If you’re travelling to Morocco, Marrakech and Casablanca are probably on your bucketlist. But it would be a rookie mistake to connect these two cities by air. They’re actually only 240 kilometres apart on flat farmland, and are joined by a railway line and a motorway. Morocco is now Africa’s most visited country, and this is one of its easiest journeys.
To show up prepared, the best way to move are by train, coach, hiring a private driver, or rental car. This guide will help you with the first two.
NOTE: A private car is good if you are travelling in a group and with heavy bags. Viator lists transfers from $90 for up to seven people.
Marrakech to Casablanca train and bus at a glance
| Option | Journey time | One-way fare | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train (ONCF) | 2h 40min to 3h 20min | From about MAD 98 | Speed and a reserved seat |
| Coach (CTM) | 3h to 3h 45min | About MAD 100 to 150 | Low fares and late departures |
MAD is the Moroccan dirham. As of the time of this writing, 100 MAD is roughly 10 USD. To get you the figures in this blog, we checked fares against ONCF and CTM on 26 September 2026. You will still have to confirm the figures for your own date.
Taking the Marrakech to Casablanca train
If you like trains, the Marrakech to Casablanca train will not let you down. Actually, there are two types of trains, and for this route, they use the Al Atlas trains, the ordinary ones rather than high-speed ones.
You can board this train at Marrakech station on Avenue Mohammed VI, between Gueliz, the new town, and the old walled city. From here, you just need to take a metered city taxi, called a petit taxi here. It will cost you around 15 to 30 MAD from most hotels.
Trips by this train take 2h 40min to 3h, or up to 3h 20min on services that stop at Settat and Berrechid. About 10 trains leave each day, mostly between 05:50 and 21:40, so the wait is rarely over an hour.
Now, there are second class trains too, different from this.
Second class costs about 98 MAD and first class about 155 MAD. ONCF also sells a limited number of cheaper promo seats, seen near MAD 49. Children from four to 12 usually pay half, and under-fours ride free without a seat.
Casablanca has two large train stations. Marrakech to Casablanca trains normally finish at Casa-Voyageurs, the busiest rail hub in Morocco. Some tickets instead read Casa-Oasis or Casa-Port, so check the station name printed on yours.
Second class means padded seats and luggage racks. First class is quieter, with six-seat compartments and sockets that work more often. Both are air-conditioned, although travellers report that failing in midsummer. Do not count on Wi-Fi or the drink trolley, so buy water and a sandwich at the station.
Delays are common in high season, so leave a gap before a flight. On a good day the ride is calm and worth taking slowly. If rail travel in Africa interests you, we rank the best of it in Africa’s most fascinating train journeys.
Taking the Marrakech to Casablanca bus and coach
For people who love bus ridesm the Marrakech to Casablanca bus to go for is the CTM one. It is Morocco’s largest coach network. Its Marrakech station is on Rue Abou Bakr Seddiq, a short walk from the train station. In Casablanca, CTM uses a terminal on Rue Léon l’Africain, near Casa-Port.
Bus rides take up to 3 hours and some have a comfort stop for people to ease themselves and/or snacks. Fares run 100 to 150 MAD. Confort is the standard seat and Premium is roomier, but it is the same bus on the same road. Departures start early and finish around 21:00. Search sites list far more departures, since small private companies run this road too and their standards vary.
Can you carry baggage on the bus? Yes! You can carry two hold bags of up to 20kg each, plus one small bag inside. Hold bags need a paid tag, from 5 MAD, and you must get that within 30 minutes before departure. Keep the stub, since you hand it back to collect your case.
If you have ridden the Lagos to Abidjan road, the difference here is the ticketing, not the road. Book on the CTM site, or compare Marrakech to Casablanca bus tickets on Busbud, which sells CTM seats and shows every operator side by side.
Is the Marrakech to Casablanca train cheaper than flying?
Let’s compare.
Royal Air Maroc has several nonstop flights between Marrakech and Casablanca every day. The plane is only in the air for about 50 minutes. A one-way ticket usually costs between MAD 1,000 and MAD 2,000. You can check current prices on Trip.com.
But the flight time is not the whole trip. The airline drops you at Casablanca, then you will have to go to Menara Airport in Marrakech yourself. You have to check in, and then travel from Mohammed V Airport in Casablanca into the city. When you count all of that, flying takes close to four hours door to door.
By comparison, the train from Marrakech to Casablanca takes closer to three and a half hours door to door. So flying is not always faster once the airport steps are included.
Mohammed V Airport is also a hub for onward international flights (see our Casablanca to Los Angeles blog). The train from the airport into town costs MAD 50.
Marrakech to Casablanca train or coach: which one suits you
Take the Marrakech to Casablanca train if:
- You want the shortest ride and a seat that is already reserved.
- Your hotel is near the station.
Take the Marrakech to Casablanca bus if:
- The Marrakech to Casablanca train times around your morning do not work.
- CTM is clearly cheaper for your date.
