Rabat Transportation

Local taxi are available. But, drivers don't speak in english. Know in French the name of the place you want to go to, or at least know the popular names of the tourist spot you want to visit. You may also print some photos of the places / tourist spots and show them to the cab driver. Blue-colored taxi (Rabat taxi) and Yellow-colored taxi (Sale' taxi) are metered-run, while the white-old-mercedes limousine type which carry up to 6 people (two beside the driver and 4 at the back seat) charges exact fare depending on its route. I remember paying 5 MAD for riding the limou-type from Sale' to Rabat and vice-versa. You may also bring with you some english-french translation of few simple words prior your travel to Morocco, which I did. French become one of their primary languages because they had been a colony of France in a certain period of time.

Be informed that you can't take Rabat taxi going to Sale' as well as Sale' taxi going to Rabat. It is like these blue-colored taxi (Rabat taxi) can only operate within Rabat, Sale' taxi are within Sale'. Use bus transfers or limo-type taxi cars if you need to go from one of these places going to another.

Seats inside the train are according to class, 1st class & 2nd class. Minimal addition to cost but, not much difference basically, specially when the ticket-checker is lazy. 2nd class ticket holder can crawl and stay on the 1st class part of the train. Connecting them are glass sliding doors. 1st class seats are wider and more comfortable while 2nd class portions are open for smoking in which I chose to stay for that particular reason. Toilets are available all over, but ready yourself and make sure you can bear the smell. If nature calls, better hold on til you get to your hotel.

Have to consider and realize that Morocco Rail System is the best I've seen so far (aside from Hong Kong KCR). Have rode few times to support this judgment. My main point of location being Rabat and to travel from Rabat to Tangier up north and way to Marrakkech down south, good to say that 2nd class remains and will always be my favorite spot of the train. haha!

Rabat has two train stations, make sure to exactly know where in Rabat your destination is. The first station is nearer to city center while most locals alight on the 2nd Rabat station where most of them live.

The train ticket from the airport to Rabat costs 80 MAD (Year 2008) while from Rabat going back to the airport (the time I'll go) costs only 65 MAD, wonder the difference. The train stops for a few minutes from station to station and at one point on the two-hour journey, one major stop over will occur and need to alight the train and transfer to another. Please make sure to ask someone looks familiar to the place to inform you whenever you need to transfer. If you can't speak French or Arabic, just tell them in times, "Rabat, Rabat, Rabat" and soon, they'll realize you are heading to Rabat and will advise you when to transfer. Train-transfer also happens from Rabat going back to airport.

A very exciting way to get to Sale (Rabat's sister town) is by rowboat. The rowboats depart from near the Mausoleum of King Hassan as seen from the picture. The crossing takes a couple of minutes as the guy skilfully guides the boat across the river that divides the two towns. On the other side of the river one has to walk for about 1km to reach the entrance of Sale's old town.

It is probably more expensive than taking a taxi to Sale (we were charged 9dh for our group of six people without any bargaining). The rowers also can do regular boat trips along the river bank to let you admire the beauty of Rabat.

CTM have 2 buses departing for Tiznit from there own CTM Bus Station.

Journey time is 10 hours 30mins

Tickets are around 190 dirhams plus 5 dirhams for luggage.

Please use prices as a rough guide only.

CTM have 1 bus departing for Taroudannt from there own CTM Bus Station.

Journey time is 10 hours.

Tickets are around 180 dirhams plus 5 dirhams for luggage.

Please use prices as a rough guide only.

CTM have 5 buses departing for Tangier from there own CTM Bus Station.

Journey time is 4 hours 30mins.

Tickets are around 80 dirhams plus 5 dirhams for luggage.

Please use prices as a rough guide only.

CTM have 3 buses departing for Safi from there own CTM Bus Station.

Journey time is 5 hours 30mins.

Tickets are around 100 dirhams plus 5 dirhams for luggage.

Please use prices as a rough guide only.