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Getting to the Saadian Tombs: Directions and Best Routes

How to get to the Saadian Tombs in Marrakech

The Saadian Tombs sit in the Kasbah district at the southern end of Marrakech's Medina, about 1.5 kilometres from Jemaa el-Fna. Walking from Jemaa el-Fna is the most practical option for most visitors, as the Medina's narrow lanes make driving impossible and taxis can only drop you at the nearest gate. The entrance itself, a narrow covered passage beside the Kasbah Mosque on Rue de la Kasbah, is easy to miss: look for the lane running alongside the mosque's outer wall.

Address: Rue de la Kasbah, Mechouar-Kasbah, Marrakech 40000, Morocco | Find on Maps

Closest landmark: Kasbah Mosque, 50 m

Neighbourhood pointers:

  • 20-minute walk from Jemaa el-Fna (Medina centre)
  • 5-minute walk from El Badi Palace (Place des Ferblantiers)
  • 10-minute walk from Bahia Palace (Rue Riad Zitoun el Jedid)
  • 30-minute taxi from Marrakech Menara Airport

Compare your travel options

Mode of transportTravel timeEstimated costBest for

🚌 Bus (ALSA L6)

20 to 35 mins from Gueliz

4 MAD

Budget travellers coming from the new city

🚕 Petit taxi

5 to 15 mins from Jemaa el-Fna; 25 to 35 mins from Airport

20 to 150 MAD

Fastest door-to-nearest-gate option from most neighbourhoods

🚗 Car

10 to 20 mins drive + walk

20 to 30 MAD parking

Visitors arriving by rental car from outside the city

🚶 Walking from Jemaa el-Fna

18 to 22 mins

Free

Most visitors staying in the Medina; the most practical route

🐴 Calèche (horse carriage)

15 to 25 mins from Jemaa el-Fna

150 MAD per hour

A scenic and unhurried arrival, good for families and couples

Getting to the Saadian Tombs by public transport

  • Travel time: 20 to 35 minutes from Gueliz (new city); 10 to 15 minutes from Jemaa el-Fna area
  • Closest stop: Kasbah Mosque (Rue de la Kasbah), approximately 1 to 2 minutes on foot to the Tombs entrance
  • Lines: ALSA line L6 passes near the Kasbah Mosque stop. Line 1 connects Gueliz to Jemaa el-Fna, from where you walk or change.
  • Timings: Most ALSA routes run from approximately 6am to 11pm daily. Frequency varies; expect 10 to 20 minutes between buses on major routes.
  • Fare: 4 MAD per single ride, payable on board in cash. An Ikhlas rechargeable card reduces the fare to 3.50 MAD per ride and saves 17% if using buses regularly.
  • Accessibility: ALSA operates a mix of standard and modern low-floor buses on some routes. Accessibility varies by vehicle and stop. The Kasbah area street itself has an uneven surface; plan for a short walk on cobbled lanes after alighting.
  • The most practical bus approach for tourists is to take line 1 from Gueliz or the Jemaa el-Fna area to get close, then walk the final stretch through the Kasbah lanes. Dedicated Kasbah-bound buses (L6) run from further afield and stop near the mosque. Ask the driver to confirm the Kasbah Mosque stop before boarding. The Medina's lanes are not served by buses; all routes stop at the perimeter.
  • Closest drop-off point: Rue de la Kasbah, beside the Kasbah Mosque (1 to 2 minutes on foot to the entrance). Alternatively, Bab Agnaou gate (5 to 7 minutes on foot).
  • Travel time: 5 to 10 minutes from Jemaa el-Fna; 10 to 20 minutes from Gueliz (new city); 25 to 35 minutes from Marrakech Menara Airport
  • Estimated fare: 20 to 40 MAD from Jemaa el-Fna or within the Medina perimeter. 80 to 120 MAD from Gueliz. Airport fixed fare: 100 to 150 MAD to the Medina area (fixed-rate zone system operates at the airport; buy your ticket at the official booth before leaving arrivals).
  • Local taxis: Hail on the street or find at petit taxi stands near Jemaa el-Fna, Koutoubia Mosque, and major hotels. Petit taxis are required by law to use meters. If a driver refuses to turn on the meter or claims it is broken, find another taxi. The minimum metered fare is 7 MAD by day and 10 MAD at night. In practice, many drivers targeting tourists will attempt a fixed higher price. Say "compteur, s'il vous plait" (meter, please) firmly. Alternatively, agree a price before entering and confirm it is for the full journey.
  • Ride-hailing apps: inDrive (most widely used in Marrakech; allows passenger to suggest fare and driver to accept or counter-offer; works well for the Medina perimeter), Careem (Uber-owned; clear pricing; operates in Marrakech), Heetch (taxi partnership app; licensed drivers), Uber (relaunched in Morocco in late 2025; upfront fares; still limited coverage compared to inDrive). A local SIM card improves app reliability. Some apps require one for verification.
  • Airport pickup: Marrakech Menara Airport operates a fixed-fare taxi zone system. Buy your ticket at the official booth in arrivals before approaching the taxi rank. Do not negotiate with drivers at the kerb; the official booth rate (approximately 100 to 150 MAD to the Medina) is fixed and printed on your ticket. Ride-hailing apps have designated pickup zones at the airport; follow in-app instructions.
  • Accessibility: Grand taxis (larger shared vehicles) are more accessible than petit taxis for passengers with mobility needs. For a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, ask your riad or hotel to pre-book a private car with driver, which is the most reliable accessible transport option in Marrakech. Morocco Accessible Travel can arrange adapted vehicles. Drop-off at Bab Agnaou is the closest accessible vehicle drop-off point; the walk from gate to entrance includes uneven cobblestone sections.

