In short
Essaouira is about 190 km from Marrakech, a 2.5 to 3-hour drive. The cheapest easy option is the coach: CTM runs it direct in 2 h 30 for 105 dirhams one way (checked September 2026), and Supratours matches that. The most comfortable is a door-to-door private transfer; there is no train and no flight between the two.
There is one road between Marrakech and Essaouira, and everyone uses it: coaches, grand taxis, transfers and hire cars. So the real question is not how, but in what, depending on your budget, your luggage and what time you land.
Here are the four options, in the order we recommend them to friends.
Distance and journey time
It is about 190 km from central Marrakech to the Essaouira medina. The road is good, two lanes, almost dead straight across the plain, and it runs through the argan forest for the last hour.
- By car or private transfer: 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on traffic and stops.
- By coach: 3 to 3.5 hours, with a coffee stop halfway.
- By train: not possible, Essaouira has no station (more below).
From Marrakech Menara airport, add 20 to 30 minutes to get out of the city.
| Option | Time | Rough price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supratours or CTM coach | 3 – 3.5 h | ~100 MAD per person | Tight budgets, solo travellers |
| Shared grand taxi | 2.5 – 3 h | ~100 MAD per seat | Leaving without a timetable |
| Private transfer | 2.5 – 3 h | €70 – €100 per car | Families, airport arrivals, luggage |
| Hire car | 2.5 – 3 h | depends on the firm | Exploring the coast afterwards |
By coach: Supratours or CTM
This is what most travellers do, and it is what we would do in your place if you are travelling light. Two reliable companies run the route several times a day: Supratours, the coach arm of the national rail company ONCF, and CTM. Coaches are air-conditioned, seats are numbered and bags go in the hold.
- Supratours leaves from its own station right next to Marrakech railway station. In Essaouira it drops you at its office near Bab Marrakech, a few minutes' walk from the medina.
- CTM leaves from its Marrakech station and arrives at Essaouira's bus station near Bab Doukkala.
Expect around 100 dirhams one way, plus a few dirhams per bag in the hold. Book online on the Supratours or CTM websites, or at the counter the day before. In summer, during the Gnaoua festival and in Moroccan school holidays the coaches fill up, so buy your return ticket as soon as you arrive.
When you get off, porters with handcarts wait by the medina gates. For a few dozen dirhams they will wheel your bags to your riad's door, which is well worth it in car-free alleys.
By grand taxi
Shared grand taxis leave from the Bab Doukkala bus station in Marrakech. The system: the taxi leaves when every seat is sold, and each passenger pays for one seat. It is fast and cheap, but a tight squeeze for three hours.
You can also hire the whole taxi: you pay for every seat, leave when you like and stop on the way. Agree the total price before you get in, never on arrival.
By private transfer
The most relaxing option, especially if you land in Marrakech with children, surfboards or a late flight. A driver waits in the arrivals hall or outside your riad, at a price fixed in advance, and drops you at the medina gate nearest your accommodation.
It costs more than the coach, but for a family with luggage or an evening arrival the difference is quickly worth it: no taxi to the bus station, no departure to catch, no bags to watch.
By hire car
A car only makes sense if you plan to explore the coast: Sidi Kaouki, Cap Sim, Moulay Bouzerktoun or the road to Agadir. For the town itself it is useless: the Essaouira medina is entirely car-free.
A few tips for the drive:
- Stick to the speed limits. Police speed checks are frequent on this road, especially at the entrance to villages.
- The goats in the argan trees by the roadside are often put there for photos, in exchange for a tip. If that bothers you, don't stop.
- Park outside the walls. There are guarded car parks near the port and Bab Marrakech, for a few dozen dirhams a day.
Before you book one, read what a car actually gets you here and what it costs: car hire in Essaouira.
What about the train?
There is no train to Essaouira. If you are coming from Casablanca, Rabat or Tangier, take the ONCF train to Marrakech and then the Supratours coach, which is the rail company's own connection and sells as a combined train-and-coach ticket. The same goes for flying: there is no flight between Marrakech and Essaouira. Essaouira does have its own airport, but it takes only a few flights a week, never from Marrakech.
There and back in a day
It is possible in either direction, but it means 5 to 6 hours on the road for a few hours in town. If you are based in Marrakech and only have one day, an organised trip saves you juggling timetables:
If you can, spend at least one night in Essaouira. The town shows itself in the evening, after the day-trip coaches have gone.
Once you arrive
The best time of day in Essaouira is the morning, before the wind gets up. If you arrive the day before, keep the next morning for the thing that is worth the journey on its own:
Common questions
How far is Essaouira from Marrakech?
About 190 km by road: 2.5 to 3 hours by car or private transfer, and 3 to 3.5 hours by coach including the stop.
Is there a train from Marrakech to Essaouira?
No, Essaouira has no railway station. From elsewhere in Morocco, take the train to Marrakech and then the Supratours coach, which is the rail company's own connection.
How much is the bus from Marrakech to Essaouira?
Around 100 dirhams one way with Supratours or CTM, plus a few dirhams per checked bag. Book online or at the counter the day before, especially in summer.
How much is a taxi from Marrakech to Essaouira?
A seat in a shared grand taxi is around 100 dirhams. A whole taxi or a private transfer costs roughly €70 to €100 per car; agree the price before you set off.
How do I get from Marrakech airport to Essaouira?
The simplest way is a private transfer booked in advance: the driver meets you at arrivals and you are in Essaouira in about three hours. Otherwise take a taxi to the Supratours station in Marrakech, then the coach.
