How to get to Morocco?
by plane, by ferry and by road The different options for travelling to Morocco are varied and include all means of transportation: by air, sea and land. The choice of one or the other will depend on your budget, your place of origin and the destination or destinations you want to visit. Therefore, on this page, we explain how to get to Morocco by plane, by ferry or by road, according to your preferences.
How to get to Morocco by plane:
If you are looking for comfort and speed, there is nothing like getting to Morocco by plane. Moreover, it is the only viable option if you are travelling from a country other than Spain, France or Italy, which are the only ones that have a sea connection with Morocco, as we show below. In addition, Morocco has an extensive network of airports spread throughout the country, where both local and foreign airlines operate. The two main Moroccan airlines are Air Arabia Maroc and, above all, Royal Air Maroc, which offers the most air routes, both nationally and internationally. Among the international airlines with the largest presence in the country are Ryanair, Iberia, TUI, Easyjet, Air France and Norwegian.
Airports and routes to/from Morocco:
With the following list, you can get an idea of how to get to Morocco by plane, since we list all the airports and the places of origin they usually serve. The list lists the airports in order of importance, taking into account the number of companies operating in them and the number of destinations with which they are directly connected:
– Casablanca. Mohammed V International Airport. It is the largest airport in Morocco and one of the leading airports in all of Africa in terms of passenger volume, with close to 10 million per year (2019). These are the destinations you could use as a place of origin if you are considering how to get to Morocco through this city: – Domestic: Dakhla, Agadir, Beni Mellal, Fez, Laayoune, Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Tangier, Rabat, Tetouan, Bouarfa. – International:
– Africa: Luanda (Angola), Algiers, Oran (Algeria), Cotonou (Benin), Ouadougou (Burkina Faso), Praia (Cape Verde), Douala, Yaoundé (Cameroon), N’Djamena (Chad), Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Cairo (Egypt), Libreville (Gabon), Banjul (Gambia), Accra (Ghana), Conakri (Guinea), Bissau (Guinea-Bissau), Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), Nairobi (Kenya), Monrovia (Liberia), Bamako (Mali), Nouadhibou, Nouakchott (Mauritania), Niamey (Niger), Lagos (Nigeria), Bangui (Central African Republic), Brazzaville (Republic of Congo), Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), Dakar (Senegal), Freetown (Sierra Leone), Lomé (Togo), Tunis (Tunisia).
– North America: Montreal (Canada), Boston, Miami, New York, Washington (United States) – Latin America: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo (Brazil)
– Asia: Medina, Riyadh, Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Manama (Bahrain), Abu Dhabi, Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Tel Aviv (Israel), Amman (Jordan), Beirut (Lebanon), Muscat (Oman), Doha (Qatar)
– Europe: Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich (Germany), Vienna (Austria), Brussels, Charleroi (Belgium), Copenhagen (Denmark), Barcelona, Gran Canaria, Madrid, Malaga, Murcia, Tenerife, Valencia (Spain), Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Nantes, Nice, Paris, Toulouse (France), Gibraltar, London, Manchester (United Kingdom), Athens (Greece), Bergamo, Bologna, Catania, Cuneo, Milan, Naples, Rome, Turin, Venice (Italy), Malta (Malta), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Lisbon, Porto (Portugal), Prague (Czech Republic), Moscow (Russia), Stockholm (Sweden), Basel, Geneva, Zurich (Switzerland), Istanbul (Turkey), Marrakech.
– Marrakech. Menara Airport: it is the second largest airport in the country and, as it is the most important city in terms of tourism, it is also the most used by international travellers looking for an easy way to get to Morocco:
– Domestic: Agadir, Casablanca, Tangier, Tan Tan.
– International:
– Asia: Medina, Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Tehran (Iran), Doha (Qatar).
– Europe: Madrid, Barcelona, Gran Canaria, Malaga, Bilbao, Girona, Tenerife, Seville, Valencia, Santander, Reus (Spain), Marseille, Toulouse, Nantes, Lyon, Bordeaux, Brest, Strasbourg, Clermont-Ferrand, Châlons-en-Champagne, Dole, Nimes, Perpignan, Potiers, Tours, Paris, Nice, Beauvais, Pau, Lille, Metz (France), London, Bristol, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Birmingham (UK), Brussels, Charleroi (Belgium), Berlin, Munich, Bremen, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Memmingen, Nuremberg, Stuttgart, Weeze (Germany), Vienna (Austria), Sofia (Bulgaria), Zagreb (Croatia), Bratislava (Slovakia), Helsinki (Finland), Milan, Bologna, Pisa, Rome, Catania, Bergamo, Naples, Rome, Treviso, Turin (Italy), Basel, Geneva, Zurich (Switzerland), Luxembourg (Luxembourg), Copenhagen (Denmark), Oslo (Norway), Stockholm (Sweden), Lisbon, Porto, Funchal (Portugal), Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Eindhoven (Netherlands), Athens (Greece), Budapest (Hungary), Dublin (Ireland), Warsaw, Krakow (Poland), Bucharest (Romania), Istanbul (Turkey), Agadir (Turkey).