Marrakech's calèches are the city's traditional tourist carriage service, holding 4 to 5 passengers. They operate primarily along the city's outer avenues and cannot enter the narrow Medina lanes. The most useful calèche route for reaching the Kasbah district runs from Jemaa el-Fna along the outer Medina walls toward Bab Agnaou, from where you walk the final 5 minutes to the Tombs entrance.

  • Travel time: 15 to 25 minutes from Jemaa el-Fna to Bab Agnaou
  • Cost: Approximately 150 MAD per hour, for up to 4 to 5 people. Agree the price and duration before boarding and note your start time. Shorter private hires to Bab Agnaou only may be negotiable at approximately 60 to 80 MAD; agree upfront.
  • Where to board: Calèche stands line the perimeter of Jemaa el-Fna square, particularly on the Foucault Square side (west edge). Also available near major Medina-area hotels.
  • Accessibility: Calèches can carry most passengers but boarding and alighting require a step up. Not suitable for wheelchair users. The driver will wait near Bab Agnaou if you ask.
  • This is a pleasant rather than purely practical option. Use it if you want a slow, scenic approach to the Kasbah district or are combining the Tombs with an outer city circuit. For a direct visit to the Tombs, walking or a taxi is faster.

Getting to the Saadian Tombs by car

Driving route

  • Travel time: 10 to 20 minutes from Gueliz (new city); 25 to 35 minutes from Marrakech Menara Airport
  • Distance: Approximately 7 km from the airport; 2 km from central Gueliz
  • Peak traffic: 8am to 10am and 5pm to 7:30pm on weekdays. Weekend mornings (9am to 11am) also see elevated traffic near Jemaa el-Fna.
  • Route: From the north, approach via Avenue Mohammed V toward Jemaa el-Fna, then south toward Bab Agnaou. From the airport (southeast), take the ring road west and approach via Avenue du President Kennedy.
  • Restricted zones: Cars cannot enter the Medina's interior lanes. Bab Agnaou is the nearest gate to the Saadian Tombs. Do not attempt to navigate Google Maps routes that appear to go through the Medina interior; they are not drivable.
  • Accessibility: Blue-badge holders can be dropped off at Bab Agnaou gate, which is the closest vehicle access point to the Tombs. The walk from Bab Agnaou to the entrance (approximately 400 metres) is on uneven stone lanes. There is no dedicated blue-badge parking at the gate; attendant-managed parking bays operate nearby.

