Marrakech: travel and transportation, cities, marrakech, goruma

Marrakech: travel and transportation, cities, marrakech, goruma

Marrakech: Travel and traffic

orientation

Believe it or not: It is quite possible to walk from the airport to the Medina, but you should not carry too much luggage with you. There is a footpath along the main road, and the size of the Koutoubia mosque prevents it from running. If you still have some time and desire in your backpack, you can stop at the pretty Menara Gardens, which spread between the airport and the medina.

In the old town itself all markets and sights can be explored on foot. But you should be prepared for blisters on your feet, because you will get lost several times. If you want to see parts of the city outside the medina, you can confidently use buses and petits taxis.

Car traffic and car hire

From Casablanca or Rabat you can reach Marrakech from the north by taking the highway from Casablanca to Settat. If one had to use a fairly busy national road between Settat and Marrakech until 2009, the highway from Casablanca runs directly through to Marrakech. Keep in mind that a toll will be charged twice between Casablanca and Marrakech: once 10 and once 63 dirhams.

In Marrakech, as on the whole kingdom, you drive on the right side of the road.

top speed

The maximum speed in Marrakech is 40 km / h, but is also regulated by road signs, which must be observed, as police controls are not uncommon. Penalties for violations are particularly violent in the city.

Of alcohol in blood

In Marrakech there is an alcohol limit of 0.0 for all motorists and motorcyclists.

Other rules

Signage in Marrakech is in Arabic and French. The traffic rules generally correspond to those of the European Union. However, you should pay attention to the following:

Careful and careful driving is v. A. offered. The enforcement of claims for damages is almost impossible.

If you want to rent a car in Marrakech, you should be at least 21 years old and – what a surprise – have a valid driving license. The German driving license is recognized, but it is always advisable to have an international driving license (= International Driving License). Cars should be checked thoroughly after receipt (for example, spare wheel and jack on board?) – v.a. at smaller rental agencies. Contracts must be read carefully and then signed. While driving, the driver’s license and identity documents must always be carried. Although all of this seems feasible, you should avoid renting a car in Marrakech. The rental rates are as high as the accident rate in the city.

Airport and air traffic

The international airport of Marrakech is the Aéroport Marrakech-Ménara. It is approximately 6 km from the city center and, interestingly enough, it is the second largest airport in Morocco by area. He is u.a. operated by Royal Air Maroc serving various destinations in France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Other airlines that justify the airport are Atlas Blue, EasyJet and Ryanair. The latter offers connections once a week between Marrakech and Frankfurt-Hahn as well as Düsseldorf Weeze. At the airport there are the usual international car rental companies.

You can walk from the airport to the medina if you do not have too much luggage with you. The bus number 19 (every 30 minutes) takes you to the city center and Djemma el-Fna. Buses run between 06:30 and 23:30 and depart directly from the airport terminal. From the center to the airport, they operate between 06:15 and 00:15. A one-way trip between the airport and the city center currently costs 20 dirhams, a return ticket – valid within two weeks – but 30 dirhams. By the way: Bus number 11 is not a good alternative. Although it is extremely cheap, but stops outside the airport area and is difficult to reach with heavy luggage.

A taxi will not be more than 15 minutes to the Medina. One should insist on the use of the taximeter or negotiate a fixed price before departure. More than 100 dirhams for a petit taxi are usurious. Those taking a taxi from Marrakech to the airport should pay no more than 30 dirhams. At the exit of the airport there is a sign for travelers, which gives information about the usual taxi prices. Grands taxis are generally much more expensive than their small counterparts (see below).

railroad

If you come from the north of Casablanca, Rabat or Tangier, you will be able to reach Marrakech – the southernmost railway stop – very easily. The traditional-style new main train station is located in the Guéliz district on Avenue Hassan II. Trains between Marrakech and Casablanca run at regular intervals – every two hours – and also run to Casablanca Airport and Rabat. In addition, there are 16 direct trains a day to Fèz via Casablanca’s Voyageurs station and two direct services to Tangier. After Tangier – about 10 hours drive – you can choose between a day and a night train. Who decides on the day train, must change once. The night trains are equipped with sleeping compartments, with a charge of 350 dirhams for a bed.

