Marrakech Popular Arts Festival: airport taxi and transfers

What is the Marrakech Popular Arts Festival?

The Festival National des Arts Populaires is the oldest festival in Morocco, first held in 1960. Folk troupes from every region of the country, from the Atlas, the Rif, the Souss and the Sahara, come to Marrakech with their music, dances and costumes.

When it takes place

Time of the year: early summer, usually late June or July. Length: five days. The organisers announce the exact dates and the programme of each edition: check them on the official site of the event before you book flights and rooms, then book the transfer for the same dates.

Where it takes place in Marrakech

The main shows are given in the evening in the ruins of El Badi Palace, in the Kasbah. Free shows are held on Jemaa el-Fna and other squares, and the festival opens with a parade of the troupes through the streets.

Getting to Marrakech for the Marrakech Popular Arts Festival

Marrakech Menara Airport is about 6 km from the centre. With the taxi from Marrakech Airport to the city, the driver waits in the arrivals hall with your name and takes you to your hotel or riad in about 15 minutes, from 19 € per car. See the transfer to your own hotel on the Marrakech hotels page. When flights to Marrakech are full on event dates, visitors land at Casablanca Airport or Agadir Airport and come by road. During your stay the same drivers take you around Marrakech and bring you back at night.

By road from the other cities, per car and one way:

• Essaouira to Marrakech: 65 €.
• Casablanca to Marrakech: 115 €.
• Agadir to Marrakech: 105 €.
• Marrakech to the Agafay desert: 49 €.

On the days of the event

El Badi Palace is inside the Kasbah, reached through Bab Agnaou or from Place des Ferblantiers. The car stops at Place des Ferblantiers, 2 minutes on foot from the entrance. On the day of the opening parade some avenues of the centre are closed for a few hours.

Good to know

• Shows start after sunset because of the summer heat and end late. Book the return with an hour: the Kasbah has few free taxis at night.
• Days are very hot at this time of the year. All our cars are air-conditioned; plan transfers and day trips for the morning.
• Travelling as a group? See the sizes on the our cars page, and all prices on the price list.

MG Taxis Morocco is an independent transfer company and is not linked to the organisers of the Marrakech Popular Arts Festival. Dates, venues and programme are decided by the organisers and can change.