Casablanca is a popular destination for visitors to Marrakesh as it is the country’s largest city, and a bustling modern metropolis. Situated on the country’s western coast, overlooking the Atlantic, Casablanca is a port city with a rich French colonial legacy. There are a number of fascinating historical and cultural points to explore, including the Hassan II Mosque, the largest mosque in all of Morocco, and a number of upscale eateries and bars. The two cities stand 221 kilometres apart as the crow flies and the road distance is 241.2 km. There are a few good travel options available.
Marrakesh to Casablanca by Car
The first option is to drive from Marrakesh to Casablanca, which will take 2.5 hours without any stops along the way. Car rental is between $25-40 USD, or 80-160 dirham, daily, and many global brands such as Avis and Europcar have locations both at the airport and throughout the city. This is easiest and fastest option, if you like the flexibility of stopping en route, but in all honesty, this will be just to take a break from the road as there are few points of interest along the way.
Taxi or Bus
If you prefer not to drive yourself, it is possible to hire a private driver or a taxi driver and this can be done easily at your hotel reception or through a number of local service providers. CTM runs an hourly bus service between the two cities. The journey takes 3.5 hours and tickets cost 80-130 dirham.
Train Travel From Marrakesh to Casablanca
Most travelers take the ONCF train between the two cities as the trains are comfortable, reliable and reasonably priced. There are eight trains a day and the journey time is 2 hours and 40 minutes – almost the same as a car. The train leaves from Marrakesh station and your stop will be the Casa-Port Railway Terminal – which is near the port of Casablanca.
If you choose to travel first class on the train, the advantage is that you can purchase your tickets in advance. The carriages are air-conditioned, the seats are allocated, and there is the chance to book window seats. As well as being slightly more spacious, booking a first class window seat means that you get great views of the Moroccan countryside. First class tickets cost 120-150 dirham and are slightly cheaper on the mid-morning and evening train services. Second class carriages have been recently refurbished and are now air conditioned, but seats are ‘first come, first seated’, so on busy journeys you may not have a seat for part of the journey.
Plane
Another travel option is to take an internal fight. There are no real advantages of choosing this method- unless you really enjoy flying! There are numerous flights each day, but the flights actually take three hours plus there is the inconvenience of having to get to the airport, but this can be a great option if you wish to start your Moroccan journey in Casablanca.
