8-Day Morocco Imperial Cities Itinerary by Train
This loop links the four imperial cities — Rabat, Meknes, Fes and Marrakech — entirely by train, with no rental car. It suits a first cultural trip: medinas, monuments and souks, with straightforward transfers between major cities.
8 days by train between Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes, Fes and Marrakech. Casablanca and Rabat are linked by Al Boraq (high speed, under an hour); the rest of the route runs on the classic Al Atlas network, with a change at Casa Voyageurs to reach Marrakech. Plan 2 nights in Fes and 3 in Marrakech to avoid living out of a suitcase. No car is needed: train and city taxis cover the whole loop. The 4 train legs in 2nd class total 250-450 MAD, while accommodation runs €40-90 in a charming riad or €25-50 in a simple hotel, with guided medina tours at €15-30 per city. Stations are never inside the medinas, so budget a taxi for the last leg at each stop. For a shorter version, cut to 6 days by keeping only one night in Meknes, which also works as a day trip from Fes.
Step-by-step plan
| Day | Stop | Programme |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Casablanca | arrival and check-in |
| 2 | Rabat | train journey and sightseeing |
| 3 | Meknes | guided cultural visits |
| 4 | Fes | medina, monuments and souks |
| 5 | Fes | guided cultural visits |
| 6 | Marrakech | train journey and sightseeing |
| 7 | Marrakech | medina, monuments and souks |
| 8 | Marrakech | return and departure |
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Transport: trains only
The whole loop runs on the ONCF network. Casablanca-Rabat is on Al Boraq, the high-speed line (under an hour). Rabat-Meknes and Meknes-Fes run on the classic Al Atlas network. To reach Marrakech from Fes, there is no direct train: plan on a change at Casa Voyageurs and half a day of travel. Details and fares in our Morocco train guide.
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Which option suits your travel style?
Indicative budget
- Train tickets (4 legs, 2nd class): 250-450 MAD total depending on class and season.
- Accommodation: €40-90 in a charming riad, €25-50 in a simple hotel.
- Guided medina tours: €15-30 per city.
- Meals: €8-20 per day depending on style.
See available activities· GetYourGuide
The same tours are often sold by several operators, at different prices and with different inclusions. Comparing a second catalogue before booking avoids nasty surprises.
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Continue planning your trip
To slot experiences into each stop, bookable excursions are sorted by city in activities in Morocco, with the strongest gathered in best activities in Morocco.
Want to combine everything (north, desert, Atlas, coast)? See our 15-day Morocco grand tour.
