trains. Eight trains go to Marrakesh (Dh195, eight hours) and one goes to Tangier (Dh105, five
hours) direct (four more via Sidi Kacem). Direct trains for Oujda (Dh108, six hours) via Taza
(Dh40, two hours) leave three times daily.
Getting Around
To/From the Airport
There is a regular bus service (bus 16) between the airport and the train station (Dh3, 25
minutes), with departures every half-hour or so. Grands taxis from any stand charge a set fare
of Dh120.
Bus
Fez has a reliable local bus service. At certain times of day, however, the buses are like
sardine cans and are notorious for pickpockets. The standard fare is Dh2.50. Some useful
routes:
No 9 Place Atlas via Blvd Abdallah Chefchaouni (both in the ville nouvelle) to near the Batha
Museum (Fès el-Bali); the bus returns via Place de la Résistance, Ave Hassan II and Ave des
FAR.
No 10 Train station via Bab Guissa (northern Fès el-Bali) to Bab Sidi Bou Jida (northeastern
Fès el-Bali).
No 19 Train station via Ave Hassan II (both in ville nouvelle) and Bab el-Jdid (southern Fès el-
Bali) to Place R’cif (central Fès el-Bali).
No 47 Train station to Bab Bou Jeloud (Fès el-Bali).
Taxi
Drivers of the red petits taxis generally use their meters without any fuss. Expect to pay about
Dh9 from the train or CTM station to Bab Bou Jeloud. As usual, there is a 50% surcharge after
8pm. You’ll find taxi ranks outside all the gates of the medina. Only grands taxis go out to the
airport.
Around Fez
SEFROU
The small Berber town of Sefrou, just 30km southeast of Fez, is a picturesque place situated
on the edge of the Middle Atlas. It has a small but interesting medina, which once hosted one of
Morocco’s largest Jewish communities (as many as 8000 people, according to some
accounts), and it was here that Moulay Idriss II lived while overseeing the building of Fez. It’s
an easy day trip from Fez, ideal if you need to escape the big city.