Departure from Marrakech-Menara Airport has a few peculiarities that have caused stress for many a traveler.
This article explains what you need to know to ensure a smooth departure, whether your flight departs at 6 a.m. or late in the evening.
Marrakesh is not a difficult airport because it is small and manageable. But some of the procedures are unusual — if you know them, you can leave relaxed. Those who don’t know them are under time pressure at a counter that they actually wanted to have behind them long ago.
We have been running the Riad Selouane since 2019 — and have unfortunately seen guests miss their flight several times during this time because they underestimated the special features of the airport. To prevent this from happening to you, we are sharing everything we have learned during this time here.
If you would like to find out more about traveling to Marrakesh, you will find all the important information in our article Arrival at Marrakesh Airport.
Marrakesh is also changing — and we are keeping this article up to date for you. Last revised in April 2026.
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- How early should you be at Marrakesh airport?
- What do I do with my remaining dirhams?
- The checkpoints for international flights
- National flights and flights via Casablanca
- How long does it take to get from the hotel to Marrakesh airport?
- Transfer from the hotel in the medina to the airport
- When does it get crowded at Marrakesh airport?
- Offers and services at the airport
- Boarding — a special experience
- Delayed and canceled flights
- Frequently asked questions about arriving in Marrakesh
Important to know:
Be at the airport 3 hours before departure!
All passengers must go to their airline’s check-in desk!
You are not allowed to export dirhams!
How early should you be at Marrakesh airport?
For international flights, plan to arrive at the airport at least 3 hours before departure.
This is not overcaution. It is simply the reality of this airport. Unfortunately, part of this reality is that sometimes you only need 30 minutes from arrival at the airport to the gate — and then have to wait more than 2 hours. It is very difficult to predict when the airport will be busy and when it will be slow.
If you are on one of the early low-cost flights — Ryanair and easyJet regularly depart between 6:00 and 10:00 a.m. — and do not have priority boarding, you should allow 3.5 hours.
In our experience, departures on Saturday or Sunday are always associated with longer waiting times, just like during the Christmas or Easter vacations or at the end of Ramadan.

If you have priority check-in, such as easyJet Plus, you will need less time at the check-in counter, but even here I have already waited over 45 minutes.
I myself regularly fly the Marrakesh — Basel route with easyJet and have already made it from leaving the riad to the gate in 35 minutes — but I have also needed 3.5 hours and was only at the gate when boarding was almost finished. Unfortunately, it is impossible to make a binding statement about waiting times at the airport — so our recommendation is to be at the airport 3 hours before departure, even if this sometimes means long waiting times at the gate.
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What do I do with my remaining dirhams?
The Moroccan dirham is a closed currency and may not be officially exported. If you have any dirhams left at the end of your stay, you should exchange them before you leave.
Important: You will need the original receipt for your exchange in dirhams — without this, the exchange office may refuse the transaction. If you no longer have your receipt, you can still try, but you will not be entitled to a refund.
The exchange offices in the city usually offer better exchange rates than the Bureau de Change at the airport. As you lose money every time you exchange back, it is better not to exchange too much at once.

The bureau de change at the airport is located in the public departure hall next to the check-in counters. You should therefore plan to exchange your money before you queue for security checks.
Small residual amounts of a few hundred dirhams are generally not objected to at customs. Anyone carrying larger sums risks problems.
You cannot exchange Dirhams outside of Morocco, no bank takes or carries Dirhams.
As an alternative to exchanging your money back, you can pay any outstanding amounts for tourist taxes, meals or transfers in dirhams in most riads — or leave a tip for the staff.
A little tip: there are food stalls and snack bars on every corner in Marrakesh. If you still have time and a few dirhams to spare before your departure, you can grab a snack at one of the numerous street food stalls, which is certainly better than anything you can get at the airport.
The checkpoints for international flights
Anyone departing from Marrakesh does not simply pass through a security check and be done with it. The procedure for international flights looks like this:
The large departure hall has several entrances, it doesn’t matter which one you take.
The baggage check at the entrance to the airport mentioned in older travel guides has been dropped since fall 2025 — this saves the first queue.

