Local Transport
Bus
» » The bigger cities have public bus services.
» » Tickets are typically Dh4.
» » They’re often handy for crossing the ville nouvelle (new town).
» » They can be ludicrously overcrowded and routes often hard to discern.
» » Petits taxis are often an easier and faster option.
Grand Taxi
The elderly Mercedes vehicles you’ll see on Moroccan roads and gathered near bus stations
are shared taxis ( grands taxis in French or taxiat kebira in Arabic).
The Ziz and Drâa Valleys, the Tizi n’Test and the Rif Mountains, all scenic areas not well-
served by buses, are good to visit in a taxi.
Routes A big feature of Morocco’s public transport system, grands taxis link towns to their
neighbours, often in a relay system that may necessitate changing a few times on longer
journeys. Taxis sometimes ply longer routes when there’s demand, and in areas such as the
Western Sahara where towns are spread out. In general, these services are rarer and usually
leave first thing in the morning.
Seats Grands taxis take six extremely cramped passengers (two in the front, four in the back)
and leave when full. It can often be advantageous to pay for two seats to get the taxi going
earlier, and give yourself more space. This is particularly useful for lone women, as you should
get the front seat to yourself.
Fares The fixed-rate fares are generally a little higher than bus fares, but are still very
reasonable. When asking about fares, make it clear you want to pay for une place (one spot)
in a taxi collectif (shared taxi). Another expression that helps explain that you don’t want the taxi
to yourself is ma’a an-nas (with other people).
Private hire Touts and drivers sometimes try to bounce tourists into hiring the whole taxi
(complet) . Smile and stand your ground if you’re not interested, but hiring an entire taxi is
sometimes a good option – especially if you’re travelling with a small group, or you want to
travel along an unpopular route without waiting hours for other passengers. Before setting off,
negotiate patiently for a reasonable fare; if you’re hiring the whole taxi, aim for six times the
fare for one place. If you’ll be travelling through a scenic area, make sure plans for stopping en
route are clear.
Hazards Grand-taxi drivers often have a boy-racer mentality. Overtaking on blind corners can
be a badge of honour, and speed limits are only adhered to when there’s a police roadblock in
sight. Many accidents involve overworked grand-taxi drivers falling asleep at the wheel, so
night-time journeys are best avoided. Seatbelts are a rarity – and questioning this may be taken
as a slur on your driver’s skills.
Petit Taxi
» » Cities and bigger towns have local petits taxis, which are typically a small Peugeot or Fiat,
and are a different colour in every city.
» » Petits taxis are not permitted to go beyond the city limits.
» » They are licensed to carry up to three passengers
» » They are usually, but not always, metered. To ask in French for the meter to be switched