Car Rental in Marrakech

Why rent a car in Marrakech?

Marrakesh is a great city to experience by car. Having the freedom of your own wheels will let you see this wide city and to visit attractions inside it and just outside the city borders, as well as to travel to other nearby destinations like the Atlas Mountains. 

Top ways to enter Marrakesh

• Marrakesh Airport: One of the busiest in the country, Marrakesh Menara Airport handled 5.2 million travelers in 2018. The airport has flights by more than 20 airlines, including low-cost carriers like Ryanair and Vueling. Located just 8 km (5 mi) southwest of the city center, the airport can be reached in 15-20 minutes.
• Essaouira Airport: A small airport serving the coastal city of the same name, Essaouira Mogador has flights by five different airlines (although some are only active seasonally) that offer connections with France, Belgium, and the United States. Located 200 km (125 mi) west of Marrakesh, Essaouira Airport can be reached in about 2 hours and 50 minutes.
• Casablanca Airport: By far the busiest in the country, Casablanca Airport is the main hub of the national carrier Royal Air Maroc. Also known as Mohamed V Airport after the Moroccan monarch, it serves flights to destinations in North and Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, the Middle East, East Asia, and North America. Located 220 km (137 mi) northwest of Marrakesh, the airport can be reached in 2 hours and 20 minutes.
• Agadir Airport: The largest in Southern Morocco, Agadir-Al Massira Airport handled 1.9 million travelers in 2018. The airport has flights by around 20 different airlines, including low-cost companies like easyJet, Eurowings, and Lauda. Agadir Airport is 260 km (160 mi) southwest of Marrakesh and takes three hours to reach.

City facts

• Marrakesh enjoys a hot semi-arid climate. Summers are very dry and hot, with temperature often exceeding even 35 °C  (95 °F). The winters, on the other hand, can get quite wet cool, especially in the months of December and January.
• Together with neighboring Safi and a number of other provinces, Marrakesh makes up the Marrakesh-Safi Region that is home to more than 4.5 million people.
• Marrakesh was once the capital of Morocco (which is now Rabat) and the country is even named after the city. It's also one of the four imperial cities of Morocco (the other ones are Meknes, Fez and Rabat).

Top sights and activities

• Djemaa el-Fnaa. Perhaps the most famous bazaar in the whole Arab World, Djemaa el-Fnaa is, for many, the number one attraction in the whole of Morocco. Traditional singers and drummers, snake-charmers, and storytellers will fight for your attention, tattoo artists will be ready to give you a new henna right on the street, and local craftsmen will proudly show their carpets, lamps, and jewellery. It’s a place that’s not to be missed.
• Majorelle Gardens and the Berber Museum. Should you ever go tired of the crazy energy of Djemaa el-Fnaa, beautiful Majorelle Gardens that are famous for their wide variety of cactus species are a place for a walk, picnic, and long relaxed conversations with new-made friends. Next to the gardens you’ll find the Berber Museum where you can learn more about the traditions and culture of the native inhabitants of Marrakesh.
• Bahia Palace. Although relatively young - it was built only in the 19th century - Bahia Palace is arguably one of the most unique buildings in Marrakesh. Surrounded by gardens of banana flowers and other plants and full of beautiful rooms and courtyards, it is a perfect place to explore and relax in.
• Dar Si Saïd Museum. Located in one of the classiest buildings in the city, Dar Si Saïd shows off the heritage of the cultures of Marrakesh and its surrounding regions. The museum is somewhat old-fashioned, at least by Western standards, but its carpets, crafts, musical instruments, and other exhibits still make it a very worthwhile place to visit.
• Bab al Khamis. This gate marks the entrance to the flea market held every Thursday morning. If you love flea markets, this one is to visit: you’ll find old treasures, ancient wooden doors, and beautiful antiques.
• Ben Youssef Madrasah. This used to be the most prominent Quranic school in North Africa. The madrasah has a stunning inner courtyard (which is great for Instagram photos). 

Traffic and parking

• Unless specifically indicated otherwise, the speed limits are 120 km/h on motorways (autoroutes), 100 km/h on roads outside urban cities that are not motorways, and 60 km/h within populated areas.
• Even inside some big cities, and in the most smaller towns and villages, there are no special lanes for cyclists or sometimes even pavements for pedestrians. In those cases, you’ll be sharing a road with them, so be extra careful.
• Road signs are written in both Arabic and French. If you don’t know either of these languages, it’s good to learn at least the main terms in one of them before renting a car.
• The legal alcohol limit is 0.00% for both experienced and novice drivers. Drunk driving can lead to large fines and even jail time or deportation.
• The insurance and car documentation needs to be in the car whenever you’re driving.
• If you’re the driver, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
• The nation-wide emergency police number is 19 and the nation-wide ambulance and fire safety department number is 15.

