Route guide

How to Get from Tangier to Fes (2026 Guide): Train, Bus or Private Car

Last updated: September 2026Written by the Visit North Morocco team in Tangier, from ONCF and CTM checks made in September 2026

Tangier to Fes (often spelled Fez) is about 400 km by motorway and one of the most travelled routes in Morocco. There are three real ways to do it: the train, the CTM bus, or a private car, with or without a stop in Chefchaouen. This guide compares them with fares and times we checked ourselves in September 2026, and says plainly which one fits which traveller.

The short answer

If you are one or two people travelling from central Tangier to central Fes with light luggage, the train is usually the cheapest and simplest choice: three direct trains a day on the dates we checked, about four and a quarter hours, second class from around 120 MAD near the date and less booked ahead. A private car costs more and never beats the train on price, but it collects you at your door at the time you choose, keeps your luggage in the vehicle to the gate of your riad, and can put two or three hours in Chefchaouen on the way. The bus is slower than the train and not necessarily cheaper; it suits a departure time the trains do not cover.

Compared

Tangier to Fes at a glance

Fares and times checked on ONCF and CTM in September 2026 for September and November travel dates. They change; verify your own date before you book. Train and bus fares are per person. Private transfer prices are per vehicle, for up to 4 (SUV) or up to 7 (van) passengers.

Train, bus and private car from Tangier to Fes: journey time, price, where to book and who each suits
Option	Time, station to station or door to door	Price	Where to book	Suits
Direct train (Al Atlas)	4h12 to 4h24, plus a taxi at each end	2nd class from ~49 MAD advance, ~120 MAD near the date; 1st ~135 to 165 MAD	oncf-voyages.ma, the ONCF app, the station	One or two people, light bags, centre to centre
Al Boraq + connection at Kenitra	3h33 to 4h05 including the change, plus taxis	2nd class 138 to 174 MAD advance, ~220 MAD near the date; 1st ~224 to 315 MAD	ONCF, sold as one ticket	Travellers who want the fastest rail option and travel light
CTM bus	6h to 7h45, plus taxis to and from two bus stations	190 to 195 MAD	ctm.ma or a CTM office	A departure time the trains do not cover
Private car, motorway	About 4h15 to 4h30 door to door without stops	€225 per SUV, €245 per van	Tangier to Fes private transfer	Families, groups with luggage, airport or port arrivals, exact timing
Private car via Chefchaouen	About 9 hours door to door with 2 to 3 hours in Chefchaouen	€255 per SUV, €275 per van	same page	Seeing the blue city on the way without an overnight

Direct train (Al Atlas)

Time, station to station or door to door: 4h12 to 4h24, plus a taxi at each end
Price: 2nd class from ~49 MAD advance, ~120 MAD near the date; 1st ~135 to 165 MAD
Where to book: oncf-voyages.ma, the ONCF app, the station
Suits: One or two people, light bags, centre to centre

Al Boraq + connection at Kenitra

Time, station to station or door to door: 3h33 to 4h05 including the change, plus taxis
Price: 2nd class 138 to 174 MAD advance, ~220 MAD near the date; 1st ~224 to 315 MAD
Where to book: ONCF, sold as one ticket
Suits: Travellers who want the fastest rail option and travel light

CTM bus

Time, station to station or door to door: 6h to 7h45, plus taxis to and from two bus stations
Price: 190 to 195 MAD
Where to book: ctm.ma or a CTM office
Suits: A departure time the trains do not cover

Private car, motorway

Time, station to station or door to door: About 4h15 to 4h30 door to door without stops
Price: €225 per SUV, €245 per van
Where to book: Tangier to Fes private transfer
Suits: Families, groups with luggage, airport or port arrivals, exact timing

Private car via Chefchaouen

Time, station to station or door to door: About 9 hours door to door with 2 to 3 hours in Chefchaouen
Price: €255 per SUV, €275 per van
Where to book: same page
Suits: Seeing the blue city on the way without an overnight

There are no direct flights between Tangier and Fes as of September 2026; Royal Air Maroc's direct service ended in February 2025, and the remaining connections go through Casablanca or Europe. There is no realistic shared grand taxi on this distance either.

