Are you wondering what it will be like when you arrive in Marrakech? Will the airport have WiFi? How do I avoid getting ripped off on my SIM card? What about ground transport?
You’re in luck because I’m going to tell you step-by-step how to arrive in Marrakech and set yourself up for a great holiday in Morocco.
Read on to discover everything you need to know about arriving at the Marrakech Manara airport, including getting money, a SIM card, customs, and finding your ground transport.
I arrived at the Marrakech airport on a Tuesday morning after an overnight flight from Chicago to Lisbon followed by a quick 1.5-hour flight from Lisbon to Marrakech. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Marrakech airport was super easy to navigate and was able to do everything I needed to within half an hour.
Read on or check out this video to see just how easy getting through the Marrakech airport was!
Deplaning
Our flight from Portugal landed out on the tarmac. Everyone walked down the steps and across the tarmac and into the building. All the signs were printed in both English and Arabic. All the signs also had clear symbols marking how to get to important things like customs or the bathroom, so you don’t need to speak Arabic to manage the airport.
Getting Through Customs
The video above does not have any footage of customs because it is illegal in most countries to have phones out during the customs process. However, it was as easy as showing my passport, them stamping it, and I walked through. Ours was the only plane arriving at that time, so the line took maybe 5 minutes.
Baggage Claim
The baggage claim is right on the other side of the customs check. Our bags arrived shortly after we did; it was a seamless airport experience.
SIM Card
This step is optional if you do not want the internet on your phone during your time in Morocco. This post will help you to understand what your options are when traveling with an American cell phone abroad.
I got ripped off and paid $30 for 3 gigs of data, so my advice is this:
- Do not use the INWI brand of SIM right when you get through customs. Instead, get your bags and cash first, then use a provider in the arrivals area after baggage check.
- I recommend going through the baggage scanner area before buying a SIM. The company Orange is to the left when you walk through. Their data cost about $15 for 6 gigs – more than enough to get you through a couple of weeks providing that you do not stream data.
Customs 2 – Baggage Scanner
You’ll have to put any carry-ons or checked baggage through the bag scanner. This will take about a minute.
Getting Money From the ATM or Exchange
The ATM is right on the other side of the baggage scanner. They will accept foreign VISA and Mastercard and the fee is about $3. You can get up to 2000 Moroccan Dirhams, which is about $200 right now. Most places will only accept cash, so I recommend pulling out the full amount.
If you brought money to exchange, do that at the exchange next to the baggage claim while waiting for your checked bags. If you are exchanging money, you can do it before or after the baggage scanner.
Finding Ground Transport
To find local transit, walk out of the front door of the airport and follow the two signs to the bus. If you are taking a taxi, the taxis are right across the pickup lane.
It took about 3 minutes to walk across the Hertz lot to get to the local bus. I asked the driver if he was going to the intercity bus station and he said yes. Then, I paid him 70 Dirhams (set price). He even told me which stop to get off at when we got to the closest one to the intercity bus station.
Other important notes:
- The airport has strong, consistent WiFi.
- Be sure to download maps to use offline so that you can avoid using a lot of phone data. Tutorial is here.
- The baggage claim office is at the end of the row of baggage belts, and the people running the office speak English, French, and Arabic. Go see them if your bag does not arrive.
- Most people in tourism including the bus drivers will speak French and English as well as Berber and Arabic, should you need to ask any questions.
Other questions about what it is like to arrive in Marrakech, Morocco? Leave a comment below or reach out to me on Instagram!