There is currently no train connection to the region south of Marakesh. So you can reach the desert, the High Atlas, Agadir and Essaouira only by bus or car.

Tip:
You should stock up for a longer train ride with food, even if you can buy some things on board – at tourist prices, of course. It is advisable to always bring something more to share with fellow travelers. This promotes cultural exchange, is considered very polite and is often enough the start of a good conversation.

buses

Buses run from all major Moroccan cities directly to Marrakech. However, buses from different companies and with a very different standard are in use. Tourists should go with the providers CTM, Pullman du Sud or Supratours. There are other companies as well, but the three are the most reliable and secure bus companies. In general, however, in terms of traveling comfort, Moroccan trains should be preferred to buses anyway, especially as there is no big difference in price.

Long distance buses depart from Marrakech’s bus terminal near the Bab Doukkala Gate, which is about a 20-minute walk or 15 dirhams by the Petit Taxi from Djemma el-Fna. Supratours and Euroline buses also start there. At the bus station you immediately meet “helping” helpers (Touts), which you should ignore, unless you are too late and must find the right bus immediately. Then these Touts – against a little baking – can be very useful. Less useful are the taxi-touts, which immediately explain to the inexperienced newcomers that the bus to their destination is already full, only to place them in an overpriced Grand Taxi. So the best thing is to leave the station building and find the right bus yourself. Tickets are then stamped on board.

CTM leaves from the new Gare Voyageurs bus station, a few hundred meters from the railway station. It is better to take buses from there, because you can also book tickets in advance. In addition, nobody will try to convey the traveler to certain bus companies.

Marrakech is accessed by a number of inner-city bus lines, with a journey of between 2 and 5 dirhams – depending on how far you travel. The problem is the missing signage of the stops, so that one can not help asking locals for the right bus number. The buses go to a special clock system, but unfortunately also not specified. Almost all buses stop at Djemma El-Fna and Place Youssef Ben Tachfine. The main bus lines are the 1 in the direction of Guéliz, the numbers 3 and 8 with stop at the train station and at the bus station (Gare Routiere Voyageurs Marrakech), the number 10 with stop at the Long-Distance bus station, the number 11 with stop at the Menara Gardens and number 19, the Airport Express to Djemma el Fna.

Traveling by taxi

There are two types of registered taxis in Marrakech.

The Petits taxis (dt. Small taxis) are yellow and marked “Petit Taxi”. Most of them are small, four-door Peugeouts, Renaults, Seats or similar vehicles. They are equipped with a taximeter and serve the immediate urban area. Usually you do not have to point out the use of the meter. However, you can negotiate a price before departure. Petits taxis are fast, efficient and reasonably priced. As such, there is no better way to travel in Marrakech.

The Grands taxis (dt. Big taxis), white, mostly old Mercedes-Benz cars with a regular taxi sign on the roof, are a lot more expensive than their little red brothers. They ride on defined routes, but can also be used individually. In contrast to the petits taxis they are allowed to leave the city, which makes them ideal for exploring the area. They can also be rented by the hour or by the day.

Note:
The taxi drivers of Marrakech, in contrast to those of other Moroccan cities, tend to demand exorbitant prices and not to use the taximeter. Those who speak Arabic (or French) can and should do the opposite, in order not to support a culture of deceit. All taxi users should therefore pay no more than 30 dirhams for trips within the city. For a trip from the medina to Guéliz (the ville nouvelle), 20 dirhams are more than adequate. Special care should be taken in the face of the city’s train stations: Taxi drivers will often say that the desired stopping point is too far off the route and therefore require an extra charge. For this and other reasons it is always better to ignore the taxi offers near the train stations and walk a few blocks further to stop a passing taxi.

Caleschen

A ride on a Calesche (or Kalesche), a narrow horse-drawn carriage, is an alternative and more romantic way to move through Marrakech. These wagons can be rented at Place de Foucauld, located between Djemma el-Fna and Koutoubia Mosque. It is advisable to agree on a price before boarding the carriage. You should not pay more than 80 dirhams for a one-hour ride.

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