes Vito, up to 7 people: €45.
- Mercedes Sprinter, 8 to 16 people: €70.
The Casablanca airport transfer is especially worthwhile at night, for families and groups, or if your flight might be delayed: waiting time is included, and nobody has to haggle over anything at midnight.
How much time should you allow?
Without traffic, 35 to 50 minutes is enough to reach the centre by car. But Casablanca is the most congested city in Morocco: between 8 and 9.30 am, and again between 5 and 7.30 pm, the journey can take more than an hour, especially towards Ain Diab and the corniche. If you have a meeting or a train to catch, leave some margin.
For the trip back to the airport, the rule we follow: leave the centre at least three hours before an international flight, three and a half at rush hour.
Arriving at night
Many European flights land late in Casablanca. At that hour the train has stopped, the terminal cash machines can be busy, and the taxi queue may be long after several planes arrive together. This is when a booked transfer really changes your evening. If you prefer a taxi, keep your hotel address written in French, and in Arabic if possible, close at hand.
What if you are not staying in Casablanca?
That applies to many travellers: Mohammed V is the country’s main international airport, and lots of people land there on their way to Marrakech, Rabat or El Jadida. In that case there is no need to go through the city centre. The direct Casablanca airport to Marrakech transfer takes about three hours on the motorway, and our article on getting from Casablanca airport to Marrakech compares the train, the bus and the car for that journey.
If you spend a day in Casablanca
- The Hassan II Mosque can be visited with a guide at set times, outside prayer hours; it is one of the few mosques in the country open to non-Muslims. Its illuminated facade in the evening is worth seeing too.
- The Ain Diab corniche, for a walk by the ocean at sunset.
- The city centre and its Art Deco buildings, around Boulevard Mohammed V and the central market.
- The Habous quarter, for a calmer and more recent medina than the one in Marrakech.
For an overview of transport in Morocco, our guide to private tourist transport explains when to choose the train, a taxi or a driver.
In short
- Train: cheap and reliable by day, but not at night and not to your hotel door.
- Taxi: available at any hour, posted fares, dirhams essential.
- Booked transfer: the simplest option at night, for families or groups.
- Allow an hour or more at rush hour.
