Petit taxis in Marrakech
The beige petit taxi is the simplest way to move around town. Here's what a run really costs, how the meter works and the few scams to know so you pay the fair fare.
How the petit taxi works
In Marrakech, the petit taxi is sand beige and carries a maximum of three passengers. It runs only within the city; to leave Marrakech, it's the grand taxi. The meter is mandatory: ask for it as you get in - 'meter, please' - or agree the fare before you set off. The minimum fare is 7 MAD (about £0.60), even for a few hundred metres, and the rate goes up by about 50% at night, roughly from 8pm or 9pm depending on the season.
How much does a run cost?
On the meter, moving around town is cheap. The bands below cover the most common runs - they only hold if the meter is running.
| Route | Day | Night |
|---|---|---|
| Jemaa el-Fna ↔ Guéliz | ~15-30 MAD (£1.20-£2.50) | ~25-45 MAD (£2-£4) |
| Jemaa el-Fna ↔ Jardin Majorelle | ~20-40 MAD (£1.60-£3.20) | ~30-50 MAD (£2.40-£4) |
| Medina ↔ ONCF train station | ~15-30 MAD (£1.20-£2.50) | ~25-45 MAD (£2-£4) |
| Medina ↔ Palmeraie | ~30-50 MAD (£2.40-£4) | ~45-70 MAD (£3.60-£6) |
These prices only hold when the meter is running. Watch for:
- 'Broken meter' followed by an inflated fare: refuse or agree the price first.
- Flat fare at three to five times the going rate, without a meter: know the band before you get in.
- Padded detour: follow the route on Google Maps or Waze.
- 'Your riad is closed': a pretext to take you somewhere else for a commission - confirm with your accommodation.
- Touts at the airport: ignore them and head for the official rank, where flat fares are posted.
Taking a taxi without a hitch
Four reflexes are enough to pay the fair fare and avoid the bad surprises.
Apps for ordering a taxi
Rather than hailing on the street, several apps call a taxi to your location - handy in the evening, or when you don't speak Arabic. Two work with official licensed taxis, price shown up front and paid to the driver in cash: Roby, by far the most common in Marrakech, and Heetch. Alongside, ride-hailing apps like inDrive - where you set your own price - or Careem also run, but in a legal grey zone.
Uber returned to Morocco in late 2025 but on a limited and shaky basis: better not to rely on it. The status of these apps shifts fast; the street petit taxi, meanwhile, stays available everywhere.
At night, travelling solo
Marrakech is broadly safe, including for solo women travellers, with the usual precautions. In the evening, especially after 10pm in the medina, it's better to order a taxi through your riad or an app than to hail one in the street. Sit in the back, keep your route visible and share the trip with someone you know if you like. If a dispute arises, note the licence number painted on the front door before you report it.
The essentials