By train

Tangier to Fes by train

Moroccan trains are run by ONCF, the national railway. Two kinds of train serve this route: the classic Al Atlas trains, which run directly from Tanger Ville to Fes, and the Al Boraq high-speed train, which runs south from Tangier to Kenitra, where you change onto a conventional train for Fes.

Both leave from Tanger Ville, the modern station at the east end of Boulevard Mohammed V, about 2 km from the medina. Both arrive at Fes station in the Ville Nouvelle, about 3 km from the old medina.

The direct Al Atlas train

In our September and November 2026 checks, ONCF showed three direct Tangier Ville to Fes trains per day:

07:40 to 12:04, about 4h24
11:50 to 16:08, about 4h18
14:50 to 19:02, about 4h12

That is the timetable on the dates we checked, not a permanent schedule. ONCF introduced a new transport plan on 14 September 2026 because of construction on the Kenitra to Marrakech high-speed line, and it asks passengers to check times before every trip. Some older English pages still list four direct departures; that no longer matches what ONCF sells. Verify your date on ONCF.

The direct train is the simplest option: one seat, no change, and the cheapest fares on the route. The last departure arrives in Fes at around 19:00, which in winter is after dark; make sure your riad knows your arrival time and which gate to meet you at (see the Fes arrival section below).

Al Boraq to Kenitra, then the connection to Fes

Al Boraq is Africa's first high-speed line. If you take Al Boraq from Tangier, you change at Kenitra for a conventional train to Fes. ONCF sells the two trains as one Tangier to Fes journey, and the connection time varies by departure. On the ONCF site and app, the combination shows under the Tangier Ville to Fes itinerary as one journey with one total fare, with both trains listed.

In our 11 November check, the combined journeys ran from about 3h33 to 4h05, because the wait at Kenitra varies: around 56 minutes on the 06:00 departure, 29 minutes on the 07:00, and about 18 minutes on many of the later departures. So the Al Boraq route can save 40 to 50 minutes over the direct train, or almost nothing, depending on which one you pick. In our checks it also cost more than the direct train on the same date. Read the total journey time and the price on the ONCF screen for your date, and take the direct train unless the specific Al Boraq journey you are looking at genuinely saves time and you travel light.

Kenitra is a modern high-speed station with accessibility facilities, but if you are travelling with heavy luggage, allow yourself the full connection time shown on your ticket. Depending on the assigned platforms, you may need to move between platforms during the connection. We have not found ONCF's published conditions on what happens if the first train runs late and you miss the second, so we do not make a promise about that here; if it matters to you, ask at the ONCF counter when you buy.

First class or second class?

First class on the classic trains gives you a reserved seat in a six-seat compartment or an open saloon. Second class is eight-seat compartments and, on the classic trains, unreserved: at busy times, holidays and Eid above all, people stand in the corridors. On Al Boraq, seats are reserved in both classes.

With a suitcase, or on a busy date, the reserved seat is worth the difference, which was around 45 MAD at standard fares in our check. With only a backpack, second class is fine outside the peaks.

How ONCF fares work

The same train can show very different prices, and this is the part that confuses most first-time visitors. The price depends on the train, the fare type, the class, how many seats are left and when you book.

