Fès Getting There & Away

Getting There & Away

By plane Flights operate regularly from Casablanca and Paris-Orly to Fes-Saiss airport. New services starting soon from Frankfurt(Hahn), 25 Oct 06, London (Luton), 31 Oct 06, and Marseille Provence, 09 Nov 06. Direct service from Heathrow airport twice a week also available from November 1, 2006. By train There is regular train service, along the line that runs from Rabat to Oujda. It is about 3.5 hours direct from Rabat to Fez. By car Fez is about 4 hours' drive by car from Casablanca. The stretch of toll highway from Rabat to Fez is in superb condition and is relatively little used- the toll in spring 2005 was about 5 dirhams (approx 0.5 euros). Travelling by grand taxi (inter-city taxi), though more expensive than trains, is viable for tourists- a ride from Fez to Casablanca in spring 2005 cost 1200 dirhams (approx 120 euros), not bad if you are sharing the cost among 3 or 4 passengers. Note that grand taxi fares are regulated and it is worth checking the official rates with the tourist board, as some drivers or hotels will quote inflated prices. Within Fez, ride in the petits taxis (local taxis) rarely cost more that 15-20 dirhams (spring 2005). However, the medina of Fes el-Bali is only accessible from a few points by car. Place R'cif is a taxi and bus dropoff in the heart of the medina; there are a couple of parking areas such as Ain Zleten on the edges of the medina. By bus The main bus terminal ("gare routiere") is just outside the old city on the north side, near the Ain Zleten entrance. Grands taxis (inter-city taxis) can also be obtained here.