Taxi Travel

Moroccan taxis take two forms: petits taxis, small taxis that travel within city limits, and grands taxis, large taxis that travel between cities. Grands drivers usually wait until the taxi is full before departing.

Taxis are color-coded according to city—in Casablanca and Fez they're red, in Rabat they're blue, in Marrakesh they're beige, and so on. Petits taxis can be hailed anywhere and take a maximum of three passengers. The fare is metered and not expensive: usually 5 DH to 30 DH for a short or medium-length trip. Taxis often pick up additional passengers en route, so if you can't find an empty cab, try hailing a taxi with one or two passengers already; the driver should run a separate meter for each passenger. Passengers traveling together pay one fare.

Grands taxis travel fixed routes between cities and in the country. Two passengers can squeeze in front with the driver, and four sit, very cramped, in the back. Don't expect air-conditioning, a luxurious interior, or even fully functioning windows, although the old Mercedes diehard taxis are slowly being replaced by modern minivans, which are less nostalgic but much more comfortable. Fares for these shared rides are inexpensive, sometimes as little as 5 DH per person for a short trip. You can also buy several seats for comfort or charter a grand taxi for trips between cities, but you need to negotiate a price in advance.