Marrakech and Casablanca are Morocco’s two most visited cities, and many travellers make the journey at least once: for a flight out of Casablanca, to see the Hassan II Mosque, or to carry on to Rabat, Fes and the north. The two cities are about 240 kilometres apart, linked by a motorway and a railway line. Train, bus, hire car or private driver: here are the options, with real door-to-door times and our advice on choosing.
Option 1: the train
This is the most popular choice among independent travellers.
- The route: from Marrakech station, in the Gueliz district, to Casa Voyageurs, Casablanca’s main station. Some trains continue to Rabat and Fes.
- Journey time: about 2 h 40 station to station, with regular departures through the day.
- Classes: in first class your seat is reserved and there is more room; in second class you sit wherever there is space, which can be tight on busy days.
- Tickets: at the counter, from machines at the station or on the app of ONCF, the national rail company.
The real door-to-door time: adding the taxi to Marrakech station, the wait and the trip from Casa Voyageurs to your hotel, allow three and a half to four hours.
The high-speed line, which already links Tangier to Casablanca, is being extended to Marrakech, but the works will not be finished for several years. For now, it is the conventional train.
Option 2: the bus
CTM and Supratours run several departures a day.
- Journey time: three and a half to four hours, depending on the number of stops.
- The advantages: a low price, reserved seats, luggage in the hold.
- The limits: bus stations are often on the edge of town, which adds a taxi at each end.
Our guide to CTM and Supratours buses explains how they work and how to book.
Option 3: a hire car
The A7 motorway is fast and in good condition, with tolls and service areas. The drive itself is easy. The real challenge is Casablanca: heavy traffic, busy roundabouts and little parking in the centre. If you only keep the car for this journey, hiring often ends up more expensive and more tiring than a transfer. Our comparison hire a car or take a driver helps you decide.
Option 4: the private transfer
The driver picks you up at your riad or hotel in Marrakech and drops you at your address in Casablanca, or straight at the Mohammed V airport terminal.
- Journey time: 2 h 45 to 3 h 15 door to door, depending on traffic entering Casablanca.
- Luggage: no reasonable limit, which matters at the end of a trip, when the suitcases have filled up.
- Flexibility: you leave when it suits you, with a coffee stop on the way if you like.
| Train | Bus | Hire car | Private transfer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Door to door | 3 h 30 to 4 h | 4 to 5 h | About 3 h, plus parking | 2 h 45 to 3 h 15 |
| Changes | Taxis at both ends | Taxis at both ends | None | None |
| Luggage | In the carriage | In the hold | In the boot | No problem |
| Best for | Solo travellers | Tight budgets | A full road trip | Families, groups, flights to catch |
Catching a flight from Casablanca?
This is the most common case, and the one where the choice matters most. The train to the airport means changing in Casablanca, then taking the rail shuttle to the terminal; a delay or a missed connection can cost you the flight. With a private transfer, the driver takes you straight to the terminal, and the departure time is worked out from your flight, with a margin.
Our article Casablanca airport to Marrakech covers the journey the other way, on arrival.
What to see in Casablanca in a few hours
If you have half a day, do not miss the Hassan II Mosque, built partly over the ocean, one of the few mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslims, with guided tours at set times. Add a walk along the Ain Diab corniche, then a look around the city centre, its Art Deco buildings and the Habous quarter. To get into the centre from the airport, see our guide Casablanca airport to the city centre.
A good compromise for travellers with an evening flight: leave Marrakech in the morning, visit the Hassan II Mosque in the early afternoon, then head to the airport, all with the same driver and your luggage in the vehicle.
When to travel
The journey works all year round. If you can, avoid Friday afternoons and the eves of public holidays, when the approach to Casablanca is very busy, and the days before Eid, when trains and buses are full. Our southern Morocco driving distances give journey times to other cities.
Booking
Our Casablanca airport to Marrakech transfer runs in both directions, at a fixed price per vehicle: from €120 for one to three travellers, €140 in a Mercedes Vito for up to seven and €200 in a minibus for up to sixteen. A journey to central Casablanca is priced on the same basis. If you are already in Casablanca, our Casablanca airport transfer links the terminal with your hotel in the city.
