Tangier to Fes: Train, Bus or Car? The Honest Comparison (2026)

Tangier and Fes anchor the two ends of every great northern Morocco trip: the white port city looking at Europe, and the medieval labyrinth that never stopped being medieval. Connecting them is easy — Morocco’s transport between major cities is genuinely good — but the three options serve three different travelers, and one of them hides the smartest routing decision in the entire North.

Option 1 — The Train: Our Default Pick

Morocco’s railways are the pleasant surprise of many trips, and this route shows them off. The play: board the Al Boraq high-speed train at Tanger Ville station and glide south (Africa’s fastest train, and it feels it), then make one easy same-station connection at Kenitra onto a classic train east to Fes via Meknes. Total journey: roughly 4.5-5 hours depending on the connection, with wide seats, air conditioning, and Rif-then-farmland scenery doing the entertainment.

• Cost: roughly 150-250 MAD combined in second class depending on train type and booking timing; first class adds comfort for a modest premium.
• Book at ONCF (oncf-voyages.ma or the station) — a day or two ahead is plenty outside holidays; same-day usually works.
• Why it wins: no traffic, no driving fatigue, city-center to city-center (Fes station is a short taxi from the medina gates), and the Al Boraq leg alone is worth the ticket. Our full Al Boraq guide covers the high-speed experience in detail.
• Watch the connection: check the through-timetable when booking — some departures pair much better than others, and the occasional direct/one-seat service appears depending on the season’s timetable.

Option 2 — The CTM Bus: The Budget Workhorse

CTM (and Supratours) run comfortable coaches Tangier → Fes in around 6 hours for roughly 120-150 MAD — reliable, air-conditioned, with a luggage hold and a mid-route break. It’s slower than the train and the scenery is motorway rather than countryside, but it’s direct (no connection to manage), cheap, and runs even when you’ve left planning to the last minute.

• Book a day ahead on ctm.ma or at the station — this is a popular intercity link.
• Choose CTM/Supratours over unnamed operators: the small premium buys punctuality, safety standards and assigned seats.
• Best for: solo travelers on a budget, and anyone whose departure day the train timetable doesn’t fit.

Option 3 — The Rental Car: For the Detour That Changes Everything

By motorway (south past Larache and Kenitra, then east past Meknes), Tangier → Fes is about 4 hours of easy, well-surfaced driving with tolls. Done as a straight shot, it’s merely fine — the car’s real argument is what it lets you do instead:

The smart routing: split the journey at Chefchaouen. Drive Tangier → Chefchaouen (2 hours, our full route guide), sleep a night in the blue city, then continue Chefchaouen → Fes (about 4 hours through Ouazzane and genuinely beautiful Rif-foothill country — that leg’s guide is here). You’ve turned a transfer day into two of the best days of the trip, and seen the North’s crown jewel “for free” en route. This is the play our 3-day itinerary is built around — and it only works with your own wheels.

The Honest Comparison Table

• Train (~4.5-5 h, ~150-250 MAD): most comfortable, most scenic, city-center to city-center. One connection to manage. Our pick for most travelers.
• CTM bus (~6 h, ~120-150 MAD): cheapest, direct, dependable. Slowest and least scenic. The budget pick.
• Car (~4 h direct, or 2 days via Chefchaouen): total freedom, and the only way to do the blue-city split. Tolls, fuel and rental costs; city driving in Fes is best avoided (park at the hotel, walk the medina). The experience pick.

FAQ

How do you get from Tangier to Fes?

Three good options: the train (Al Boraq to Kenitra + connection, roughly 4.5-5 hours — the most comfortable), the direct CTM bus (around 6 hours — the cheapest), or a rental car (about 4 hours by motorway — the most flexible, and the only way to break the trip in Chefchaouen).

Is there a direct train from Tangier to Fes?

The standard routing is the Al Boraq high-speed to Kenitra with one same-station connection onto a Fes-bound train; occasional one-seat services exist depending on the timetable. Book the whole journey as one ticket and the connection is timed for you.

How much does it cost to travel from Tangier to Fes?

Roughly 120-150 MAD by CTM bus, roughly 150-250 MAD by train in second class, and for drivers around 4 hours of motorway with tolls plus fuel — costs that make sense when split among 2-4 people or invested in the Chefchaouen detour.

Should I stop in Chefchaouen between Tangier and Fes?

If you possibly can: yes — it’s the single smartest routing decision in northern Morocco. With a car (or a bus combination), Tangier → Chefchaouen → Fes turns a transfer into two highlight days, seeing the blue city “en route” instead of as a separate excursion.

Is the road from Tangier to Fes safe to drive?

Yes — it’s modern tolled motorway nearly the whole way, well surfaced and well signed. Normal rules apply: daylight for the Rif variants, respect for speed cameras (they’re real), and no driving into the Fes medina itself.