The last day of a stay in Marrakech always raises the same questions: what time should you leave the riad, how long do airport checks take, what do you do with your bags between check-out and the flight, and what about the dirhams you have left? We drive travellers to Marrakech Menara airport every day, at every hour of the night and day. Here are our practical pointers for a stress-free departure, so you never have to run for the gate.
What time should you get to the airport?
For an international flight, plan to arrive 2 h 30 to 3 hours before departure. Make it three hours in high season, during European school holidays and around festivals, when the queues grow at every stage. Also bear in mind that check-in and bag drop usually close 45 minutes to an hour before take-off, sometimes earlier with low-cost airlines.
The airport is only six kilometres from the medina, but the time spent inside the terminal can easily exceed an hour and a half. That is what you need to plan for, not the drive.
What time should you leave your accommodation?
| You are staying in | Drive to the airport | Recommended departure before an international flight |
|---|---|---|
| The medina, in a riad | 15 to 25 min, plus the walk to the car | 3 h 30 before |
| Gueliz or Hivernage | 10 to 20 min | 3 h 15 before |
| The Palmeraie | 25 to 35 min | 3 h 45 before |
| The Agafay desert | 45 to 60 min | 4 h before |
| Ourika, Imlil or Ouirgane | 1 h 15 to 1 h 30 | 4 h 30 before |
| Essaouira | 2 h 45 to 3 h | 6 h before |
| Agadir or Taghazout | About 3 h | 6 h before |
In the medina, allow time to bring the bags down and walk to the point the car can reach, often with a porter. Our guide on where to stay in Marrakech explains how this works in each area.
The steps at the airport
The departure process always follows the same order:
- Security screening at the terminal entrance: every bag goes through the X-ray at the door. At peak times this is often the first queue.
- Check-in and bag drop at your airline’s desk. Terminals 1 and 2 are next to each other: check yours on your booking or on the screens.
- Passport control by the border police.
- A second security check before the departure area, with the usual rules on liquids in cabin bags.
- The departure lounge, with cafés and duty-free shops.
Luggage and souvenirs: common mistakes
- Argan oil, cosmetics and liquids over 100 ml go in the hold. Close bottles tightly and wrap them in a plastic bag.
- Tagines, ceramics and glass travel best wrapped in clothes, in the middle of the suitcase.
- Spices are best in well-sealed bags, so the whole case does not smell of them.
- Weight: many travellers discover at the desk that rugs and pottery have pushed them over their ticket’s limit. Weigh your case at the riad, which often has scales.
The dirhams you have left
The dirham cannot be exchanged outside Morocco. Spend your last coins before leaving, or change what remains at an airport exchange office. Keep the receipts from your currency exchanges during your stay: they are generally requested to change dirhams back. Also keep a few notes for the porter and perhaps a tip for the driver; our guide to tipping in Morocco explains local customs.
Departure day: make the most of it
If your flight leaves late in the day, there is no need to spend the day with your suitcases:
- Most riads keep your luggage after check-out, and some offer a late departure or a shower before you leave.
- Plan a last visit nearby: a garden, a hammam or lunch on a terrace, without crossing the whole city.
- Fix the pick-up time the day before, based on your flight time rather than your check-out time.
Very early morning flights
Many flights to Europe leave between 6 and 8 am. That means leaving the riad between 3 and 4.30 am. Tell the riad the evening before so a night porter can open the door, ask for a breakfast box, and settle your bill in the evening. At that hour petits taxis are scarce in the medina and charge the night rate: a transfer booked in advance saves you hunting for a car in the dark with your luggage.
Taxi or private transfer?
For a daytime departure from Gueliz or Hivernage, a petit taxi works perfectly well, as long as you find one quickly and agree the price if the meter is not running; our article on taxis in Marrakech explains how. From the medina, with suitcases, as a family or before dawn, a private transfer is simpler: the driver waits at the riad’s meeting point, loads the bags and drops you outside the terminal, at a fixed price. If you are leaving from another airport, see our guide Casablanca airport to Marrakech.
Book your airport transfer
Our Marrakech airport transfer runs 24 hours a day in both directions, at a fixed price per vehicle: €20 for one to three travellers, €25 in a Mercedes Vito for up to seven and €45 in a minibus for up to sixteen. From the coast, the Marrakech to Essaouira transfer and the Marrakech to Agadir transfer can drop you straight at the terminal. For arrivals, every option is in our Marrakech airport transfer guide.