– Agadir. Al Massira Airport: has an important volume of passengers throughout the year due to the fact that this Atlantic destination is a great pole of attraction in the sun and beach tourism sector. If you want to know how to get to Morocco through this city, these are the destinations you should note down:
– National: Dakhla, El Aaiun, Ouarzazate, Casablanca, Essaouira, Rabat, Zagora.
– International: Dublin (Ireland), Cologne, Munich, Berlin, Hannover, Dusseldorf, Weeze, Frankfurt, Hamburg (Germany), Manchester, London, Birmingham (United Kingdom), Copenhagen (Denmark), Stockholm (Sweden), Toulouse, Paris, Deauville, Metz, Nantes (France), Brussels (Belgium), Gran Canaria, Jerez de la Frontera, Valencia, Seville (Spain), Milan (Italy), Zurich, Basel (Switzerland), Warsaw (Poland), Luxembourg (Luxembourg), Oslo (Norway), Amsterdam (Netherlands),
– Nador. Nador International Airport: it is a fundamental airport for sun and beach tourism developed on the Moroccan Mediterranean coast. In addition, due to its proximity to Melilla, it is also a solution for those travelling to this Spanish autonomous city:
– Nationals: Tangier, Casablanca
– Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Rotterdam (Netherlands), Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca (Spain), Brussels, Antwerp, Charleroi, Liège (Belgium), Cologne, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Paderborn (Germany), Montpellier, Lille, Beauvais, Marseille (France).
– Tangier. Ibn Batouta Airport: along with its important port of Tangier Med, which offers the main solution to how to reach Morocco by ferry, this airport also remains one of the major air gateways to the country for international travellers:
– Domestic: Casablanca, El Aaiun, Nador
– International: Amsterdam, Rotterdam (Netherlands), Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, Valencia (Spain), Montpellier, Nantes, Marseille, Beauvais, Paris (France), Istanbul (Turkey), Brussels (Belgium), London, Gibraltar (UK), Jeddah, Medina (Saudi Arabia), Lisbon (Portugal), Frankfurt (Germany),
– Fez. Saïs Airport: the important cultural tourism attracted by this city and its surroundings (Meknes, Volubilis), makes this airport one of the busiest in the country. It is also the airport of reference for those looking for ways to reach Morocco and explore the Middle Atlas, especially in winter:
– Domestic: Casablanca
– International: Montpellier, Paris, Beauvais, Lille, Nantes, Nîmes, Saint Etienne, Brest, Châlons-en-Champagne, Dole, Strasbourg, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse (France), Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Gran Canaria, Girona (Spain), Bergamo, Rome, Pisa, Treviso, Turin (Italy), Brussels (Belgium), Eindhoven (Netherlands), Frankfurt, Weeze, Bremen, Memmingen (Germany), London (United Kingdom), Lisbon (Portugal).
– Rabat. Rabat-Salé Airport: despite being the capital’s airport, it is not one of the busiest airports. However, the destinations to which it is connected are first class, often capitals of other countries:
– Domestic: Agadir
– International: Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), Doha (Qatar), Istanbul (Turkey), Weeze (Germany), Brussels (Belgium), Girona, Jerez de la Frontera, Madrid, Malaga, Seville (Spain), Marseille, Paris (France), Rome (Italy), London (United Kingdom).
– Oujda. Angads Airport: although it is not a coastal city, it is one of the best solutions for getting to Mediterranean Morocco, as it is only 60 km from Saidia.
– National: Casablanca, Nador
– International: Amsterdam (Netherlands), Porto, Lisbon (Portugal), Marseille, Paris, Beauvais, Marseille, Lille, Lyon (France), Weeze (Germany), Charleroi (Belgium), Paris (France).
– International: Amsterdam (Netherlands), Porto, Lisbon (Portugal), Marseille, Paris, Beauvais, Marseille, Lille, Lyon (France), Weeze (Germany), Charleroi (Belgium), Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Prague (Czech Republic), Bratislava (Slovakia).
– Tan Tan. Tan Tan Airport: practically the only relevant city with which it is connected is Casablanca and its main service is offered in August, on the dates of its famous mousses.