YALLA AL ATLAS: A promotional fare of 49 MAD in second class on the classic trains, all year, with a limited number of seats per train, sold in advance online. Non-exchangeable and non-refundable. This is why you sometimes see the direct Tangier to Fes train priced at 49 MAD when the standard fare is more than double.
Al Boraq fare types: PROMO (limited, non-exchangeable, non-refundable), SEMI FLEX (one free exchange) and FLEX (unlimited exchanges, refundable up to the day before). On the combined ticket to Fes we saw the same 06:00 journey at 164 MAD non-flexible and 220 MAD flexible.
Advance fares: Booking weeks ahead can be substantially cheaper, on both the direct train and the Al Boraq combination, although some departures on the same day were still at standard fares in our check. Booking early usually finds a cheaper fare, but it does not guarantee one.
Discounts: Railcards for young people, seniors and students give 15 to 30 per cent off. On Al Boraq, children under four travel free without a seat.

The comparison table above has the fares we saw for near-term and advance dates. Treat them as examples from a dated check, and read the price ONCF shows you for your own date.

Where to book

Buy on oncf-voyages.ma or in the ONCF Voyages app, which issues an e-ticket. Tickets go on sale about three months ahead. You can also buy at the station counter or machines, by card or in cash, which is fine for the direct train outside holiday periods; for Eid, summer weekends and the promotional fares, book online ahead. Third-party resellers may charge additional fees; ONCF also sells tickets directly through its own channels.

Travelling with luggage

There is no check-in on Moroccan trains. You carry your bags on, stow them yourself and carry them off. A carry-on or a backpack is no problem in either class. With a large suitcase, board a few minutes early to find space, and expect it to sit near you in second class at busy times.

Two practical points. The classic trains have steps up from the platform, so allow a minute for a heavy case. And petit taxis at both ends carry a maximum of three passengers, so three or four people with suitcases will need two taxis or a larger grand taxi. Reports on left luggage at Tanger Ville conflict, so if you plan to store a bag, ask at the station rather than counting on it.

Getting to Tanger Ville

From the medina or the port, the station is a 30 to 35 minute walk or a short petit taxi ride, usually around 20 MAD on the meter. If you are arriving at Tangier Airport or Tanger Med, see the two sections further down: neither has a rail link, so the train starts with a road leg.

Arriving at Fes station

Fes station is in the Ville Nouvelle, about 3 km from Fes el Bali, the old medina where most visitors stay. Petit taxis wait outside; ask for the meter or agree around 20 MAD before the bags go in. What happens from there is the same whichever way you travel, and is covered in the Fes arrival section below.

Traditional leather tanneries in the Fes medina seen from a terrace above, rows of round stone dye vats with workers between them

By bus

Tangier to Fes by bus

For this comparison we use CTM, because it operates the route and publishes bookable schedules. In our September 2026 check, the fare was 190 to 195 MAD per person, with several departures a day and journey times from about 6 hours to 7h45 depending on the departure and its stops.

That makes the bus two to three hours slower than the direct train and, at standard fares, not cheaper. Where it can still make sense: the departure time. If none of the three direct trains fits your day and the Al Boraq combination does not either, a CTM departure might.

Bags are checked into the hold at the desk for a small per-bag fee, so you do not handle them during the journey; arrive early for that. Neither CTM station is in a medina: check the departure point on ctm.ma when you book, and in Fes the CTM station is in the Atlas district, a taxi ride from Fes el Bali.

By private car

Tangier to Fes by private car

We arrange private transfers on this route with licensed local transport operators. The driver collects you at your hotel, riad, the airport or Tanger Med at the time you set, and drops you at your accommodation in Fes, or at the nearest gate to it if it is inside the medina. Prices are per vehicle, not per person: €225 in a Comfort SUV for up to 4 passengers or €245 in a spacious van for up to 7, by motorway. The fare covers the vehicle and driver; entrance fees, meals and any guide are separate and are not something we sell.

Two roads. The A5 and A2 motorways take about 4h15 to 4h30 without stops. The N2 through the Rif via Chefchaouen is slower and far better to look at, around 6 hours of driving; with the Chefchaouen stop it becomes a full day (see the next section).

The train is cheaper for any number of people, so the car has to earn its price somewhere else. It does for families with a stroller and suitcases, groups with substantial luggage, anyone arriving at the airport or Tanger Med, travellers who need an exact pickup time, and anyone who wants Chefchaouen on the way. The section at the end of this guide goes through those cases one by one.