Toll roads

A toll needs to be paid for using most of Morocco’s motorways or autoroutes. All of the toll roads in Morocco are administered by the state-owned company Autoroutes du Maroc (ADM). 

Morocco uses a “closed system” for its toll roads, meaning that there is a toll booth both at the entrance and the exit of the toll road. You pay either by cash or by credit card (although some toll points might only accept cash so it’s good to have some available at all times). Make sure to keep any proof that you have paid for the toll road as police checks are frequent and fines can be hefty. The prices for using the toll roads are generally quite low.

Most of the toll roads connect the largest cities of the country. Oftentimes you can opt to use regional roads instead - while traveling along those will be much slower, the views are usually much more scenic.

Ideas for day trips

• Amizmiz. Located in the nearby High Atlas Mountains, the small town of Amizmiz hosts one of the largest souks in the region every Tuesday, but even if you come on another day, it is still a great place to appreciate the local atmosphere, meet the locals, and enjoy the views of the nearby peaks.
• Ourika Valley. Just 40 minutes drive from Marrakesh, beautiful Ourika Valley has become a bit touristy during the last few years, but should still be on anyone’s list thanks to its waterfalls, long hiking paths, and different Argan oil products made by local women.
• Oukaimeden. Located more than 3,000 meters (9,840 feet) above sea level, Oukaimeden is arguably the best ski resort in North Africa, if not the whole continent. During the summer months when the snow recedes, the area becomes a prime hiking destination. The drive from Marrakesh to Oukaimeden takes just under two hours.
• Toubkal National Park. One of the points of pride of the High Atlas, this nature preserve is centered around Jbel Toubkal, the highest peak of the mountain range. The scenery is indeed truly stunning, and there are hiking and climbing trails of various degrees of difficulty. Toubkal National Park can be visited as part of the same trip as the aforementioned Oukaimeden.

Most popular cars

The most popular rental car types in Morocco are Economy, Mini, and Intermediate. Most national highways are in great shape and fit for vehicle of any size, but if you plan to drive in the nearby Atlas Mountains, getting a 4x4 vehicle can be a good idea. The most popular rental cars in Morocco are the Hyundai i10, the Dacia Logan, and the Renault Clio.

Further destinations

• Essaouira. This charming beach city is just three hours drive west of Marrakesh. Local street performers will claim to be sons of Jimi Hendrix (who once indeed favored visiting the place) while cooks of local seafood will leave you breathless. 
• Taghazout. A serene beach town and a surfer’s paradise, cozy Taghazout (near the much larger city of Agadir) offers the possibility to hit the waves year-round. From here, it’s also easy to visit the nearby Paradise Valley with its gorges and waterfalls.
• Ouarzazate. Located east of Marrakesh and high in the mountains, Ouarzazate is similar to Marrakesh in some ways, but is more tranquil and traditional. The dry desert landscapes that surround it will make you feel like you’re on another planet.
• Sahara. Ouarzazate is sometimes called the Gates of the Sahara, but with a rental car, it’s even possible to travel beyond it. The main hub of Moroccan desert tourism is arguably M’Hamid, a remote but fascinating village that has a fascinating history of its own, but, more importantly, is the place from where many desert tours depart from (you should not try to explore the desert with your rental car as it’s very easy to get lost and internet coverage for navigation is spotty at best).
• The Ouzoud Waterfalls. Located 157 km (98 miles) from Marrakech, this series of 110 meters highs waterfalls are an ideal day trip by car. The road to the waterfalls is also very scenic. During summer it’s possible to go for a refreshing swim in the water at the bottom of the pools. There are even some boats that can bring you closer to the falls for a modest fee. 
• Fez. Historical and visually stunning, Fez is perhaps the only Moroccan city that can compete with Marrakesh in terms of having an authentic atmosphere. Sometimes also written as Fès, the city is equally known for its claim to having the oldest university in the world as it is for its unique tanneries. The drive from Marrakesh takes about 5 hours and 30 minutes.

Car rental prices in Marrakech

• Station wagons - from $32 per day
• Small cars - from $10 per day
• Medium cars - from $13 per day
• SUVs - from $19 per day
• Premium cars - from $56 per day
• Vans - from $23 per day
• Large cars - from $14 per day

Money-saving and other tips

You can do a number of things to get a good car rental deal in Marrakesh:

• Compare rates of different rental suppliers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit in the month when the rental prices are the lowest. According to our data, visiting Marrakesh is the cheapest in October when renting a car is about 45% cheaper than the yearly average and about 67% cheaper than renting a car in May.