Quick Answer
The best way to get from Meknes to Fes–Saïss Airport (FEZ) is to take an ONCF train from Meknes to Fès-Ville station (35–45 minutes, 20–30 MAD / $2–3) and then a grand taxi from Fès-Ville to the airport (20–30 minutes, 150–250 MAD / $15–25). Total door-to-door time is 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes, and the total cost is roughly 170–280 MAD ($17–28) per person. The key transfer point is Gare de Fès-Ville, in downtown Fes. If speed matters more than money, a pre-booked private transfer (400–700 MAD / $40–70) covers the whole 60 km in about 1 hour 15 minutes. The cheapest option — CTM bus plus local bus — costs as little as 45–60 MAD ($5–6) but takes 3 hours or more.
Train from Meknes to Fes: The Best Overall Option
Morocco's national rail operator, ONCF, runs a frequent service along the Meknes–Fes corridor, which forms part of the main northern axis linking Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes, Fes and Tanger. Because the two cities are only about 60 km apart, the train ride itself is short — usually 35 to 45 minutes — and tickets are extremely cheap by European or North American standards.
The catch is that the train does not go to the airport. Fes–Saïss Airport sits about 15 km south of the city centre, so you must complete the final leg by taxi or local bus. Even so, the train + taxi combination remains the best balance of price, reliability and comfort for almost every traveller.
| Train type | Journey time | 2nd class fare | 1st class fare | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Atlas / fast intercity | 35–40 min | 25–30 MAD ($2.50–3) | 40–50 MAD ($4–5) | Fewest stops, most comfortable |
| TNR / regional train | 45–55 min | 18–25 MAD ($1.80–2.50) | Not always available | Budget travellers, flexible timing |
Frequency: roughly 15–20 departures per day, typically between about 05:30 and 22:00. Mid-morning and late-afternoon services are the busiest. There is no meaningful overnight service on this short route.
Step-by-step: Meknes station to Fes–Saïss Airport by train
- Get to Gare de Meknès. The station sits in the city centre, within walking distance of the medina edge and a short petit-taxi ride (10–20 MAD) from most riads and hotels. Arrive 20–30 minutes before departure.
- Buy your ticket. Use the ticket window, the self-service machines, or buy online in advance through the ONCF Voyages website or mobile app. Second class is perfectly fine for a 40-minute ride.
- Validate / board. Keep your ticket handy — staff may check it on the platform or on board. Luggage racks are available at the end of each carriage plus overhead shelves.
- Arrive at Gare de Fès-Ville. This is the main downtown Fes station, not the airport. Walk out to the taxi rank directly in front of the station.
- Take a grand taxi to the airport. Around 15 km, 20–30 minutes. Agree the price before you get in: expect 150–250 MAD ($15–25) during the day and up to 250–300 MAD late at night.
- Alternative final leg: local bus line 16 runs between central Fes and the airport for around 5–8 MAD, but frequencies are sparse and luggage space is limited — not recommended with big bags or tight flight times.
Meknes station vs Fes station: what to know
- Gare de Meknès — compact, easy to navigate, has a small café and ATMs nearby. No luggage storage to speak of.
- Gare de Fès-Ville — larger and busier; the taxi rank outside is the main transfer point. Ignore unsolicited "guides" offering to find you a taxi.
- Both stations are step-free at platform level, though ramps between platforms can be steep.
Is the train good for early-morning or late-night flights?
Partly. If your flight departs before roughly 08:00, the first trains may be too late once you add the taxi transfer and the recommended 2-hour airport buffer. For a 06:00 departure you would realistically need to be at FEZ by 04:00 — at that hour the only sensible options are a private transfer or an overnight stay near the airport. Similarly, if you land after about 22:00, the last trains will already have gone, so plan a taxi or a hotel night in Fes.
Flight Option: Why Flying from Meknes to Fes–Saïss Airport Isn't Realistic
Fes–Saïss Airport (IATA: FEZ) is the international gateway for the Fes–Meknes region, operated by ONDA, Morocco's national airports authority. It handles a large volume of European charter and low-cost traffic — Ryanair, Air Arabia Maroc, Transavia and others fly in from Paris, Barcelona, Brussels, Milan and dozens of other cities.