Parking

Nearby parking options:

  • Parking Koutoubia (Bab Jdid area, near Jemaa el-Fna): Approximately 700 metres from the Tombs entrance. 10 MAD for the first hour, 1 MAD per subsequent hour. Attendant-managed, open around the clock. [Google Maps]
  • Parking Bab Agnaou (Kasbah perimeter, closest to Tombs): Informal attendant-managed parking area on the approach to Bab Agnaou. Approximately 400 metres from the Tombs entrance. Approximately 10 to 20 MAD per hour negotiated with attendant. [Google Maps]
  • Parking Medina Sidi Bouchouka (near El Badi Palace): Covered secure parking close to Place des Ferblantiers, approximately 500 metres from the Tombs entrance. Open 24 hours. [Google Maps]
  • Street parking along Avenue Houmane el Fetouaki: Limited spaces along the main road south of the Medina; cheaper but fills quickly by 9am. [Google Maps]

💡 If you are driving, park at Bab Agnaou and walk the 5 to 7 minutes on foot. It is simpler and faster than attempting to navigate closer by car.

Other transport services in Marrakech

Airport transfers

Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) is approximately 6 km from the Medina. Official fixed-rate taxis operate from the airport taxi booth in arrivals (100 to 150 MAD to the Medina, approximately 12 to 20 minutes). Pre-booked private airport transfers are available through Welcome Pickups and similar services; useful for early arrivals, late-night flights, or groups with luggage.

ALSA History Tour Bus (Hop-on hop-off)

ALSA operates a sightseeing bus covering Marrakech's main monuments on two loops: a Monumental Tour (historic Medina) and an Oasis Tour (Palmeraie and Majorelle). The Monumental Tour includes a stop near Bahia Palace and El Badi Palace, close to the Kasbah district; from this stop it is approximately an 8 to 10-minute walk to the Saadian Tombs. Tickets cost 150 MAD for 24 hours or 180 MAD for 48 hours. Commentary is available via headphones in 8 languages.

Guided tours with transport

Both available guided tours (Marrakech Highlights and Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, Koutoubia and Souks) meet at fixed points in the Medina (Café de France for the Highlights tour). Transport between sites on the guided tour is on foot. No coach or vehicle transfer is included.

Walk through the Kasbah from Jemaa el-Fna

Walking is the most practical way to reach the Saadian Tombs for anyone staying in the Medina. The route from Jemaa el-Fna takes 18 to 22 minutes and passes through the heart of the Kasbah district, one of the more atmospheric and less tourist-heavy parts of the southern Medina.

Which entrance should you use?

The Saadian Tombs have a single entrance: a narrow covered passage cut through the outer wall of the Kasbah Mosque complex on Rue de la Kasbah. There is no secondary or group entrance.

Main entrance (Rue de la Kasbah passage)

  • Location: Directly beside the Kasbah Mosque on Rue de la Kasbah, accessed through a narrow covered corridor running alongside the mosque's outer wall. The passage is approximately 1.2 metres wide.
  • Best for: All visitors, all ticket types
  • Closest drop-off: Rue de la Kasbah (petit taxi or calèche), 1 to 2-minute walk
  • Notes: Easy to walk past on first visit. Look for the entrance sign and any queue visible from the street. Online ticket holders scan at the gate directly. On-site ticket purchasers queue at the counter inside the passage first, then scan. Both queues merge at the scanning point.

Frequently asked questions about getting to the Saadian Tombs

Walking from Jemaa el-Fna is the most practical option for visitors staying in the Medina (18 to 22 minutes). From outside the Medina, a petit taxi to Rue de la Kasbah or Bab Agnaou is the fastest and simplest choice.

More reads

Saadian Tombs Tickets

History of Saadian Tombs

Plan your visit