Train or bus in Morocco: how to travel between Moroccan cities

Train or bus in Morocco? The ONCF train is the best choice between Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Fez, Meknes, Marrakech and Oujda: Al Boraq links Tangier and Casablanca in 2 h 10 min. Agadir, Essaouira, Chefchaouen, Ouarzazate and Merzouga have no railway. For those, a CTM or Supratours bus takes over, preferably by day.

The two work well together: a train ticket to Marrakech, then a Supratours coach leaving from the station. This guide covers the lines, how to buy your tickets, journey times on the main routes and the safety rules for the road.

The ONCF network: where trains go in Morocco

The national railway company, the Office national des chemins de fer (ONCF), runs a network shaped like a large T. A north-south line links Tangier to Marrakech via Kenitra, Rabat and Casablanca. An east-west line runs from Casablanca and Rabat to Meknes, Fez, Taourirt and Oujda, with a branch to Nador. Other branches serve El Jadida, Safi, Oued Zem and Casablanca airport, according to Rough Guides.

There are three kinds of train:

• Al Boraq, the high-speed train, running since 2018 between Tangier, Kenitra, Rabat and Casablanca. It reaches 320 km/h, but it goes neither to Marrakech nor to Fez.
• Al Atlas, the classic fast trains, which link Casablanca to Marrakech, Fez, Meknes or Oujda. Every ticket includes a reserved seat.
• TNR shuttles, local trains, for example between Rabat and Casablanca or to Mohammed V airport.

Cities without a train

Agadir, Essaouira, Chefchaouen, Tetouan, Ouarzazate, Merzouga and the whole south have no rail connection. You get there by bus, grand taxi or car.

A high-speed line between Kenitra and Marrakech is under construction. According to Hespress, it was about 30% complete in May 2026, with opening planned for late 2029. The minister then expects Tangier to Marrakech in about 3 h 30 min.

Al Boraq: Tangier, Rabat and Casablanca at high speed

Al Boraq leaves from Tanger Ville and stops at Kenitra, Rabat Agdal and Casa Voyageurs. The rail guide Seat61 lists roughly one departure an hour from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., then a train at 9 p.m. Allow 1 h 20 min to Rabat and 2 h 10 min to Casablanca. During holidays, ONCF keeps an hourly service until 9 p.m. and sometimes adds a 10 p.m. train.

Fares vary with the purchase date and how full the train is. For Tangier to Casablanca, Seat61 quotes 99 to 224 dirhams in second class and 129 to 292 dirhams in first. The guide L'Itinéraire (July 2026) gives slightly higher ranges. The key point: a ticket bought early costs much less, so check the fare when you book.

Taking the train to Marrakech, Fez, Meknes and Oujda

Casablanca and Marrakech

This is the route travelers use most. Al Atlas trains take 2 h 40 min to 3 h 30 min depending on the departure, according to the blog Andy B Travels (December 2025). L'Itinéraire quotes a ticket of about 90 to 160 dirhams in second class. Work on the future high-speed line can make the trip longer, so check the schedule on the day.

Tangier, Fez and Meknes

From Tangier, the fastest option is Al Boraq to Kenitra, then an Al Atlas train. Seat61 counts about 2 h 40 min to Meknes and 3 h 25 min to Fez that way. A few direct trains use the old line: about 3 h 40 min to Meknes and 4 h 15 min to Fez. Between Casablanca and Fez, L'Itinéraire quotes 110 to 190 dirhams in second class.

Tangier and Marrakech, by day or by night

By day, you change in Casablanca: about 5 h 15 min in total, according to Seat61. A night train also links the two cities, with seats and four-berth first-class couchettes. Seat61 listed a departure from Tangier at 11:25 p.m. and an arrival in Marrakech around 9 a.m. Couchettes cannot be booked online: you have to go to the ticket office with your passport.

Oujda and the Oriental region

Oujda and Nador sit at the end of the east-west line, beyond Fez and Taourirt. The trip from Casablanca takes a good part of the day. Check the exact time on the ONCF website, as it depends on the train you choose.

Buying an ONCF train ticket

There are four ways to buy a ticket, according to ONCF as quoted by Maroc.ma:

1. the oncf-voyages.ma website;
2. the ONCF Voyages mobile app;
3. ticket offices and ticket machines in stations;
4. partner outlets Cash Plus, Barid Cash and Tasshilat.

Booking opens three months before departure, according to Seat61. The website usually accepts Visa and Mastercard cards with 3-D Secure verification. If the payment fails, try another card or buy at the ticket office. ONCF customer service answers on 2255.

There are two classes. First class gives you more space and fewer people. On Al Atlas trains, Seat61 notes there is often only one first-class car, and it can sell out. Children under 4 travel free and children aged 4 to 10 pay half fare.

As for luggage, L'Itinéraire says ONCF sets no weight limit. The real constraint is space on the luggage racks, especially in second class on busy days.

The CTM bus: the national bus company

For cities without a station, the CTM bus is the benchmark. CTM offers three service levels: Premium, Confort Plus and Confort. Seats are numbered and departure times are fixed. The bus only stops at official stops, according to Rough Guides.

You book on the CTM website, which promises an online purchase “in 2 minutes”. The company also advertises 10% off a round trip. The ticket arrives by email, and a ticket office can print it if needed when you show your passport. You can also pay cash at the station.