One or two people with a carry-on each, starting in central Tangier, will find the train cheaper by a wide margin and only slightly more effort. If your Fes accommodation is in the Ville Nouvelle, the station is a short taxi from the door, and most of the car's convenience argument disappears. We would rather tell you that than sell you a transfer you did not need. And for a riad deep inside Fes el Bali, a private car stops where every vehicle stops, at the nearest gate or car park; the driver helps you out with the bags and points you down the right lane, but the last few hundred metres are on foot or with a porter from the riad.

The full option list, both roads and both vehicle classes, is on the Tangier to Fes private transfer page.

The blue city on the way

Tangier to Fes via Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen sits in the Rif mountains about two hours south of Tangier, roughly a third of the way to Fes by the inland road. It is the single most searched addition to this route, and there are three ways to fit it in. None of them is a package: each leg is a separate journey, and anything you do in Chefchaouen (a walking guide, lunch, a museum) you arrange and pay for yourself.

Same day, with a stop

One car, one day. The driver takes the N2 through the Rif, waits in Chefchaouen while you explore, then continues south to Fes. Your luggage stays in the vehicle the whole time. The standard stop is 2 to 3 hours, which is enough for the blue medina, the Outa el Hammam square and a slow lunch, not enough for a hike. A longer stay may be possible on request and may change the price.

A realistic clock, using ranges rather than promises:

Two same-day timings from Tangier to Fes with a 2 to 3 hour stop in Chefchaouen
Leave Tangier	In Chefchaouen	Back on the road	Arrive Fes
08:00	~10:00 to 10:30, stop 2 to 3 h	12:30 to 13:30	~16:30 to 17:30
09:00	~11:00 to 11:30, stop 2 to 3 h	13:30 to 14:30	~17:30 to 18:30

Leave Tangier 08:00

In Chefchaouen: ~10:00 to 10:30, stop 2 to 3 h
Back on the road: 12:30 to 13:30
Arrive Fes: ~16:30 to 17:30

Leave Tangier 09:00

In Chefchaouen: ~11:00 to 11:30, stop 2 to 3 h
Back on the road: 13:30 to 14:30
Arrive Fes: ~17:30 to 18:30

Tangier to Chefchaouen is about 2 to 2.5 hours; Chefchaouen to Fes about 3.5 to 4 hours, with a short café stop on the way. A 17:00 to 17:30 arrival can be close to sunset during the shortest winter days, especially from mid-November through December. A longer Chefchaouen stop in winter can mean arriving in Fes after dark, so travellers staying inside the medina should confirm the nearest vehicle-accessible gate with their riad in advance. From November to February, the 08:00 start is the one to take.

The driver is not a licensed walking guide. If you want one for the medina, that is a separate arrangement with a licensed guide in Chefchaouen.

This version is €255 per SUV or €275 per van on the Tangier to Fes transfer page. Shared minibus products with a fixed timetable and per-person pricing also exist on the big booking platforms; they are not door to door.

A night in Chefchaouen first

The most repeated advice from travellers who have done it: sleep in Chefchaouen, and do the journey as two legs on two different days, Tangier to Chefchaouen, then Chefchaouen to Fes when you are ready. Both legs exist as CTM routes and as private transfers (Tangier to Chefchaouen, Chefchaouen to Fes), and mixing them, say bus up and car down, is perfectly sensible. For the first leg, the Tangier to Chefchaouen guide compares every option in detail.

Chefchaouen as a day trip, then the train to Fes

If Tangier is your base for a few nights, see Chefchaouen as a day trip from Tangier and take the train to Fes on another day. You get Chefchaouen without dragging luggage through it and the cheapest ride to Fes. The two are separate purchases: the day trip is a transport arrangement, and the train ticket is yours to buy from ONCF.

