Casablanca airport (CMN) to Fes and beyond

The ONCF rail link between Mohammed V Airport and Casa Voyageurs station in central Casablanca is the fastest public option: trains run every 30 minutes from roughly 6 am to midnight, the journey takes about 35–45 minutes, and a ticket costs around 45 MAD (second class) or 60 MAD (first class). From Casa Voyageurs you can connect to the Al Boraq high-speed service to Kenitra, Rabat, Tangier and — via the main network — to Marrakech and Fes.

The train is clean, air-conditioned and reliable. Buy tickets at the airport station ticket windows or from the automated machines (French and Arabic interfaces). Note that Casablanca's other main station, Casa Port, handles some suburban services; most intercity connections use Casa Voyageurs.

Marrakech is roughly 240 km south of Casablanca. The fastest route is a private transfer on the A7 motorway — about 2.5 to 3 hours door-to-door, depending on traffic through Casablanca and Settat. By train, you change at Casa Voyageurs onto an ONCF intercity service to Marrakech (3–3.5 hours), then arrange a petit taxi or a pre-booked pickup from Marrakech Gare train station to your riad.

Many travellers arriving at CMN and heading to Marrakech find that a pre-booked private transfer is the smoothest option: your driver meets you at arrivals with a name board, loads your luggage and drives directly — no train connections, no taxi negotiations, no stops.

• Private transfer CMN → Marrakech: approximately 2.5–3 hours; price typically US$60–120 per car depending on vehicle class.
• Train CMN → Marrakech: change at Casa Voyageurs; total journey 4–5 hours including wait time; lowest-cost option.
• Taxi from CMN: grand taxis to Casablanca city centre are available but negotiate the fare firmly before getting in.

The Al Boraq high-speed line (TGV) connects Casablanca (Casa Voyageurs) to Kenitra, Rabat Agdal and Tangier Ville in under two hours — from Tangier the journey is 2 hours 10 minutes at speeds of up to 320 km/h. To board Al Boraq, transfer by train from the airport to Casa Voyageurs and buy your Al Boraq ticket at the station.

Fes is served by a frequent intercity ONCF train from Casa Voyageurs (about 3.5–4 hours, the most popular way for Fes-bound travellers) or by a direct private transfer from CMN (approximately 3.5–4 hours on the A2 motorway). Remember that no taxi can enter Fes el-Bali, so from Fes station you take a petit taxi or pre-booked pickup to your nearest medina gate. For Rabat, the train from Casa Voyageurs takes about 45–60 minutes.

• CMN → Rabat: train (45–60 min from Casa Voyageurs) or private transfer (60–75 min direct).
• CMN → Fes: private transfer (3.5–4 hrs) or train via Casa Voyageurs (4+ hrs).
• CMN → Tangier: Al Boraq from Casa Voyageurs (2 hrs 10 min) is the fastest and most comfortable option.

Public transport from CMN is genuinely good by regional standards. The train is clean, punctual and inexpensive. However, for travellers arriving with luggage after a long-haul flight, or heading directly to a riad inside a medina (which no car can reach), a pre-booked private transfer is the difference between an easy start and a stressful one.

A private transfer is booked with a fixed price, meets you at arrivals (no wait at a taxi rank), and takes you from the arrivals hall directly to your riad or hotel door — including the final walk-in if the medina is car-free. For groups of three or more, private transfers are often comparable in total cost to train tickets plus city taxis.

Mohammed V Airport has two terminals: Terminal 1 handles most international traffic (including European airlines); Terminal 2 is a newer facility used by some carriers. Both are connected to the rail station by a short shuttle or covered walkway. Arrivals include the standard immigration process (passport control, entry stamp), baggage reclaim and a brief customs check. Queue times at passport control can be significant during peak periods (European school holidays, Ramadan end).

• ATMs are available in the arrivals hall — withdraw dirham here rather than using the bureau de change.
• SIM cards: Maroc Telecom and Orange desks are in the arrivals area; bring your passport to register.
• Airport taxis are metered but drivers often prefer to negotiate a flat rate — insist on the meter or agree the fare clearly before getting in.
• The ONCF rail station is accessible from both terminals by a walkway; follow signs for 'Train' or 'Gare'.