Checked luggage

Bags in the hold are weighed and checked in for a small fee, with a receipt. Rough Guides quotes 5 to 10 dirhams depending on weight and distance. The blog Malika in Morocco, written by a traveler who lives in the country, mentions 10 to 15 dirhams for a large suitcase (April 2026). A small bag stays free on board.

Bus stations

In most cities, the main bus station is on the outskirts. CTM often leaves from its own station, sometimes far from the main bus station. In Casablanca, it has three departure points: FAR, Aïn Sebaâ and Maarif. Read the address on your ticket carefully.

Supratours: the ONCF bus

Supratours is a subsidiary of ONCF. Its coaches extend the rail network to cities without a station, with schedules timed to the trains. In Marrakech, they leave from a station right next to the railway station.

The main routes from Marrakech:

• Essaouira: about 3 hours, several departures a day;
• Agadir: 3 h 30 min to 4 hours, roughly every hour during the day, for about 110 dirhams according to Seat61;
• Ouarzazate: three departures in the morning and afternoon, according to the schedules listed on 12Go;
• Laayoune and Dakhla, in the far south, with very long journeys.

You can buy a combined train and coach ticket, for example from Casablanca or Rabat to Agadir via Marrakech. Passengers holding a connecting train ticket get priority, according to Rough Guides.

Other companies, booking platforms and grands taxis

Other private companies serve the country, such as SATAS in the south. According to Rough Guides, many are small firms with a single bus that leaves when it is full. They are cheaper but slower, with more stops. The platform Markoub.ma sells tickets online for dozens of companies.

Grands taxis also link cities: six passengers in a sedan, a fixed fare per seat, and departure once the car is full.

Train or bus in Morocco: the main routes compared

This table gives the recommended mode and a rough journey time. Times vary with schedules, construction work and traffic.

Route	Recommended mode	Approximate time
Tangier to Rabat	Al Boraq train	1 h 20 min
Tangier to Casablanca	Al Boraq train	2 h 10 min
Tangier to Fez	Al Boraq then Al Atlas, via Kenitra	about 3 h 25 min
Casablanca to Marrakech	Al Atlas train	2 h 40 min to 3 h 30 min
Tangier to Marrakech	Train, changing in Casablanca	about 5 h 15 min
Marrakech to Essaouira	Supratours or CTM bus	about 3 h
Marrakech to Agadir	Supratours or CTM bus	3 h 30 min to 4 h
Casablanca to Agadir	CTM bus, or train then bus via Marrakech	6 to 8 h by bus
Fez to Chefchaouen	CTM bus	4 h 10 min to 5 h
Marrakech to Merzouga	Bus, in two legs via Ouarzazate	9 to 13 h in total

Sources: Seat61, Andy B Travels (December 2025), Malika in Morocco (2025 and 2026), 12Go and a travel forum. Check the schedule when you book.

Between Fez and Chefchaouen, CTM ran four departures a day in each direction in 2025, from about 110 dirhams. For Merzouga, direct buses are rare and often run at night. It is better to break the trip in Ouarzazate or the Dades Valley, and to travel by day. For a group, a rental car or an organized tour is often simpler: see our guide to renting a car in Morocco.

Road safety: the official advice

The train is the safest way to travel between the major cities. The roads remain dangerous in Morocco. On coaches, the French foreign ministry writes that the network is “fairly dense but the fleet is generally old” (our translation). Citing the local press, it states that 60% of buses reportedly fail to meet minimum safety standards.

The same ministry also reports “unpredictable and reckless” behavior by drivers of public transportation (our translation). It advises against traveling at night, whatever the vehicle. This is the most cautious advice, and we follow it: always choose daytime departures. Also check your own government's travel advice.

If you plan to drive, read our guide to driving in Morocco: license, tolls, mountain passes and what to do after an accident. Find the essentials about the country on our Morocco page.

Eid, summer, school holidays: book ahead

Trains and buses fill up during both Eids, in summer and during Moroccan school holidays. For Eid al-Adha 2026, ONCF added extra capacity from May 20 to June 7, and asked travelers to buy their outbound and return tickets early. On the day of the holiday itself, it runs fewer trains.

In summer, from June to mid-September, Moroccans living abroad also come home for the holidays. Buses to the south and the coast are then in high demand. Buy your tickets several days ahead, and even earlier for a departure the day before a holiday. Dates change every year: see our calendar of festivals in Morocco. For entering the country, also check the Morocco entry requirements, which depend on your nationality.

Frequently asked questions

Train or bus in Morocco: which is cheaper?

The bus is usually a little cheaper than the train on the same route. The train is faster, more comfortable and safer between the major cities. Train fares also drop when you book early.

Can you take the train to Agadir, Essaouira or Chefchaouen?

No. None of these cities has a station. For Agadir and Essaouira, take the train to Marrakech, then a Supratours coach. For Chefchaouen, take the CTM bus from Fez or Tangier.

Do you need to book the CTM bus in advance?

On tourist routes, book one or two days ahead in normal times. During Eid and in summer, book several days ahead, especially for a departure the day before a holiday.

Does the ONCF website accept foreign cards?

Usually yes, with Visa or Mastercard and 3-D Secure verification. If your card is declined, buy at the station ticket office, in cash or by card.

Can you pay for the bus in cash?

Yes, at the company's ticket office, in dirhams. Also keep a few small coins for checking your bags into the hold.