From RAK to central Marrakech
Six kilometres, four options, and one real difficulty: the medina cannot be driven through. Here is what each solution costs and which one matches your landing time.
The comparison in one table
| Option | Price | Duration | Drop-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private transfer | from €27 / vehicle | 15–30 min | Chosen medina gate, or exact address |
| Taxi | MAD 100–150 by day | 15–30 min | Whichever gate suits the driver |
| Bus 19 | MAD 30 / person | ≈ 20 min | Jemaa el-Fna only |
| Hire car | from €25 / day | 15–30 min | Car park, then on foot |
The taxi: the default choice, and a good one
Marrakech posts its fares at the airport rank, by zone. For the medina, Gueliz and Hivernage the range is MAD 100–150 by day, roughly £8–12 for the whole car, and MAD 150–240 after dark. The price covers the ride, not each passenger.
The rule that avoids 90 % of trouble: name your gate, cite the board, confirm the amount, then open the boot. If the driver refuses, the next one will agree.
Mind the vehicle size: the beige petit taxi is capped at three passengers. With four people and suitcases you will be offered two cars — ask for a grand taxi instead, or pay double.
The booked transfer: when it becomes cheaper
At €27 per vehicle for up to seven passengers, a transfer is of no interest to two people landing at 2 pm. It is of great interest in three cases: at night, when the taxi climbs to MAD 150–240; from four passengers, when two petits taxis cost more; and for a hard-to-place riad, where the driver will stop at whichever gate suits him rather than the nearest one.
Add flight tracking, waiting time included if you are delayed, and the option of child seats, which taxis practically never carry.
Bus 19: unbeatable, with conditions
ALSA's line 19 links the airport to Jemaa el-Fna for MAD 30 one way, MAD 50 return valid for a fortnight, with a departure roughly every thirty minutes between 6 am and 11.30 pm. The stop is outside the terminal and the ride takes about twenty minutes.
It works perfectly for two people, by day, with a bag you can carry. It becomes painful with two suitcases, a child, or after 10 pm — and it serves only the square, not your accommodation.
The last hundred metres
Whichever option you take, the medina finishes on foot: the derbs are too narrow and several entrances are closed to traffic. Depending on your area you will be dropped at Bab Doukkala, Bab Laksour, Bab Agnaou or Bab el Khemis, three to ten minutes' walk away.
To your riad: "Which gate should I give the driver?" and "Can you send a porter at this time?" Those two answers turn a tricky night arrival into a formality.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a taxi from Marrakech Airport to the centre?
MAD 100–150 by day to the medina, Gueliz and Hivernage, and MAD 150–240 at night, for the whole car rather than per passenger. Fares are posted on a board at the taxi rank.
Does bus 19 run at night in Marrakech?
No, the last departure is around 11.30 pm. Since many low-cost flights land after that, it is often unusable on arrival: plan a taxi or a transfer.
How long is the trip from the airport to Jemaa el-Fna?
Fifteen to thirty minutes by car depending on traffic, for six kilometres, and about twenty minutes on bus 19 including stops. Late afternoons and Ramadan lengthen the journey noticeably.
Can a taxi drop me at my riad?
No, the medina is not accessible by car. The driver stops at the nearest gate — Bab Doukkala, Bab Laksour, Bab Agnaou or Bab el Khemis — and you finish on foot, usually in three to ten minutes.
The journey settled before you land
Fixed price per vehicle, a driver tracking your flight, drop-off at the medina gate nearest your riad.
Book a transfer