The check-in counters are located on the left-hand side of the building. Royal Air Maroc has self-check-in kiosks on the right-hand side of the hall, but these only work for travelers with hand baggage — please check with RAM in advance whether you can use these kiosks.
Please note: there is no luggage storage at Marrakesh airport. If you want to spend a last morning in the city, you should leave your suitcase at the hotel or riad in advance — most accommodations allow you to do this without any problems even after check-out.
1. check-in counter: All passengers have to go to their airline’s check-in counter — regardless of whether they have hand baggage, online check-in or time pressure. This is the point that most often causes stress.
This means that even if you don’t have a suitcase to check in, you have to queue at the check-in desks. Incidentally, hand baggage is checked for the permitted number and size, especially by low-cost airlines.
Older travel guides still refer to the printed boarding pass and the stamp requirement — this has been officially abolished, but in reality it is currently still the case that you need a printed boarding pass from the airline. This also varies from airline to airline — but you MUST go to the check-in counter, otherwise you run the risk of missing your flight. We hope that this requirement will be removed in the future, but for now it is still necessary.
There is an extra counter for sports baggage and special baggage, but you should also go to the normal check-in first.
There are staff in front of the check-in queue who regulate admission and let priority passengers through separately. Ask here how you should proceed with special baggage, as this varies from airline to airline.
If you are really short of time, you can also ask these employees for help. Whether or not you will be able to get there faster depends on the employee’s mood on the day, but it’s worth a try.
After check-in, cross the large departure hall and proceed towards the security checkpoint.
2. boarding pass check: This is a two-stage check — first a member of staff checks that you have a boarding pass, then the boarding pass is scanned by machine. So there are two queues, but this is usually quite quick. If you have not been to the check-in counter, you will now be sent back, which is the point at which time becomes critical for many people.
Customs check: On the way to the security check, you will pass customs. You may be checked here, but you will usually be waved through. You are not allowed to take any dirhams out of Morocco, you must exchange everything back before departure. If it is a few hundred dirhams, nobody will say anything, but more than that can lead to problems. Wartezeiten entstehen hier nur, wenn Sie kontrolliert werden.
Unfortunately, there is no separate Fast Track for the security check in Marrakesh for Priority guests such as EasyJet Plus card holders with Speedy Boarding.
3. security check This is followed by the classic hand baggage check. The usual rules apply. Here, too, the waiting time can be long. A member of staff will brief you — sometimes women and men are separated, sometimes not, depending on the staff present. Depending on how busy the airport is, the waiting time here can be up to an hour.
4. passport control Morocco is not a Schengen state, so passports are checked and stamped for flights to Europe. As the computer systems work quite slowly, the waiting time here can be up to an hour, depending on the volume of traffic.
5. stamp check: After passport control, please do not put your passport away yet — the stamp will be checked again. You can simplify the procedure if you show your passport to the employee with the stamp open on the side with the stamp. Normally this check is quick, but if you are running late, 5 minutes is a long time to wait.
Five points, each with its own queue. If you keep that in mind, you’ll understand why two hours can be too little.
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National flights and flights via Casablanca
Some connections to Europe are via Mohammed V Airport in Casablanca — this means a domestic flight from Marrakesh. The procedure differs only slightly: only passport control is omitted for domestic departures. Check-in and baggage check-in usually close one hour before departure for domestic flights.
Allow sufficient time for the transfer in Casablanca — you will go through international passport control there and may have to check in your luggage again.
As I have never taken a domestic flight in Morocco myself, I unfortunately cannot report from my own experience. However, I hear from my guests that you need to allow almost as much time as for international flights.
How long does it take to get from the hotel to Marrakesh airport?
Marrakech-Menara Airport is located around 6 kilometers southwest of the city center. It takes 15 to 20 minutes by taxi in normal traffic. Theoretically.
The problem for guests in the medina: there are no taxis in the narrow streets of the old town. They first have to walk with their luggage to an exit of the medina that is accessible to vehicles. This takes time, which is often underestimated in the stress of departure.
The traffic in Marrakesh can also cost you a lot of time. Especially on Saturday evenings, when many Marrakchis are out and about, or during rush hour, the journey from the medina to the airport takes 45 minutes or more.