– Ouarzazate. Ouarzazate Airport: this city is considered the gateway to the Sahara desert, and therefore some travellers use it for this purpose from Casablanca or even from Paris, the two major cities with which it has a direct route, operated by Royal Air Maroc.
– Al Hoceima. Cherif Al Idrissi Airport: it is another strategic destination for sun and beach tourism on the Moroccan Mediterranean coast.
– Domestic: Oujda, Casablanca
– International: Amsterdam, Rotterdam (Netherlands), Brussels (Belgium).
– Essaouira. Mogador Airport: its proximity to Marrakech means that many travellers prefer to land there and travel by road for about two hours. However, there are also flights that arrive directly here, so it can be considered as a solution to how to get to Morocco by plane:
– Bordeaux, Paris, Marseille (France), London (UK), Charleroi (Belgium).
– Tetouan. Tetouan-Sania Ramel Airport: it is an airport with a strong increase in the number of passengers in recent years, which shows the growing interest in this city and the Moroccan Mediterranean coast:
– Nationals: Casablanca, Nador, Al Hoceima
– Amsterdam (The Netherlands), Malaga, Alicante (Spain), Liège (Belgium)
– Dakhla. Dakhla Airport: Airport connected mainly with Morocco or its closest geographical environment:
– National: Casablanca, Agadir, El Aaiun.
– International: Gran Canaria (Spain)
– Laayoune. Hassan I International Airport: like Dakhla, it is mainly connected to other cities in the country and other surrounding destinations, so it is not a solution for those looking to reach Morocco by plane:
– Domestic: Agadir, Casablanca
– International: Gran Canaria (Spain)
In any case, the following list may vary depending on the opening or closing of routes according to the commercial strategies of the companies that manage them, so we recommend you to make a thorough search before deciding on one route or another.
Other domestic airports
In addition to the airports mentioned above, which have international traffic, there are others that are practically only connected to other destinations in the country. But although they do not represent a real possibility in your planning of how to get to Morocco, it may be interesting to know them to schedule other domestic trips:
– Errachidia. Moulay Ali Cherif Airport: connections with Fez and Casablanca.
– Beni Mellal. Beni Mellal Airport: connection to Casablanca.
– Bouarfa: Bouarfa Airport: connection to Casablanca
– Zagora. Zagora Airport: located in the heart of the Sahara desert, it is an interesting option for those who wish to travel directly here by plane. It has connections with Casablanca and Ouarzazate.
– Smara. Smara Airport: like Dakhla and Laayoune, it is one of the few airports serving the territory of Western Sahara. It can offer routes to/from Casablanca, Ouarzazate and Zagora.
On the other hand, it should not be forgotten that there are also airfields that, although not used by commercial civil aviation, can be used for certain aerial activities, such as parachuting. An example of this is the Taroudant Aerodrome. If you are interested in carrying out an activity of this type, you can consult us and ask for advice on the possible infrastructures to consider.
How to get to Morocco by ferry
The ferry is undoubtedly the other great option on how to get to Morocco. Its proximity to the Iberian Peninsula (just 14 km in the narrowest part of the Strait of Gibraltar) has led this country to develop a large passenger and cargo port in the coastal city of Tangier (known as Tangier Med). Therefore, this city is not only a gateway by air through its airport but also a great gateway by sea.
But besides Tangier, there are other Moroccan cities in the Mediterranean that are also connected by sea with the Iberian Peninsula (Al Hoceima, Nador, etc.), so they are also a real possibility to enter the country, especially if you plan to visit Andalusia on your trip.
Finally, some of the major lines that operate in the Mediterranean and connect countries such as Italy and France also reach Morocco, so you can also consider other places other than Spain to start your trip.
These are the routes you can consider to plan how to get to Morocco through Tangier:
Ferry from Spain to Morocco
– From Spain:
– To Tangier:
– Tarifa-Tangier. Approximate travel time: 1 hour
– Algeciras-Tangier. Approximate travel time: 1 hour and a half.
– Barcelona-Tangier. Approximate travel time: between 4 hours and 5 hours and a half.
– Motril-Tangier. Approximate travel time: 8 hours
– Malaga-Tangier. Approximate travel time: 5 hours
– To Nador:
– Almeria-Nador. Approximate travel time: 5 to 6 hours.
– Motril-Nador. Approximate travel time: 5 hours
– Barcelona-Nador. Approximate travel time: 3 hours and a half.
– To Al Hoceima:
– Motril-Al Hoceima. Approximate travel time: 5 hours
Ferry from other countries to Morocco
– From Gibraltar:
– Gibraltar-Tangier. Approximate travel time: 1 hour and a half.
– From France:
– Sète-Tangier. Approximate travel time: 34 hours.
