Transportation in Fes & Meknes

Fes can be reached by rail, road or by air. These ancient cities reputations as tourist destination is on the rise and transportation services are improving all the time. The ubiquitous petit taxis (small Fiats that carry three people) are the best mode of transport within the city of Fes. There are also grand taxis and buses to get around, though buses are usually overcrowded.

A lot of people prefer to explore the labyrinthine city of Fes on foot; within the old town of Fes el-Bali, there are no means of transport, so walking is the only option.

This Fes Transportation Guide gives some details about getting to and from Fes, as well as transportation options for getting around while you are here. General transportion information for getting to and from Morocco, as well as around the country, can be found by visiting our Morocco Transportation Guide. You should also check out our interesting Fes and Meknes City Tours, which are a great way to explore all that the city has to offer!

Fes & Meknes Transportation Guide

Getting to Fes

By Train

Morocco has a very good rail network and there are regular train services to Fes from major cities throughout Morocco. Operated by the state-run ONCF, the trains are comfortable, run on time and are rarely crowded (it is still better to book tickets in advance). It takes about seven hours from Marrakech, five hours from Tangier, four hours from Casablanca and three and a half hours from Rabat by train to Fes. The train station is located in the Ville Nouvelle.

By Bus

Regular bus services ply from most Moroccan cities to Fes. Buses are cheaper than trains. Of the major bus companies in Morocco most travellers prefer the CTM buses for their cleanliness and reliability even though they have steeper fares. Tickets can be booked from any CTM office in the country regardless of destination. The CTM bus terminal in Fes is in Ville Nouvelle in the Atlas neighbourhood.

The old bus terminal (gare routiere), where most other buses arrive, is just to the north of the old town at Bab Mahrouk. The buses from here are cheaper and cover more routes but can be crowded and filthy. There are taxi stands near both the terminals.

By Plane

Fes is served by the Saiss Airport, located 15 km from the city centre. It is a small airport but handles many European charter airlines and there are daily flights by Royal Air Maroc from Casablanca and Paris-Orly. Ryanair also has services from many European cities like Barcelona, Milan, Frankfurt, Marseille and Brussels to Fes, though not on a daily basis.
Visitors can hire a taxi from the airport to the medina or can make use of the frequent ONCA bus services to Ville Nouvelle.

For transport from the airport to the city (or from the city to the airport), we recommend Green Path Transfers, who offer eco-friendly airport transfers in hundreds of destinations around the world.

By Taxi

Taxis are a popular and convenient mode of transportation in Fes and taxi ranks and stands can be found all over the city at convenient locations.

Grand taxis are ideal for intercity travel (it’s a four hour drive to Casablanca and takes under an hour from Fes to Meknes) and petit taxis for travel within the city limits. Both are usually shared by passengers. Grand taxis generally travel along fixed routes and there are different ranks for different routes. They are not metered, so agreeing on a fare beforehand is the wise thing to do.

By Car

It is a common practice to share taxis in Morocco, so if you want to travel on your own, it is better to rent a car. Parking can be a problem if you are staying in the medina as cars are not allowed inside.

Getting Around

The ever present petit taxis offer a cheap and convenient mode of travel within the city limits of Fes. These small metered cars carry three passengers and can be hired anywhere. The local buses are generally overcrowded and filthy and are best avoided though they are cheaper than taxis.

Walking is another option and a lot of visitors prefer to do just that. It is a nice way to take in the sights and smells and really get to know the city. And inside the medina, walking is the only option as vehicles are not allowed (except two-wheelers). Explore the labyrinthine streets and alleys bustling with life to your heart’s content, but do carry a map along as you can easily get lost.

Tour & Transportation company

Marrakesh Voyage
9 Derb Guebbas Batha, Fes medina, Fès 30200, Morocco
Tel: +212-524-482-094 - Fax: +212-524-482-096

Airport

Fes Saiss International Airport
Fes Airport, Morocco, BP A11

Taxi Service

Petit Taxi
These taxis can be fetched from anywhere.
Tel: Tel. 0666 - 060 - 101
Grand Taxi
They are located in front of the main bus station right outside Bab el-Mahrouk and also by the train station.

Rail Service

Train Station
The train station is located in the new city, northwest of Florence Place.
Tel: 35 - 623 - 009