Arriving by air

Starting from Tangier Airport

Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport (TNG) is about 14 km from Tanger Ville station, and there is no rail link. To take the train you first go into the city by airport shuttle bus or taxi, then join the train at Tanger Ville. A morning landing lines up with the 11:50 or 14:50 direct departures; with an afternoon landing, you may be looking at a night in Tangier first (the Tangier city guide covers how the airport connects to the centre).

A private car from the airport goes straight to Fes, about 4h15 to 4h30 by motorway from the terminal, at the same per-vehicle prices as from the city; the Tangier Airport transfer page has the details.

Arriving by ferry

Starting from Tanger Med

Tanger Med is the port most Algeciras ferries use. It is well outside central Tangier, roughly 40 km east of the city, and there is no passenger railway from the port. If you plan to take the train to Fes, you first need to reach Tanger Ville station by road. Tanger Med officially lists taxis and an ALSA urban bus service between the port and Tangier; allow additional road-transfer time before any train you intend to catch, and do not book the tightest connection.

For anyone stepping off a ferry with luggage, this is the case where a private car is at its most useful: the driver meets you at the terminal and drives to Fes without the port-to-station leg or a wait for the next train, at the same per-vehicle fares as from Tangier city.

The last kilometres

What happens when you arrive in Fes

Whether you come by train, bus or car, Fes works the same way at the end.

Private transfer van at Bab Mahrouk, the western edge of the Fès el-Bali medina in Fez, Morocco

The station is in the Ville Nouvelle. Petit taxis (three passengers maximum) wait outside; ask for the meter or agree the fare before loading. The old medina is about 3 km away.
The CTM station is in the Atlas district, further from the medina, so a taxi is a given.
Fes el Bali is pedestrian. Cars, taxis and private transfers all stop at the nearest gate or car park (Bab Boujloud, R'cif and Batha are the usual ones). From there you walk, or the riad's porter walks with you and the bags.
Confirm the gate. Ask your riad which gate is nearest, whether they will send someone to meet you, and let them know your arrival time. Many riads will, sometimes with a handcart for the bags.
Ville Nouvelle hotels are a short taxi ride from the station with none of the above, which is one reason the train suits travellers staying there.

A market lane inside the Fès el-Bali medina, fruit stalls under a covered passage and an arched gateway ahead

Which option

Which option is right for you?

Solo traveller, light bag. The direct train, second class if you are booking early, first class if it is a busy date. Solo women can read the solo-woman section of the Chefchaouen guide; the same advice holds on this line.
Couple with a suitcase each. The direct train in first class. A private car if you are landing at the airport or want Chefchaouen on the way.
Family with young children. A private car: stroller, seats, stops and bags in one vehicle, door to door. Child seats can be arranged on request. Tell us when you book so the driver can confirm availability.
Group of five to seven. One van door to door is simple and the per-vehicle price is shared; the train is still cheaper per person, so it comes down to luggage and how much you value one pickup.
Heavy luggage. Either first class on the direct train, boarding early, or a car. The bus handles big bags well but adds two bus stations.
Arriving at the airport or Tanger Med. A car direct to Fes, unless your landing time lines up neatly with a train and you travel light.
Budget first. The direct train, booked early for a promotional fare. Nothing else comes close.
Chefchaouen on the way. A night there with two separate legs if you have the time; the same-day private transfer with a 2 to 3 hour stop if you do not.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Don't see it? Just ask on WhatsApp.

Is there a direct train from Tangier to Fes?

Yes. In our September and November 2026 checks, ONCF showed three direct Tangier Ville to Fes trains per day, departing at approximately 07:40, 11:50 and 14:50. Timetables can change, so check ONCF before travelling.

How long is the train from Tangier to Fes?

About 4h12 to 4h24 on the direct train. The Al Boraq high-speed train with a change at Kenitra took between about 3h33 and 4h05 in our checks, depending on the connection.

Is Al Boraq faster, and do I have to change at Kenitra?

