Tips for Marrakesh mini-bus and coach tourism

Useful tips for Marrakesh bus groups with ‘what to see’ and ‘what to do’ items and  ‘bus- friendly’ or must see tourist sites in Marrakesh. Check our list of attractions before planning your bus tour with a stop or departure in Marrakesh. Let us know if your favourite attraction or ‘bus-stop’ is not there and you think we should add it to our list of Marrakesh highlights.

Minibuses and luxury coach hire in Marrakech

Although Marrakech is in Marocco the bus and coach hire services resemble those of Europe.

Marrakech bus rental rates and vehicle choices

You"ll find bus rental vehicles of all sizes, ranging from 8 seaters to luxury 56 seaters. The quality in Marrakech is generally good, as the older buses are then used for the local Moroccan market, like school and work services. Rented coaches with air-conditioning and on-board toilets will cost more and is probably required in the summer months. Expect prices that start at around €300 a day.

The Museum of Islamic Art, painted in Majorelle Blue, at the Majorelle Garden

The Museum of Islamic Art, painted in Majorelle Blue, at the Majorelle Garden credit: Viault CC BY-SA 3.0

Touristic and flexible minibus and coach hire companies

Some larger Marrakech transport companies specialise in minibus and coach rentals for tourists only. There are also travel agents who offer Marrakech coach and minibus rentals for similar prices. In general the industry works together, so if a company doesn"t have what you"re looking for, they"ll search for somebody who does.

A city designed for coaches and minibuses

It"s hard to say exactly how many coach companies there are, but if you stand at the main Marrakech gate you"ll see a different coach company arrive every ten minutes with another group of tourists. Best of all Marrakech has been designed for coaches. At many of the main sites there are coach parks, minimising your chances of getting lost once your inside the pedestrianised city medina.

eco voyages services minibuses

Minibuses from ">eco voyages services

What to see during your tour in Fes with a hired minibus

Marrakech gently pummels all your senses, taking you on a roller-coaster ride of sight, smell, and sound. It"s well set up for coaches, with coach parking bays set aside most of the main attractions. Even the pedestrianised souks are made easy by coaches being able to drop you at different entrances.

Jemaa el-Fnaa Square

Marrakech is centered on this square. Men cycle around with monkeys on the handlebars, snake charmers throw cobras around people"s neck, Berber street bands entertain for small change, and Arabic story tellers draw crowds of hundreds. Then there are the orange juice stalls, the men who sell boiled snails, the nightly food market, and plenty of spicy tea stalls to energize you with caffeine and sugar. Coaches and buses can park near the entrance and it"s good to visit this square more than once as it has a different atmosphere in the day and night. Also check out the surrounding cafe terraces for a great view of the action, and the slow burning sunset.

Breakfast on the roof terrace

Breakfast on the roof terrace credit: Nick Anstead CC BY-ND 2.0

The Crazy Souks

Most of Marrakech"s old town defies any sophisticated minibus GPS systems or maps. They just color a large section of the map yellow and write souk. Technically this means market, but it usually means getting lost in a maze of winding alleys. Your rented coach can park by different souk entrances and they will either accompany you, or give you very clear instructions about how to find the coach. In these souks you can be everything, from camels to camel tours, spices to carpets, silver, wooly hats, mint tea, and then there are the thousands of curio stalls.

Marrakesh mosque


Marrakesh"s main mosque dates back hundreds of years. Non Muslims can"t enter but it"s still impressive from above
Credit Photo: Stephen Bailey

The Old Palaces, Mosques, and Gardens

While most of Marrakech may appear to be crumbling there are still some stunning remains that date back 500 years plus. The Badi Palace is forlorn and decaying, but the sheer scale of the place impresses everyone. Nearby, the Bahia Palace has been carefully restored and shows how opulently the local royalty used to live. Koutoubia Mosque dates back to the 12th century, as does Ben Youssef Mosque. Non-muslims aren"t allowed to enter but they look very impressive from the outside. Also check out Ben Youssef Madrasa – this 12th century Islamic school used to hold 900 students and it"s probably the most perfect place for a game of hide and seek.

Reflections, Jardin Majorelle, Marrakech

Reflections, Jardin Majorelle, Marrakech credit: Julia Maudlin CC BY 2.0

Marrakech is a green city and with a rented coach you"ll be able to park outside the fabulous Menara Gardens, the more modern Majorelle Garden, or relax beneath the orange trees of Koutoubia Gardens.

Day trips from Marrakech

Check out the Marrakech skyline and you"ll see plenty of opportunity. The city is surrounded by desert and then flanked by snowy mountains. Getting out of Marrakech with a rented minibus with driver is a great way to recharge the batteries after the city"s madness. Just two hours by coach is the tranquil old coastal town of Essouraira. Or you can head into the high Atlas Mountains for a spot of skiing in Africa. Another popular option is heading into the mountains north of Marrakech where waterfalls, stunning views, and cute Berber villages await.

cameltrekking-excursions 1

 Vehicle with driver from Camel Trekking Excursions

More about Marrakesh and Marrakesh-Tensift-El Haouz for bus tours, tourism and travels

Read more about trips, transport, tours, taxis and bus rental in Marrakesh, or find information about sights, transport services and travel in the province of Marrakesh-Tensift-El Haouz . You can receive competing quotes for bus hire in Marrakesh directly by completing this quote request form. Getting offers for chauffeured coach or minibus hire in Marrakesh has never been easier!

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