However, there is no domestic flight between Meknes and Fes. Meknes has no commercial airport of its own, and the two cities are separated by just 60 km of road — far below the minimum distance at which any airline would operate a scheduled service. Even the handful of domestic Moroccan routes that exist (for example Casablanca–Fes or Casablanca–Agadir) are irrelevant to this trip.
| Factor | Reality |
|---|---|
| Distance | ~60 km (37 miles) — about 1 hour by road |
| Scheduled flights | None between Meknes and Fes |
| Nearest commercial airport to Meknes | Fes–Saïss (FEZ), ~70 km from Meknes city centre |
| Realistic "door-to-door" flight time | Would exceed 4 hours including check-in and security — worse than the train |
The practical takeaway: treat FEZ purely as your departure or arrival airport, not as a leg you can fly. If you are arriving at FEZ and heading to Meknes, simply reverse the train + taxi route described above — the taxi takes you from the terminal to Fès-Ville station, and from there the train runs to Meknes in under an hour.
One useful detail: FEZ is a small regional airport. Check-in and security are usually fast outside peak charter days, but on summer weekends and during school holidays the terminal can get crowded. The standard advice is to arrive 2 hours before an international departure and 90 minutes before a domestic one.
Alternative airports worth knowing about
- Fes–Saïss (FEZ) — the default choice for Meknes travellers; 70 km away, served by trains to Fes plus a taxi.
- Rabat–Salé (RBA) — about 200 km from Meknes; reachable by direct ONCF trains, but a much longer transfer.
- Casablanca Mohammed V (CMN) — Morocco's main hub, ~300 km away, with frequent direct trains to Meknes (roughly 4–4.5 hours). Useful for long-haul connections, impractical for a short domestic hop.
Bus from Meknes to Fes: The Cheapest Way to Reach the Airport
Intercity buses run constantly between Meknes and Fes. The main operators are CTM, Supratours (the ONCF bus subsidiary) and several private companies. Because the route is short and heavily used, tickets are cheap and departures are frequent.
The trade-off is that no bus goes directly to Fes–Saïss Airport. You will arrive at a bus station in Fes and still need a taxi or the local bus for the final 15 km.
| Operator | Journey time | Fare | Arrival point in Fes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CTM | ~1 hour | 35–50 MAD ($3.50–5) | CTM Fes terminal (city centre) |
| Supratours | ~1 hour | 30–45 MAD ($3–4.50) | Near Gare de Fès-Ville |
| Private / regional buses | 1–1.5 hours | 20–35 MAD ($2–3.50) | Gare Routière (main bus station) |
Day vs night: this route is a daytime shuttle service. Buses generally run from around 06:00 to about 20:00, with the densest departures in the morning. There is effectively no dedicated overnight bus on a 60 km corridor — if you need to travel at 02:00, a taxi or private transfer is your only option.
Step-by-step: Meknes to FEZ airport by bus
- Book ahead if possible. CTM tickets can be reserved online or via the CTM app. Regional buses usually sell on board.
- Board at the Meknes bus station. Most long-distance departures leave from the main gare routière; CTM has its own terminal.
- Ride to Fes (~1 hour). Luggage goes in the hold and is tagged. Keep your stub.
- Transfer to the airport. From the CTM terminal or gare routière, take a grand taxi (150–250 MAD, 20–30 min) or walk to the nearest local bus stop for line 16 (5–8 MAD, slower and less luggage-friendly).
- Add buffer time. Bus schedules in Morocco can slip; allow at least 3 hours door-to-door.
Who should take the bus?
- ✔️ Solo travellers and backpackers on a tight budget.
- ✔️ Travellers with plenty of time before their flight.
- ❌ Anyone catching a flight within 4 hours of leaving Meknes.
- ❌ Families with several large suitcases — the taxi transfer will erase most of the savings.
Grand Taxi & Private Transfer: Fastest Way from Meknes to Fes–Saïss Airport
If you want to remove every transfer and go straight from your Meknes hotel to the FEZ departures hall, a car is the answer. Two flavours exist: the shared grand taxi (cheap but slow to depart) and the pre-booked private transfer (expensive but genuinely door-to-door).
| Option | Journey time | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared grand taxi (Meknes → Fes city) | 1–1.5 hours | 40–70 MAD ($4–7) per seat | Waits until 6 seats fill; drops you in Fes, not at the airport |
| Private grand taxi (Meknes → FEZ airport) | 1 hour 15 min | 250–450 MAD ($25–45) | Negotiate before departure; whole car |
| Pre-booked private transfer | 1 hour 15 min | 400–700 MAD ($40–70) | Fixed price, meet-and-greet, English-speaking driver often available |
| Petit taxi | — | — | Not licensed for intercity trips; do not use for this route |
Important reality check: a private transfer costs roughly 3 to 5 times more than the train + taxi combination, and it only saves you about 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes. For a solo traveller or a couple, the train is almost always the smarter choice. The calculus changes completely for groups.
When a taxi or private transfer genuinely makes sense
- Very early flights. Departures before 08:00 — the first train cannot get you there in time.
- Very late arrivals. Landings after 22:00, when the last trains have gone.
