World City Guide

Getting Around

Public Transport
The national coach company CTM (tel: (044) 448 328; website: www.ctm.co.ma ) is the main provider of urban bus services within Marrakech. All bus serivces leave from Marrakech’s central bus station, Place El Mouarabitène, just outside Bab Doukkala on the northwestern edge of the old city. There are also many private lines that operate throughout the city from the central bus station. CTM services are reliable and operate from early morning until late at night (around 0500–2200), with night buses running on the more popular routes. However, buses can be very crowded at peak hours (0800–0900 and 1630–1800). Single fares are paid to the driver and cost no more than Dh3 for journeys within the city. Bus 1 plies the route between Guéliz and Jemaa-el-Fna.

Grand Taxis, Petit Taxis and Calèches
Quicker than the buses, grand taxis are old Mercedes cars that carry up to six people for a fixed fare. Generally keeping to specific routes, the taxis leave, when full, from the bus station, from Jemaa-el-Fna and from the Post Office in Guéliz. Most routes within the city cost around Dh5.

Petit taxis are basically standard taxis – small hatchback cars, normally blue Fiat Unos, which can be hailed around the city. Prices are best agreed before the journey is embarked on. The average price for trips within the city is around Dh10–15, rising to Dh15–20 at night. It is not customary to tip, although foreign visitors often do. Petit taxis are ubiquitous on Marrakech’s streets so there should be no need to telephone one. Hotels can arrange pick-ups if necessary.

In addition, the calèche is a horse-drawn carriage carrying up to five people. Again, prices should be agreed in advance. For five people this should not cost much more than a petit taxi. Calèches line up in the garden square between the Koutoubia Mosque and Jemaa-el-Fna, El Badi Palace and the more expensive hotels. For specified trips, grand taxis and calèches are required by law to display prices. All three can be hired for tours of the city. Grand taxis and petit taxis can also be hired for day trips outside the city.

Limousines
Limousines can be hired from Travel Link, 19 Rue Mauritania, Guéliz (tel: (044) 448 797; fax: (044) 448 839). Rates are Dh2000–2800 (dependent on the type of limo) for an eight-hour tour for two people.

Driving in the City
Many of the roads in the Marrakech medina are simply too narrow for cars and only small cars can negotiate the rest. It is advisable to park the car and use taxis while in the city. Furthermore, accident rates are very high, especially around the medina, where people and cyclists are apt to pull out suddenly in front of the traffic. After dark, the dangers increase since it is legal to drive cars and ride bicycles without lights at up to 20kph (12mph). Parking in Guéliz can be found at any of the big hotels or off the Avenue Mohammed V. In the medina, security-patrolled spaces are available at Jemaa-el-Fna outside the Foucauld Hôtel and in the car park beside the CTM Hôtel.

Car Hire
The major car hire companies can almost all be found at the airport and in Guéliz in the area around Place Abdel Moumen ben Ali, which links Avenue Mohammed V with Boulevard Mohammed Zerktouni. These include: Avis, 137 Avenue Mohammed V (tel: (044) 433 727 or 3169 (airport office); website: www.avis.com ); Budget, Boulevard Zerktouni (tel: (044) 431 180 or 438 875 (airport office) or 440 720 (La Mamounia Hotel office); website: www.budgetrentacar.com ), Europcar, 63 Boulevard Zerktouni (tel: (044) 431 228; website: www.europcar.com ); and Hertz, 154 Avenue Mohammed V (tel: (044) 431 394 or 447 230 (airport office); fax: (044) 439 983; website: www.hertz.com ).

Hire fees are subject to 20% government tax; visitors should make sure that this has been added to the agreed price. Rates start at around Dh600 per day for a four-door saloon. Although smaller local companies can undercut this by up to a half, this is often reflected in the condition of the cars. However, one more reputable outfit is Concorde Cars, 154 Avenue Mohammed V (tel: (044) 439 973). Drivers must be over 21 years of age to hire a car and be in possession of a full national driving licence. Most European driving licenses are acknowledged in Morocco, however, an International Driving Permit is recommended. Third-party insurance is automatically included when renting a car.

Bicycle & Scooter Hire
A popular alternative to the car is the bicycle or moped. Both can be rented from Hassan Location, 51 Rue de la Recette (tel: (044) 442 493), and Marrakech Motos, 31 Route de Casablanca (tel: (044) 448 359). Moped hire comes in at around Dh200 per day. For bicycles, prices start at around Dh60 per day or Dh10 per hour. Bicycle traffic travels at quite a sedate speed in Marrakech but it is sensible to test the brakes and tyres before hiring a bike. Bicycles can also be hired from Hotel Central Palace, 59 Derb Sidi Bouloukat (tel: (044) 440 235), just off Jemaa-el-Fna, as well as from a number of small operators around Place 16 Novembre in Guéliz.