From the hotels in the Marrakesh area, it can take considerably longer depending on traffic.
We are happy to give our guests at the Riad Selouane a specific recommendation as to when they should leave — just ask us.
Transfer from the hotel in the medina to the airport
There are several options for getting to the airport:
Transfer via your hotel: The most reliable and convenient option for Medina guests. A member of the hotel staff will help you with your luggage and take you to the nearest exit from the medina, where the driver will be waiting for you. The hotel will know when you need to leave and you will arrive at the airport stress-free. Depending on the location of the hotel in the medina, the transfer costs 15 — 30 euros and saves you time and stress. Fragen Sie spätestens am Vortag Ihrer Abreise im Hotel nach dem Transfer.
Transfer via booking portals such as Booking.com or GetYourGuide: Is usually a few euros cheaper than the transfer via your hotel — but no one will help you with your luggage, no one will help you find the driver. At many exits of the medina, the driver cannot park and wait for you. You have to get there first and wait for the driver, who can only stop briefly so you can get in — stressful and difficult if you don’t know the driver or the vehicle. Costs 10–30 euros depending on the location of the pick-up point in the medina.
Grand Taxi: at the exit points of the medina there are usually a few grand taxis waiting to take you to the airport for 100 — 200 dirhams.
Petit Taxi: The small, beige-colored taxis will take you to the airport for under 100 dirhams — if you can find one. The small taxis are preferred by locals, act as shared taxis and you have to hail them as they pass by. This can work, but usually not within 5 minutes.
Bus L19: there is a bus from Jemaa el Fna square that will take you to the airport for just a few dirhams. However, you have to walk through the souk to the large square with hand luggage, although the nearest exit of the medina would usually be much closer. We definitely do not recommend the bus for our guests! In my opinion, the bus is only an option if you have your hotel in close proximity to the bus stop and are adventurous. The bus is also not designed for luggage, even with hand luggage it can be difficult if the bus is full.
Incidentally, there is no Uber in Marrakesh, so there is no need to spontaneously book a ride. Booking a transfer in advance will therefore definitely save you time and nerves.
Especially if you need to get to the airport very early in the morning, you need to arrange a transfer in advance. It’s hard to find a taxi spontaneously before 9am.
From my many years of experience, I advise you to book the transfer through your hotel. Even if it is a few euros more expensive, it saves you the stress when you need it least.
A development that is relatively new and for which there is still no really practicable solution: More and more airlines are offering night flights from Marrakesh, departing after midnight and then landing in Europe early in the morning. As most airports in Europe do not allow landings until 6 a.m., this means a departure from Marrakesh at 2 or 3 a.m.
For guests in a riad in the medina, this leads to a logistical problem — because in most riads, luggage cannot be left in the accommodation until midnight.
There are only a few left-luggage offices, especially in the medina area. Ask your hotel in advance whether you can leave your luggage there until your departure or whether they can recommend a left-luggage office.
Booking an extra night and leaving in the middle of the night is often the most relaxed solution when you consider the alternative — hours with heavy luggage in the medina. But you must check with your hotel in advance whether this is possible: smaller hotels and riads in particular are not always able to organize a middle-of-the-night departure.
If you want to enjoy the time before a late flight, you can find inspiration for a nice last evening in the medina in our article on the best restaurants in Marrakesh.
Looking for a hotel in Marrakesh?
Top location in the medina, breakfast included, an oasis of peace in the middle of the souks:
The Riad Selouane is the ideal address for your city trip!

When does it get crowded at Marrakesh airport?
Marrakesh Airport has been experiencing strong growth in passenger numbers for several years. On some days, up to 10 aircraft land and take off almost simultaneously — this corresponds to 1,000 to 1,800 passengers being processed at the same time.
It gets particularly crowded in the departure area:
- Early in the morning, when the low-cost flights to Europe take off (07:00–10:00)
- Saturday and Sunday evenings, when many planes take off for Europe
- At the end of the Christmas and Easter vacations in Germany, France and Belgium
- On Islamic holidays such as Eid el-Kebir or the end of Ramadan, there are sometimes exceptionally long waiting times at all checkpoints
- At the end of the French summer vacation, when Moroccans living in Europe return home from visiting family in Morocco
Offers and services at the airport
In the international terminal you will find:
- Duty-free stores and boutiques
- Restaurants and cafés
- Pearl Lounge
- Toilets
After passport control, take the escalator up to the terminal building. The terminal is modern, bright and pleasantly spacious by European standards.
Just after the first escalator is a display board: check where your flight is departing from. The A gates are on the same level as the stores, the B gates are one floor below.
First you pass through the duty free area, followed by a few restaurants and the gates.
The departure area is spacious, but the range of services is manageable.
The small number of seating options is surprising, although there is enough space. For travelers who have to wait longer, there are unfortunately no comfortable loungers or retreat areas.