- Groups of 3–4. Split four ways, a 400 MAD transfer is only 100 MAD ($10) per person — competitive with the train + taxi combo.
- Heavy or bulky luggage. No stairs, no platform dashes, no taxi queue at Fès-Ville.
- Reduced mobility. A private car removes two station transfers entirely.
- Extreme heat or Ramadan fasting hours, when waiting on a platform is genuinely uncomfortable.
How to avoid being overcharged
- Agree the total price for the car, not per person, before you load luggage.
- Confirm the destination explicitly: say "aéroport Fès-Saïss", not just "Fes".
- Ask whether the price includes luggage and night surcharge.
- Prefer a hotel-arranged or app-booked transfer if you want a fixed, printed price.
- Have small notes ready — drivers rarely carry change for 500 MAD notes.
Tickets, Fares & Full Cost Comparison: Meknes → Fes Saiss Airport
Here is every option side by side. Prices are per person unless stated otherwise, in Moroccan dirhams (MAD) with an approximate US dollar equivalent at roughly 1 USD ≈ 10 MAD. Fares are indicative for 2025 and can change.
| Option | Door-to-door time | Transfers | Cost (MAD) | Cost (USD) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Train + grand taxi | 2 h 15 – 2 h 45 | 2 | 170–280 | $17–28 | Best overall |
| CTM bus + local bus | 3 h – 3 h 30 | 3 | 45–60 | $5–6 | Cheapest |
| CTM bus + grand taxi | 2 h 30 – 3 h | 3 | 185–300 | $18–30 | No real advantage |
| Shared grand taxi + taxi | 2 h 30 – 3 h 30 | 2 | 190–320 | $19–32 | Slow, unpredictable |
| Private grand taxi (whole car) | 1 h 15 | 0 | 250–450 | $25–45 | Fastest value |
| Pre-booked private transfer | 1 h 15 | 0 | 400–700 | $40–70 | Most comfortable |
Where and how to buy tickets
- ONCF train tickets: station ticket windows, self-service machines, or the ONCF Voyages website and app. Advance booking is rarely necessary on the Meknes–Fes leg, but it guarantees a seat during Eid and summer peaks.
- CTM bus tickets: online at ctm.ma, through the CTM app, at the CTM terminal in Meknes, or at partner agencies. Book 24 hours ahead on weekends.
- Supratours tickets: sold at ONCF stations and Supratours counters — handy if you are already at the train station.
- Grand taxis: no tickets. Cash only, price negotiated on the spot.
Is there a rail pass for foreign visitors?
No. Unlike Japan's JR Pass, Morocco's ONCF does not sell a tourist rail pass. Fares are already low enough that a pass would make little difference on a route this short. ONCF does operate a loyalty card for residents, but it is not relevant to a single Meknes–Fes journey.
Money-saving combinations that actually work
- Two or more travellers: train to Fès-Ville, then split a grand taxi to the airport. Total drops to roughly 125–165 MAD ($13–17) each.
- Three or four travellers: skip the train and book one private transfer. It becomes both cheaper and faster than the train + taxi combo.
- Extreme budget: CTM bus + local bus line 16 — under 60 MAD, but budget 3.5 hours and no luggage help.
Traveller Experience: What the Meknes → FEZ Journey Is Really Like
Guidebooks describe the route accurately but rarely capture the texture of it. Here is what repeat travellers to the Fes–Meknes corridor consistently report.
The train itself is easy — the transfers are the hard part
The 40-minute ride is genuinely pleasant: clean carriages, air conditioning in first class, and views over the Saïss plain as you approach Fes. Almost all the friction happens before and after the train. In Meknes you need a petit taxi to the station; in Fes you need to navigate a busy taxi rank with luggage while drivers call out offers. Budget your stress for those two moments, not the train ride.
The Fès-Ville taxi rank is the single biggest variable
Fès-Ville station's taxi rank is the point where prices become negotiable and opinions differ wildly. Travellers report paying anywhere from 150 to 300 MAD for the same 15 km airport run. The spread is driven by time of day, luggage volume, how confident you look, and whether you accept the first offer. Walking 100 metres away from the station entrance before hailing a taxi frequently produces a better price.
Realistic buffer times
- Train + taxi: leave your Meknes accommodation 4 hours before departure for a stress-free international flight.
- Private transfer: 3 hours before departure is comfortable.
- Bus + taxi: 5 hours before departure if you want zero anxiety.
Luggage handling
ONCF trains have overhead racks and end-of-carriage luggage areas, but no porters and no left-luggage at Meknes station. If you are carrying more than one large suitcase plus a cabin bag, the train becomes noticeably harder — this is the single strongest argument for a private transfer. Note also that grand taxis are sedans; four people with four large suitcases will not fit in one car, and you may be asked to pay for a second vehicle.