- You are carrying two large bags.
- Your hotel is nearer the CTM terminal.
When you compare the bus and the train from Marrakech to Casablanca, don’t just compare the scheduled travel times. Compare the whole journey from door to door. On paper, the bus is 35 minutes slower than the train. That makes the train look like the clear winner. But the train’s advantage can disappear before you even get on board.
Suppose you have to take a taxi to the train station, and that taxi ride takes 30 minutes. Meanwhile, the bus stop or bus desk is only two streets from your front door. In that case, almost all of the train’s 35-minute lead is eaten up just getting to the station. By the time you reach the platform, the train is barely ahead, or no faster at all. So the better choice depends on how close you are to the station or bus stop.
What the Marrakech to Casablanca train trip really costs
Budget the whole journey, not the ticket alone. One traveller, low season, rounded prices.
Marrakech to Casablanca train: fare MAD 98, taxi to the station MAD 20, taxi from Casa-Voyageurs to a central hotel MAD 25. Total about MAD 143.
Marrakech to Casablanca bus: fare MAD 110, taxi to the CTM desk MAD 20, luggage tag MAD 5, taxi from the terminal MAD 25. Total about MAD 160.
Neither list covers upgrades, a second bag, snacks, or early check-in fees. Carry cash. The dirham is a closed currency and is hard to buy before you travel, so use an ATM after you land. Taxis and luggage desks rarely take cards.
How to book your Marrakech to Casablanca train ticket online
- Set Marrakech as the departure and Casablanca as the arrival for your Marrakech to Casablanca train or bus search.
- Choose your date, then look at rail and road results together.
- Compare times before prices: a bad departure wastes more than a good fare saves.
- Check whether the fare is fixed to one departure or open to changes.
- Check the station name: Casa-Voyageurs, Casa-Oasis or Casa-Port.
- Read the baggage conditions before you pack.
- Pay, then screenshot the ticket while you have wifi. A booking email you cannot open offline is no help at a gate.
ONCF sometimes refuses an African-issued card at payment. Our guide to avoiding a bank fraud block abroad explains the fix, which is usually one phone call to your bank before you leave. Otherwise pay at the station counter, and the ticket is yours.
Should you book your Marrakech to Casablanca train in advance?
Booking your Marrakech to Casablanca train ahead buys more choice rather than a big discount. Book early for July and August, around Eid, on school holidays, on Fridays and Sundays, and whenever you must catch a flight that evening. If you are flexible, check several departures: the 09:00 and 18:00 trains fill first, and mid-afternoon services are often emptier and cheaper.
What if you miss your Marrakech to Casablanca train or bus?
Your Marrakech to Casablanca train or bus fare sets the rules. A promo ticket is usually tied to one departure and is worthless once it leaves. A standard fare may allow a change for a fee, and refunds are rare. Ask at the counter to be moved, since conductor checks are real.
Practical tips for the Marrakech to Casablanca train journey
- Arrive 20 minutes early for a Marrakech to Casablanca train, and 30 to 45 for a coach with luggage.
- Carry your passport. Moroccan hotels must record the details of foreign guests.
- Confirm the time on the day, since timetables shift between seasons.
- Tell the taxi driver the station name, not only the city, and read the board for your platform.
- Sort mobile data before you fly. A Morocco eSIM from Saily or Airalo costs less than hotel wifi and gives you maps when you are outside a station you do not know. New to them? Start with our beginner’s eSIM guide.
- Keep your wallet and phone on your body, not in the hold.
- Ignore anyone who offers to “help” with your ticket for money.
- Allow extra time for Casablanca traffic at 08:00 and 18:00.
Where this route fits
Casablanca is worth a day, mostly for the Hassan II Mosque. It is one of the few Moroccan mosques open to non-Muslim visitors, tours cost MAD 140, and the fixed times are on the official visits page. Browse things to do in Casablanca, then hold a room through Expedia or Agoda.
The same logic covers the rest of Morocco. Casablanca to Rabat is a one-hour train from MAD 50, and Casablanca to Tangier takes 2h 10min on the Al Boraq high-speed train. Marrakech to Fes is most of a day by rail. Marrakech to Essaouira and Fes to Chefchaouen are coach trips where buses win. Guides for those pairs are in progress. Check entry rules first, since visa policy for African passport holders keeps moving and Ghana and Morocco have agreed to drop visa requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Marrakech to Casablanca train journey?
The Marrakech to Casablanca train journey typically takes between 2 hours 40 minutes and 3 hours 20 minutes, depending on the number of stops.
How much does a Marrakech to Casablanca train ticket cost?
A standard second-class Marrakech to Casablanca train ticket costs around MAD 98, while first-class is approximately MAD 155. Promo fares can be as low as MAD 49.
Can I book a Marrakech to Casablanca bus instead of a train?
Yes, the Marrakech to Casablanca bus (operated primarily by CTM) is a reliable alternative, taking about 3 to 3.5 hours and costing between MAD 100 and 150.
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