In the stores and restaurants at the airport, the prices are often only written in euros, as you should not actually have any more dirhams due to the export ban. If you still want to get rid of a few remaining dirhams, ask before paying — some stores only accept euros.
There are only a handful of restaurants, the prices are normal for the airport and the quality is okay.
We particularly love the matsuri, which serves sushi on the spot or prepares it to take away.

The sushi is fresh and delicious, if we have enough time, this is our go-to place.
Boulangerie Paul has a large stand with baked goods, sandwiches and baguettes, which taste very good and are also suitable as provisions for the plane.
La Table du Marché offers sandwiches, salads and drinks to go, while the small Medina has Moroccan flatbreads with fillings.
Since the beginning of 2026, the popular Bacha Coffee House has had a store in a prominent location. Unfortunately, no coffee is served, but many varieties of flavored coffee are sold in beautiful decorative tins.
Good coffee is available at the Segafredo Espresso Bar, which also offers panini and pizza. The Starbucks is hidden behind the escalators that you take after passport control.
Anyone looking for one last souvenir will also find what they are looking for: Swiss Arabian sells high-quality chocolate and Maymana fine Moroccan patisserie — both are not cheap, but a good choice as a gift.
Two large stores between the duty-free stores offer even more Moroccan souvenirs such as argan oil, spices, tea and handicrafts, albeit at significantly higher prices than in the souk in Marrakesh.
You can bridge a longer waiting time in the Relax Station: massages and wellness treatments are offered here — the prices are ambitious, but the quality is fine.
There are also several duty free stores in this area, from watches and perfume to jewelry and sunglasses, the whole range is offered except alcohol, the prices are quite high.
Hudson offers all kinds of things that travelers need: Magazines, charging cables, potato chips and chocolate.
The Pearl Lounge is the only VIP facility at the airport and is accessible to Business and First Class passengers. It is a separate area in the terminal — if you are looking for peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle, you should know that the noise level is similar to the rest of the terminal.
The toilets on the upper level are at the far end and are clean and spacious. The toilets on the lower level are also at the very back when viewed from the escalator. There are often longer waiting times here, as there are only a few toilets available. So allow plenty of time.
On the lower departure level with the B gates, there is an espresso bar and a small bakery with sandwiches and sweet treats, but no other services worth mentioning. More unpleasant is the fact that there is not enough seating at the gates. Sometimes it is very crowded and you can’t find a seat.
Another tip: The announcements at the airport are unfortunately quite incomprehensible — don’t rely on the announcement or the airline’s app to tell you if your gate changes. It is best to check the display again shortly before boarding time, as no information will appear at the gate itself if the gate changes.
Boarding — a special experience
Another special feature in Marrakesh is the boarding process: as the weather is usually nice, there is no waiting area at the airport. The planes are simply parked in front of the terminal, a staircase is pushed up and you walk from the building to the plane and board.
To speed things up, boarding passes are checked early and you have to wait a little longer before you are allowed to board. To be more precise, you sometimes have to stand outside the building on the tarmac for 20 or 30 minutes before you can board. In the sweltering heat, when the sun mercilessly heats up the tarmac to 50 degrees. When a downpour falls. When you’ve caught one of the really bad days in January and it’s only 7 degrees. You wait outside. Mercilessly. There is simply no room to wait in the airport.
So it’s best to be well prepared: have a hat with you in summer and a warm jacket in winter.