Seasonal and cultural pressure points
- Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha: trains and buses sell out days in advance and stations are packed. Book early or take a private transfer.
- Summer (July–August): charter traffic into FEZ peaks, so airport queues are longer — leave Meknes earlier, not later.
- Ramadan: daytime services run normally but staffing is thinner and taxi availability near sunset is limited.
- Friday afternoons: the busiest travel window of the week on this corridor.
What about luggage forwarding?
Morocco does not have a nationwide same-day luggage courier network comparable to Japan's Takkyubin. Some riads in Fes and Meknes can arrange a private driver to move bags between cities, but this is essentially a paid transfer with your suitcase as the passenger. For a 60 km trip, simply carrying your bags is faster and cheaper.
Practical Tips for Airport Day
- Confirm your terminal and check-in time the night before. FEZ is a single-terminal airport, but low-cost carriers often close check-in 45–60 minutes before departure.
- Carry cash in small notes. Grand taxis and local buses do not take cards, and drivers rarely have change for 200 MAD notes.
- Screenshot your tickets. Mobile coverage along the Meknes–Fes corridor is decent but not flawless.
- Buy water and snacks in Meknes. Options at Fès-Ville station are limited and airport prices are higher.
- Do not accept unsolicited help with your bags at either station — it usually comes with an expected tip.
- Note the return direction. Arriving at FEZ and heading to Meknes, the sequence is: taxi to Fès-Ville (150–250 MAD), then train to Meknes (20–30 MAD, 35–45 min).
- Keep a printed or offline copy of your booking if you are flying with a low-cost carrier — some desks are strict about it.
- Charge your phone. Power sockets at Fès-Ville station are scarce.
One-page decision rule
| Your situation | Choose this |
|---|---|
| Normal daytime flight, 1–2 people | Train + grand taxi |
| Tightest possible budget | CTM bus + local bus |
| Flight before 08:00 or after 22:00 arrival | Private transfer |
| Group of 3–4 with luggage | Private transfer or private grand taxi |
| Reduced mobility or heavy bags | Pre-booked private transfer |
FAQs: Getting from Meknes to Fes Saiss Airport
Is there a direct train from Meknes to Fes–Saïss Airport?
No. There is no direct train to the airport. ONCF trains run from Meknes to Gare de Fès-Ville in the city centre (35–45 minutes), and from there you need a grand taxi (150–250 MAD, 20–30 minutes) or the local bus line 16 to reach FEZ.
How long does it take to get from Meknes to Fes Saiss Airport?
Door to door, expect 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes using the train plus taxi. A private transfer takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. The cheapest bus-based route takes 3 to 3.5 hours.
What is the cheapest way to get from Meknes to Fes Saiss Airport?
The cheapest combination is a CTM or Supratours bus to Fes (30–50 MAD) followed by the local bus line 16 to the airport (5–8 MAD) — roughly 45–60 MAD ($5–6) total. It is slow, involves three transfers and offers little luggage help.
How much does a taxi cost from Meknes to Fes Saiss Airport?
A private grand taxi covering the full 60–70 km from Meknes to the airport costs about 250–450 MAD ($25–45) per car. A pre-booked private transfer with a fixed price runs 400–700 MAD ($40–70). Shared grand taxis are cheaper (40–70 MAD per seat) but drop you in Fes city, not at the airport.
Can I get from Meknes to Fes Saiss Airport at night or very early in the morning?
Not by train or bus. ONCF services on this corridor generally stop around 22:00 and restart around 05:30, and there is no overnight bus. For flights departing before 08:00 or arriving after 22:00, the only realistic options are a private transfer or an overnight stay near the airport in Fes.
Do I need to book train or bus tickets in advance?
Usually no. The Meknes–Fes route is short and served by frequent departures, so same-day tickets are normally available. Exceptions are Eid holidays, summer weekends and Friday afternoons, when booking 24–48 hours ahead is strongly advised.
Is it better to fly or take the train from Meknes to Fes?
There are no scheduled flights between Meknes and Fes, so the comparison does not exist. Even if one did operate, the door-to-door time including check-in, security and airport transfers would be well over four hours — far worse than the 2 to 2.5 hours of the train plus taxi route.
Is this journey suitable for families with children or travellers with lots of luggage?
The train itself is fine for families, but the two station transfers plus the taxi negotiation at Fès-Ville make it tiring with young children and multiple suitcases. For families, a pre-booked private transfer is usually worth the extra cost — it removes both transfers, both queues and all luggage handling between your hotel door and the airport terminal.