How to Get From Marrakech to Fes: Train, Bus and Flight Compared

The easiest way to get from Marrakech to Fes is the direct ONCF train: about 6.5 to 7 hours, no change in Casablanca, and roughly 195 to 235 dirhams in second class. CTM buses are slower at around 7 to 9 hours but run overnight, and flights almost never beat the train on time or price.

This guide compares every option for the Marrakech to Fes trip, with ticket prices in dirhams, where to buy, and how to get from Fes station to the medina without overpaying. It fits straight into the Morocco itinerary for 7 days and the longer Morocco travel guide, and every Morocco route lives on the Morocco on a budget hub.

Mint tea over the Fes medina, your reward at the end of the Marrakech to Fes journey.

Marrakech to Fes at a Glance

Here is how the three ways to travel from Marrakech to Fes compare. Prices are typical ranges and change with the date, so check the operator’s site before you book.

Marrakech to Fes by Train: The Direct ONCF Route

Morocco’s national railway, ONCF, runs direct trains from Marrakech to Fes several times a day. You stay in the same seat the whole way while the train stops at Casablanca Voyageurs, Rabat, Kenitra and Meknes. Many older guides say you must change in Casablanca, but on the direct services you do not.

How long does the train take?

Plan on roughly 6.5 to 7 hours. Morning departures are the most useful, because they get you into Fes in the afternoon with daylight left to find your riad. Timetables change, so check the current schedule on ONCF Voyages before you travel.

Sample Marrakech to Fes train times

To give you an idea of the rhythm, here are example morning departures from a recent ONCF timetable. Direct trains leave roughly every hour in the morning, and each one takes about 7 hours. Treat these as a guide only and confirm the exact times for your date.

Avoid the last trains of the day if this is your first visit. Arriving at Fes train station after dark and searching for a riad inside the medina is much harder than doing it in daylight.

Ticket prices: 1st or 2nd class?

Second class costs roughly 195 to 235 dirhams and is perfectly comfortable on daytime trains, with assigned seats on most long-distance services. First class costs more, from roughly 295 dirhams depending on the train, and gives you wider seats and a quieter carriage. On a 7-hour ride, first class is a reasonable upgrade if your budget allows, but second class is what most backpackers choose.

Where to buy train tickets

• At the station: the ticket counters (guichets) at Marrakech station sell same-day and advance tickets.
• Online: the official ONCF Voyages website sells e-tickets.
• In the app: the ONCF Voyages app stores your ticket on your phone.

On normal weekdays you can usually buy on the day. For weekends, school holidays and Eid, buy a few days ahead, because popular trains fill up.

Marrakech to Fes by Bus: CTM and Supratours

Direct buses also link Marrakech and Fes without a change. The main reliable companies are CTM and Supratours, which have air conditioning, fixed timetables and assigned seats.

• Travel time: about 7 to 9 hours depending on the route, traffic and rest stops.
• Price: roughly 160 to 300 dirhams depending on the company and seat class.
• Night bus: CTM has run an early-morning departure around 01:45 that arrives in Fes around 09:00. It saves a night of accommodation, but check the current schedule for your date.
• Luggage: big bags go in the hold for a small fee. Always take the luggage receipt (ticket bagage) and keep valuables with you.

How to book the Marrakech to Fes bus

You can book CTM seats on the CTM website or at the CTM station, and Supratours seats on its website or at its office. In Marrakech, Supratours buses leave from beside the train station, which is handy if a train is full. Book a day or two ahead for night buses and holiday dates, and arrive about 30 minutes before departure to check in your bag.

Avoid unofficial touts and cheaper unbranded buses at the big bus stations. They may be a few dirhams cheaper, but they stop more often, rarely have reliable air conditioning and can turn an 8-hour ride into a 10-hour one. Travelling from Marrakech to Fes by bus is only good value with a reliable company.

Choose the bus if the train times do not suit you or if you want to sleep through the journey. For daytime travel, the train is usually faster and more comfortable. The same night-bus trick also works on the long ride to the Sahara in the Morocco travel guide.

Is Flying From Marrakech to Fes Worth It?

Usually not. Flights between Marrakech and Fes often connect through Casablanca, and once you add airport transfers, security and waiting time, the total trip can take as long as the train or longer. Prices are also far higher than a train ticket. A flight only makes sense if you find a rare direct seat sale or you are continuing on to another country.

How Much Does the Marrakech to Fes Trip Cost?

The ticket is only part of the price. Here is what a budget traveler typically spends from leaving Marrakech to dropping a bag at a riad in Fes, using the same rough ranges as above.

In practice, the day train and the night bus end up close in total cost. The night bus only wins if you can actually sleep on it. If you arrive exhausted, you lose your first day in Fes, which is a poor trade for saving one night.

From Fes Train Station to the Medina

Fes train station sits in the new town (Ville Nouvelle), about 3 to 4 kilometers from Bab Boujloud, the main gate into the old medina, Fes el Bali. When you walk out of the station, the red petit taxis wait just outside, so you do not need to book anything in advance.

• Petit taxi: the easiest option, about 10 to 20 minutes and roughly 20 to 30 dirhams.
• Use the meter: ask the driver to turn it on before you leave by saying “afak, khdem compteur” (please, use the meter). If he refuses, agree on the price before you get in.
• Walk the last part: taxis cannot enter the narrow lanes, so you will walk from Bab Boujloud or another gate to your riad. Ask your riad to send someone to meet you if it is deep inside the medina.

The Chouara tannery, one of the first stops in Fes once you reach the medina.

Breaking the Marrakech to Fes Train Trip in Rabat or Meknes

Seven hours is a long day. Because the ONCF train stops in Rabat and Meknes, you can split the journey into two shorter rides and see another city on the way, often for little or no extra cost compared with the direct ticket.

Rabat: the calm capital

Rabat is about four hours from Marrakech. Walk the blue and white lanes of the Kasbah of the Udayas, see the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and enjoy a medina with far less hassle than Marrakech. Spend one night, then take a morning ONCF train to Fes, which is a little under three hours away.

Meknes: the quiet imperial city

Meknes is less than an hour before Fes. Its huge Bab Mansour gate and quiet medina make a good half-day stop, and the Roman ruins of Volubilis are a short grand taxi ride away. Leave your bag at your hotel, explore, and continue to Fes the same evening or the next morning.

If you only have a week, a direct train is still the smartest choice. The 7-day Morocco itinerary shows how the Marrakech to Fes leg fits around the Sahara.

Tips for the Marrakech to Fes Journey

• Pick a window seat: the route passes farmland, the Atlantic coast cities and the hills near Meknes.
• Bring food and water: snack options on board are limited, so pack a sandwich, fruit and enough water for seven hours.
• Charge your phone: not every carriage has working sockets, so bring a power bank.
• Watch your bags: keep your wallet and phone on you, especially at busy stations like Casablanca.
• Break the trip if you like: Rabat and Meknes are both on the line and make easy overnight stops.
• Eat well in Fes: try pastilla, a slow-cooked tagine and a bowl of harira once you arrive.

Going the other way? Fes to Marrakech works the same way in reverse, with direct trains, CTM buses and the same tips. For more ways to keep transport costs down, read my rules on how to travel on a budget.

Marrakech to Fes FAQ