Marrakech Menara Airport

Marrakech Menara Airport at a glance

Marrakech Menara Airport (IATA code RAK, ICAO code GMMX) is Morocco's second airport after Casablanca Mohammed V. It handled more than 9.3 million passengers in 2024, driven by a dense network of direct flights to Europe. Run by the Office National des Aéroports (ONDA), it is the gateway to Marrakech, the High Atlas, the Ourika valley, the Agafay desert and the Essaouira coast.

What sets it apart: Marrakech airport sits just 6 km from the city centre and Jemaa el-Fna square. The drive takes 15 to 30 minutes depending on the time of day. The real challenge is not the distance but the last few metres: no car enters the medina, so you need to know which gate to be dropped at.

To avoid mixing up the RAK and GMMX codes, read our article on the Marrakech airport code. For the history and technical data of the airport, see the Wikipedia page on Marrakesh Menara Airport.

Where is the airport?

The airport lies south-west of the city, in the Menara district, next to the famous gardens that give it its name. It sits at 471 metres above sea level with a single 3,100-metre runway. From the terminal you reach Gueliz and Hivernage in minutes, and the medina gates — Bab Jdid, Bab Laksour, Bab Doukkala or Bab Agnaou — in about a quarter of an hour.

Terminal 1 and Terminal 2

The airport runs two adjoining terminals, T1 and T2, linked on foot. T1, recognisable by its large white geometric façade, handles most international flights; T2 takes the rest of the traffic and part of the domestic flights. The split changes with airline and season, so always check your boarding pass. See our full airport guide for layout, formalities and waiting times.

Arrivals and departures

Flights are tracked live on our arrivals and departures pages. Worth knowing: the airport concentrates many of its arrivals in the evening, between 8 pm and midnight, when European low-cost flights land in quick succession. On arrival, allow 30 to 60 minutes from the aircraft to the exit; on departure, arrive 2 hours before a flight to Europe, 3 hours in high season, as passport control is the main bottleneck.

How to get from Marrakech airport to the city centre

There is no train to the airport. You have four options:

Airport taxis charge fares posted on a board at the rank: MAD 100 to 150 by day to the medina, Gueliz and Hivernage, MAD 150 to 240 at night. A petit taxi takes only three passengers. From four people, or after 9 pm, a booked transfer is often cheaper and simpler. Full details on our airport transfers page, and a step-by-step walkthrough in our guide from RAK airport to the city centre.

Facilities in the terminal

• ATMs and bureaux de change in the arrivals hall: dirhams cannot be bought outside Morocco, so withdraw before you leave.
• SIM cards from Maroc Telecom, Orange and inwi in the arrivals hall, or an eSIM to activate before you fly.
• Free wi-fi, left luggage, cafés and duty-free shops.
• VIP lounges available on a pay-per-use basis airside.
• Car hire desks in the arrivals hall.

More on our airport services page.

Parking at the airport

Airport car parks sit in front of the terminals. Drop-offs under 30 minutes are free or nominal, an hour costs about MAD 20 and a day MAD 70 to 80. For a week, expect MAD 450 to 550: beyond three or four days, a return trip by taxi or transfer often works out cheaper. See the parking rates.

Hiring a car on site

International and Moroccan hire companies have desks in the arrivals hall. A small car costs €25 to €35 a day, with a MAD 5,000 to 15,000 deposit held on a credit card. A car is only useful for leaving Marrakech: the Atlas, Ourika, Essaouira or Ouarzazate. Our car hire page covers the contract traps.

Where to stay near the airport

Thanks to its location, the airport is 10 minutes from the large Hivernage hotels and 20 minutes from the medina riads. For a late arrival or a very early flight, a Hivernage hotel saves crossing the city. See our selection of where to stay in Marrakech.