How early should I arrive for a Moroccan train / bus?

Moroccan transport is far less bureaucratic than air travel, so you don't need the long lead times airports demand — but trains and coaches have slightly different rhythms. For trains, arriving fifteen to thirty minutes before departure is comfortably enough. There's no check-in, no security theatre, no luggage drop. If you already have your ticket on your phone or printed, you can almost stroll on; if you need to buy at the counter or machine, give yourself the upper end of that window in case there's a queue, then walk to the platform. Platforms are usually announced shortly before departure, so a few minutes' wait is normal.

Coaches need a bit more lead time because of the luggage system. On CTM and Supratours, I'd aim for thirty to forty-five minutes ahead of departure. You need to collect or confirm your ticket, take large bags to be loaded into the hold and tagged, and find the correct departure bay — and these coaches leave promptly, so being late means watching it pull away with your tagged suitcase already aboard. Giving yourself that half-hour-plus removes all the stress and lets you settle in.

Where you are matters too. At Casablanca's big Casa Voyageurs station, or a busy central bus terminal, allow more buffer — bigger stations mean longer queues at counters, more walking to find your platform or bay, and more chance of confusion. At a small-town station you can cut it finer. And around the major public holidays, Eid, and peak summer weekends, everything is busier and fuller, so I'd add an extra fifteen or twenty minutes across the board and book ahead so you're not fighting for a ticket at the last minute.

One practical reassurance: Moroccan trains and the good coaches are reasonably punctual, but the conventional trains in particular can run a little late, so don't panic if departure slips by a few minutes. The real risk isn't the train leaving early — it's you arriving flustered with no time to buy a ticket, tag a bag, or find the platform. Arrive calm with that modest cushion, and boarding is one of the easiest parts of travelling here.