– From Italy:
– Genoa-Tangier. Approximate travel time: 51 hours
On the other hand, at this point, it is interesting to mention another alternative to how to get to Morocco by ferry: using the port of arrival in the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla. From them, you will have to cross the land border between Spain and Morocco, so we advise you to know well all the necessary procedures to carry out this possibility. These are the main options:
– To Ceuta:
– Algeciras-Ceuta. Approximate travel time: 1 hour and 15 minutes.
– To Melilla:
– Almeria-Melilla. Approximate travel time: 6 hours and 15 minutes.
– Malaga-Melilla. Approximate travel time: 7 hours
– Motril-Melilla. Approximate travel time: 6 hours
In addition to Tangier, there are two other coastal cities on the Atlantic Ocean that also have large passenger seaports: Agadir and, above all, Casablanca. However, both ports are basically used by private vessels or as stopovers for large cruise ships that also visit other nearby destinations such as the Canary Islands, Madeira or Andalusia. Therefore, they are not a viable option if you are considering how to reach Morocco on a regular ferry line.
Main ferry companies to travel by ferry to Morocco
The companies that operate these regular routes between Morocco and other surrounding countries are flagged in Spain, France, Italy and Morocco. This is a list of them, which may vary depending on the opening or closing of new routes, or strategic changes in the companies (mergers, name changes, etc.):
– Balearia
– Trasmediterranea
– Armas
– GNV (Grandi Navi Veloci)
– Grimaldi Lines
– FRS
– Inter Shipping
– Africa Morocco Link
The frequency of routes and weekly departures is also very variable. In some cases, there are daily departures or with great regularity (several days a week). Still, in other cases, the route is only operational at certain times of the year, especially in high season.
How to go to Morocco by bus
Although the Strait of Gibraltar runs between Europe and Morocco, there is the option of travelling to this country by bus: there are several bus companies that offer this route. Of course, to cross from Spain to Morocco, it is necessary to get off the bus, get on a ferry and get back on another bus in Moroccan territory. But these companies include this service in their ticket so that the traveller does not have to worry about solving this transfer.
Logically, this is a type of trip that takes much longer than the plane and with few options for the origin and destination, but it can be interesting for those who prefer not to fly and do not want to stop in Tangier Med.
At the moment, one of the few companies offering this service is the Spanish company Alsa. These are the main cities through which their routes pass and, therefore, they can be useful in an alternative as surprising as getting to Morocco by bus:
– From Madrid and Malaga, directly to: Tangier, Larache, Kenitra, Rabat, Casablanca.
– Transferring in Tangier or Casablanca: Beni Mellal, Fez, Khouribga, Marrakech, Meknes, Sidi Kacem, Souk El Arba.
Thanks to the important network of routes that Alsa has in Spain, it is possible to get the ticket from many other points of the country, transferring to Madrid or Malaga.
In addition to Alsa, another company that traditionally offered this service was Eurolines. At the time of writing (2022), it was still doing so, but it has become part of the Flixbus group. Therefore, it is possible that there are changes in its routes and service. In any case, it still operates in important cities such as Marrakech, Rabat, Casablanca or Tangier, so you can check its website if you are looking for how to get to Morocco by bus.
How to get to Morocco by car
As of today, there is no way to get to Morocco by car, unless you load it on a ferry and cross the Strait of Gibraltar with it. This requires additional formalities for your vehicle to be admitted in Morocco and, above all, to be accepted back in Spain. This is the option to be followed by those who want to travel by motorhome in Morocco or by the thousands of European citizens of Moroccan origin who every summer take part in the so-called ‘Operation Crossing the Strait’.
On the other hand, it is worth remembering that at the date of writing this content (2022), the border crossing with Algeria through Oujda was still closed, as a result of the rupture of diplomatic relations between these neighboring countries at the end of the twentieth century. And since the Sahara desert is a natural barrier that is practically impassable by car, there is no material way to enter Morocco by car by any other route.
As an alternative to this, if you want to drive to travel around the country, you can rent a car on your arrival in Morocco, as in the main cities of entry (Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakech, etc.) you will find offices of the major car rental chains, or do it in the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla and then cross the border by car.
Check your route before travelling
The information provided on this page on how to get to Morocco is subject to change: airlines and shipping companies may reorganize their routes or land borders may be closed for political or health reasons. In fact, the Covid-19 pandemic substantially modified the country’s connections with foreign countries.
Therefore, we recommend you contact our agency when you are going to get your travel tickets. Our tour packages do not usually include airline or ferry tickets for arrival and return, but we can advise you on how to get to Morocco according to the companies and routes available, as well as other questions of your interest.