Only the Al Boraq option involves a change; the direct Al Atlas trains run all the way. ONCF sells the Al Boraq combination as one ticket with one fare. Whether it is faster depends on the wait at Kenitra, which ranged from about 18 to 56 minutes on the departures we checked: the best combinations save 40 to 50 minutes over the direct train, others save very little. Compare the total journey times ONCF shows for your date.

How much is the train from Tangier to Fez?

In September 2026 we saw second class on the direct train from around 49 MAD (promotional, booked ahead) to around 120 MAD near the date, and first class from around 135 to 165 MAD. The Al Boraq combination was higher. Fares vary by train, fare type, class and booking date, so check ONCF for yours.

Should I book in advance?

For the cheapest fares, yes, on oncf-voyages.ma or the ONCF app. Also book ahead for Eid, summer weekends and any date when you must be on a specific train. Outside those, buying at the station on the day is normal.

First or second class?

First class if you have a suitcase or are travelling at a busy time; the reserved seat is worth the difference. Second class is fine with a backpack outside the peaks.

Is there a bus from Tangier to Fes?

Yes, CTM runs several a day. In our September 2026 check, 190 to 195 MAD per person and 6 hours to 7h45, so slower than the train and not cheaper. It suits a departure time the trains do not cover.

Is there a direct flight from Tangier to Fes?

No, as of September 2026. Royal Air Maroc's direct route ended in February 2025, and connections via Casablanca take longer than the train.

How far is Tangier to Fes by car, and how long does it take?

About 400 km and 4h15 to 4h30 by the A5 and A2 motorways without stops. The inland road through Chefchaouen is shorter in kilometres but slower, around 6 hours of driving.

Can I visit Chefchaouen on the way, and is 2 to 3 hours enough?

Yes, with a private car: the usual shape is a 2 to 3 hour stop and a full day on the road, arriving in Fes late afternoon. That is enough for the blue medina, the main square and lunch, not enough to hike or to see the town in the evening light; for that, stay a night and do the journey in two legs. A longer stay may be possible on request and may change the price.

What happens to my luggage during the Chefchaouen stop?

On a private transfer it stays in the vehicle while you walk the medina. On the two-leg version you take it with you to your Chefchaouen accommodation.

How do I get from Fes station to the medina?

Petit taxi, around 20 MAD by the meter, three passengers maximum. It drops you at the nearest gate; the medina itself is pedestrian. Ask your riad which gate and whether they will send someone to meet you.

Is there a train from Tanger Med?

No. There is no passenger railway at the port. Travel by taxi or the ALSA bus to Tanger Ville station first, and allow extra time; or take a private car straight from the port to Fes.

The pages this guide points to

Ready when you are

Want a price for the private option?

Tell us your date, pickup address and how many of you are travelling. We reply with a fixed price for the vehicle, and if the train is the better call for your trip, we will say so.

Open WhatsApp

Answered 8am–11pm, seven days a week

Ask for a price

Pick your trip below and we reply with a fixed fare. Travelling somewhere that is not on the list? Tell us in the notes.

What do you need

Private transferOne way, A to B

Day tripReturn, driver waits

From

Short hops inside Tangier (airport, medina, city centre, train station) are paused while we take on more drivers. Tangier Med, Chefchaouen, Tetouan, Fes and the rest are running as normal. Asilah is off the list for now.

Travel date

Passengers

Your name

Anything else (optional)

€225 applies to the route as listed. Change the trip above and we will confirm your price by reply. Your journey is provided by a licensed local tourist transport operator; payment is made directly to the driver. Both channels are answered between 8am and 11pm Morocco time.

ONCF and CTM fares and times on this page are what their booking sites showed in September 2026 for September and November 2026 travel dates. Both change; check oncf-voyages.ma and ctm.ma for your own date. If you find something on this page that is out of date, tell us on WhatsApp and we will correct it. See all our transfer routes.