Tangier airport sits about 15 km from the city, and the ride in takes 15 to 30 minutes. The bus costs 40 dirhams. The official taxi fare is 100. Plenty of arriving travellers pay three times that, and this is how not to be one of them.
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Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport, code TNG, is the one almost everybody means when they say the Tangier airport. It sits out at Boukhalef, southwest of the city, surrounded by not very much. That location matters, because it means you cannot walk anywhere useful and you will be making a decision about transport within about four minutes of clearing customs, usually while somebody is already offering to help you.
I collect guests from this terminal most weeks. Here is what the options actually cost and which one I would pick in your situation.
Where the Airport Is, and How Far to Town
The distance to the city centre is roughly 15 km. In normal traffic that is a 20 minute drive, and at quiet hours it can be closer to 15. Late afternoon, when the Boukhalef road backs up, budget 30 to 35 minutes and do not schedule anything tight straight after landing.
The terminal itself is small and easy. One arrivals hall, a handful of ATMs, a couple of cafes, car rental desks, and a single exit onto the kerb where the taxis and the shuttle bus both wait. You will not get lost.
- Take cash out at the airport. The ATMs in arrivals work fine and taxi drivers will not take cards
- Withdraw a little more than you think you need, since the medina runs on cash too
- Do not change money at the exchange desk if you can use an ATM instead, the rate is better
Getting from Tangier Airport to the City Centre: Your Four Options
There is no rail link and nothing to walk to. Every route into town is a road vehicle, and the choice comes down to budget against convenience.
| Option | Time | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shuttle bus | 35 to 45 min | 40 MAD per person | Light luggage, daytime arrival, tight budget |
| Official taxi | 15 to 30 min | 100 MAD day, 150 MAD night | Most arrivals, if you hold the fixed fare |
| Booked private transfer | 15 to 30 min | Varies by operator | Late flights, families, first visit |
| Rental car | 15 to 30 min | Rental plus parking | Only if you are driving on beyond Tangier |
One thing worth saying plainly: a rental car is a poor idea if you are staying in Tangier itself. The medina is pedestrian, parking near it is painful, and you will not use the car for three days.
The Shuttle Bus Is 40 Dirhams, With One Catch
There is a proper airport shuttle, run by Alsa, and it is the cheapest way into town by a wide margin. It picks up directly outside the arrivals exit, so you do not need to go hunting for a stop.
- Fare is 40 dirhams, roughly 4 euros, paid on board
- Departures are at 45 minutes past the hour for most of the day
- First bus around 6:30am, last around 12:30am
- It runs to Tanger-Ville, the main train station
The catch is the destination. The bus drops you at the train station, not at your hotel and not at the medina. If you are staying in the old town, you will still need a petit taxi from the station, which is another 15 to 20 dirhams. So the real cost is closer to 60 dirhams, and the real journey time is closer to an hour once you factor in the wait.
That still makes it excellent value if you land in daylight with a small bag. It makes much less sense at 11pm with two suitcases and a family.
Taxis: Know the Fare Before You Open the Door
The rank sits directly outside arrivals. The fare is fixed, but only if you say so first.
Taxis from the airport run on an official fixed fare rather than the meter. That is good news, because it means there is a correct number and you can hold to it.
100 dirhams to the city centre between 05:30 and 22:30. 150 dirhams overnight. Agree it out loud before your luggage goes in the boot.
You will sometimes be quoted 250 or 300 for the same ride. That is the tourist rate, and it is where most of the complaints about Tangier taxis come from. It is not aggressive or dangerous, it is simply an opening price, and the response is to say the fixed fare calmly and be willing to walk to the next car. It almost never gets that far.
Two practical notes. Carry small notes, because a driver holding only a 200 dirham note will rarely find change. And the fare is per car, not per person, so a group of three pays 100 total, which quietly makes the taxi better value than the bus for anyone travelling together.
Booking a Transfer in Advance
A pre-booked transfer costs more than 100 dirhams and the honest reason to pay it is not luxury. It is that somebody is standing there when you walk out, the price was agreed in writing before you flew, and nothing has to be negotiated while you are tired.
It earns its money in three situations specifically: a flight landing after 11pm, a first visit to Morocco where the arrival is the part you are nervous about, and travelling with children or a lot of luggage. Outside those, the official taxi does the same job for less.
If you are heading straight out of Tangier rather than into it, say to Chefchaouen or Asilah, booking ahead is worth it for a different reason: the airport taxi rank is not set up for long-distance runs and the price you get on the spot will be poor.
Is There a Train to the Airport?
No. This trips up a lot of people, because Morocco’s rail network is genuinely good and Tangier has an excellent station, Tanger-Ville, served by the Al Boraq high speed line from Casablanca and Rabat.
But the line does not reach the airport. There is no station at the terminal and no plan you can travel on today. The shuttle bus exists precisely to bridge that gap, which is why it runs to Tanger-Ville rather than into the centre.
So if you are connecting from a train, the sequence is: arrive at Tanger-Ville, then take the shuttle or a taxi out to the airport. Allow an hour for that leg if you are catching a flight, more in the late afternoon.
Landing Late at Night
Most flights from Europe land in the evening, which changes the arithmetic on how you get in.
A lot of the European flights arrive after dark, and the calculation shifts. The last shuttle leaves around 12:30am, so a delayed flight can miss it entirely. The taxi fare goes up to 150 dirhams after 22:30, which is the correct night rate and not someone taking advantage.
Here is roughly how a late arrival runs:
That last point catches people out. If you booked a riad in the old town, no vehicle can reach the door. The taxi leaves you at the nearest gate and you walk the final few minutes, which is why most riads will send someone to meet you if you tell them your arrival time.
What I Tell My Own Guests
And whichever you choose, get the cash out before you leave the terminal. That single step prevents most of the arrival problems I hear about.
Frequently Asked Questions
The official fixed fare is 100 dirhams between 05:30 and 22:30, and 150 dirhams overnight. That is per car, not per person. If you are quoted 250 or 300, that is the tourist rate, so state the fixed fare before your luggage goes in.
Yes. An Alsa shuttle leaves from directly outside arrivals at 45 minutes past the hour for most of the day, costs 40 dirhams, and runs to Tanger-Ville train station. First departure is around 6:30am and the last around 12:30am.
No. There is no railway station at the airport and no direct rail link. Tangier’s main station, Tanger-Ville, is in the city, and the airport shuttle bus runs there precisely because the train does not come out to the terminal.
About 15 km, which is a 15 to 30 minute drive depending on traffic. Late afternoon is the slow period, so allow around 35 minutes if you are travelling then.
No. The airport is out at Boukhalef with no pedestrian route into the city, and 15 km of road in between. You will need the bus, a taxi or a booked transfer.
Want Someone Waiting When You Land?
I run airport pickups in Tangier with a fixed price agreed in advance, and can take you straight on to Chefchaouen, Asilah or Tetouan if that is where you are headed.
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