How do I get from Marrakech airport to the medina?

The good news is that Marrakech Menara airport is remarkably close to town — about 6 km, or 15 to 20 minutes by road in normal traffic. You are not facing a long slog from a distant airport; you can be sipping mint tea in your riad courtyard within half an hour of stepping off the plane, if your transport is sorted.

My strong recommendation, especially for a first arrival, is a pre-booked private transfer. Marrakech’s medina is a maze, and most riads sit down narrow lanes no car can enter — a good transfer driver knows exactly which gate to stop at and will often walk you the last few minutes to the door. You step out to your name on a sign, the price is fixed in advance, and there is no haggling after a long flight.

Official airport taxis are the next option. They are metered or have set zone fares, but in practice you should agree the price before you get in, in dirhams, as the meter is not always used for the airport run. It is cheap relative to most countries, but tourists are sometimes quoted inflated rates, so a little firmness helps. They will get you to the edge of the medina, from where you may need to walk in.

On a budget, bus line 19 runs from the airport to the central Koutoubia/Jemaa el-Fnaa area and on to Gueliz, cheaply and roughly every half hour. It is fine if you travel light and do not mind a short walk into the medina at the other end. But for the very first arrival, with luggage and an unfamiliar maze ahead, I almost always tell guests the small cost of a private transfer to the riad door is money well spent.