Delayed and canceled flights
Like everywhere else, there can be flight delays in Marrakesh. Most airlines do their best to avoid or make up for delays.
The airport in Marrakesh works well and the processes are reliable and well-rehearsed. The planes usually arrive in Marrakesh with a delay, i.e. the delay does not occur in Morocco.
Airlines such as easyJet require very little time on the ground. The plane often only taxis into parking position when you are already waiting on the tarmac and is ready to take off again after 30 minutes. With this tight schedule, the airline can’t really speed up the processes, just fly a little faster and make up for the delay.
Especially in summer, there is a considerable risk of delays on evening flights due to heavy thunderstorms somewhere between Morocco and Central Europe. Staff shortages among air traffic controllers and a lack of national air traffic controllers also cause delays.
In the event of long delays, the airlines issue meal vouchers, although these are not valid at all restaurants in the airport.
I will never forget a flight home on a hot July evening: four hours waiting on the tarmac because of a thunderstorm, no more landing slots in Basel, detour to Geneva planned — but no more landing slots there either. In the end, the pilot explained that he and his crew had exceeded the permitted working hours and were no longer allowed to fly. All passengers had to leave the plane and the flight was canceled. The mood on board was, shall we say, subdued — personally, I was secretly glad to have avoided the night bus ride from Geneva to Basel.
As we had already officially left the country, we were stuck at the gate — for an hour and a half, until an official got us out of bed and passport control was reorganized. The airline arranged buses and hotel accommodation, and the next afternoon we went home after all.
This was an exceptional case — but it shows what can happen.

If you are affected by a flight delay of several hours or a cancellation, you can claim compensation from the airline under certain circumstances.
It is best to take a few photos of the display boards, screenshots of the updates in the airline’s app and keep the boarding pass. It also makes sense to take a screenshot of your flight status on Flightradar24. You will need these documents in order to claim compensation.
With most European airlines, you can apply for compensation directly on the website. If you have problems with compensation, you can claim compensation via portals such as Flightright. However, bad weather is not usually a reason for compensation, nor are reasons beyond the control of the airline or airport.

Anyone who knows Marrakech-Menara Airport knows that the best queue is the one you were prepared for.
Frequently asked questions about arriving in Marrakesh
Here you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions from our guests.
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What is the name of Marrakesh airport?
The city’s only airport is Marrakech-Menara Airport (IATA code: RAK), located approx. 6 kilometers southwest of the city center. It is the second largest airport in Morocco after Casablanca.
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How long will it take me to get from the city center to the airport?
Depending on the location of your hotel, between 20 minutes and an hour. It’s best to ask at your hotel, where they have the latest experience and can give you a specific recommendation.
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How do I get from the medina to the airport?
A transfer organized by your hotel is the most convenient solution and will save you a lot of stress. Ask for it at your hotel or riad the day before departure.
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How long before the flight do I have to be at Marrakesh airport?
We recommend arriving at the airport 3 hours before departure. Depending on the number of passengers, security checks may take longer than you think.
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Is there a left-luggage office at Marrakesh Airport?
No. If you want to spend more time in the city, it’s better to leave your suitcase at your accommodation — most riads and hotels also allow you to do this after check-out.
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Can I export Dirhams from Morocco?
The Moroccan dirham is a closed currency — it may not officially be exported from Morocco. In practice, smaller amounts of up to a few hundred dirhams are usually not objected to. If you have larger sums with you, you risk problems at customs control. If you want to exchange dirhams back, you will need the original receipt for your exchange — without this, the exchange office may refuse the transaction. Exchange your money back in good time in the departure hall before you pass through security and passport control, after which you will no longer be able to exchange money. It is better if you exchange the remaining dirhams at an exchange office in the city — the exchange rates are usually better there.
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Is there WLAN at Marrakesh airport?
Yes, at Marrakech-Menara Airport there is free Wi-Fi in the entire terminal, both before and after passport control.
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Do I have to print out the boarding pass?
Officially, the obligation to present a printed and stamped boarding pass has been abolished. In practice, the situation is currently inconsistent: depending on the airline, a paper boarding pass is either issued or required at the check-in counter. In any case, you must go to your airline’s check-in counter — even if you only have hand baggage and have already checked in online.
Looking for more information about Marrakesh?
Visit our travel guide to learn more about the sights of Marrakesh and Morocco!

About the author:
Svenja Keller is an architect from the Black Forest and has lost her heart to Marrakesh — to the souks, the handicrafts, the colors and a city where beauty is not a concept, but everyday life. She has been running the Riad Selouane in the medina since 2019. What she writes about Marrakesh does not come from a travel guide, but from years as a hostess, observer and passionate connoisseur of this city.



