Getting Around Morocco with Kids | What to Book

Getting around Morocco with kids is a choice by leg, not one transport. The country has good roads, a useful train network and taxis in every town, but no single mode fits every day. The right answer changes at the airport, in the medina, on a city to city run and on the road to the desert.

Karim is not a parent. This guide combines his knowledge of Morocco with the traffic code, airport pages, rail rules and transfer listings checked in November 2026. It’s part of our getting around Morocco coverage. Read more about Karim.

The four modes at a glance

Mode	Best for	Luggage	Car seat	Weak point
Petit taxi	Short city rides	Small bags only	No	Three passengers, no seat
Private transfer	Airport and door to door runs	Good	Only if booked	Costs more than a taxi
Train	Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, Fes	One hand item per person	Not needed	No station at the desert or Essaouira
Private driver or tour	Desert, coast and multi stop days	Good	Only if confirmed	A day rate, not a meter

The car seat rule in one minute

Morocco bans children under 10 from the front seat of a motor vehicle. Seat belts are required outside built up areas. There’s no national law that sets a car seat age, weight or height, and the WHO profile records no national child restraint use law.

That gap is why two bookings can give two answers. A street taxi doesn’t carry a child seat, and the seat isn’t part of the fare. A private transfer isn’t a seat either, unless the seat is a line item in the booking. A message that says “we can try” isn’t a seat.

Ask for the seat type, the weight range, who installs it and what happens if the car arrives without it. The Morocco car seat law guide explains the front seat rule and the missing national standard. If you are deciding whether to bring your own seat, the bring or rent guide compares the options.

The airport leg

Marrakech Menara is about 4 to 6 km from Jemaa el-Fna, and the drive is usually 15 to 30 minutes. The car often stops at the nearest gate, not the riad door, so add a 5 to 10 minute walk with the bags.

You have four choices. A prebooked private transfer meets you with a name sign, tracks the flight and helps with the bags. An official airport taxi is cheaper, but the rank is outside arrivals and the cars are small.

A driver arranged by the riad can be the smoothest option because the driver knows the door. The city bus is the cheapest, but not the arrival plan with bags and a young child.

A private transfer isn’t a car seat. The seat has to be confirmed with the operator, in writing, before you pay. The private airport transfer guide covers the seat booking and the five confirmations. The airport to a medina riad guide covers passport control, bags and the last walk.

The city leg

A petit taxi takes three passengers plus the driver. A grand taxi usually takes six passengers plus the driver when shared. A child still counts toward the limit, so two adults and two children already need two petits or one larger vehicle.

Luggage changes the answer. A petit taxi has limited boot space, and a stroller can use most of it. A grand taxi or a private van is the larger vehicle. Street taxis don’t carry child seats, and a petit taxi may add passengers.

For short hops, two petits can still be the fastest and cheapest option. For a family with bags, a stroller or a young child, a private transfer or a riad driver is easier. Read the Marrakech taxi car seats guide for the passenger limits and the drop off.

The city to city leg

The train is the easiest way between the main cities. ONCF serves Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat and Fes. Al Boraq is the high speed train on the Tangier to Casablanca corridor. It doesn’t serve Marrakech or Fes, so a Marrakech to Fes trip uses a classic train or a connection at Casablanca.

The class choice is really a space choice. First class buys room for bags and a calmer car. Second class is the cheaper seat and can be busier at peak times.

ONCF lists a child fare for ages 4 to 15, free travel under 4 on an adult lap and the full fare from 16. Hand luggage is limited to one item per passenger, at 1.2 m by 0.6 m by 0.4 m.

The train doesn’t reach the desert or Essaouira. For those legs, use a road transfer, a tour or a bus. The Morocco trains with kids guide covers the classes, the routes and the station.

The desert and long drive leg

Agafay is about 45 minutes from Marrakech. Merzouga is about 10 to 13 hours by road, so most families need at least three days for the round trip. They’re different trips, not two versions of the same day.

A shared desert tour usually doesn’t carry a child seat. A private tour, a 4x4 or a self drive car may have one, but only if you confirm the seat type and installation in the booking. The desert tours and child car seats guide covers the shared, private and 4x4 options. The Agafay vs Sahara comparison covers the shorter desert.

For a long drive, the driver’s hours matter as much as the seat. Ask for the total drive time, the breaks and the overnight stop. A private driver is a day rate, not a meter. Ask what it includes before you agree.

The coast leg

Essaouira is about 2.5 hours by road from Marrakech. The train doesn’t serve it. The medina is compact and traffic free, so the town works without a car.

Petit taxis cover the gaps for a low fare, with the same three passenger limit. The Essaouira without a car guide covers the medina, the beach and the day trips.

Agadir is the other easy coast base, with a flat promenade and family hotels. A car is useful for the drive, not for the city. If the plan is a toddler beach trip, the Agadir with a toddler guide covers the beach, the pool and the short outings.

Decision table by leg

Leg	Best default	Change it when	What to book
Airport to the city	Private transfer	Light bags and older children	Official taxi
City hop	Petit taxi	Bags, stroller or 4 passengers	Two taxis or a private van
Marrakech to Casablanca, Rabat or Fes	Train	You need a door to door arrival	First class or a private transfer
Marrakech to Essaouira	Road transfer or coach	You want to stop on the way	Private transfer with a seat
Marrakech to Agafay	Tour or private transfer	You have your own car	A tour with a confirmed seat
Marrakech to Merzouga	3 day tour or private driver	You have 4 or more days	A private tour with a seat
In Essaouira	Walk and petit taxi	You are moving on	Private transfer

What to confirm before booking

Ask	Why it matters
The seat type and weight range	A seat that doesn’t fit the child is the wrong seat
Who installs the seat	A seat in the boot is luggage
Whether the vehicle is private	A shared taxi can add stops and passengers
The luggage space	A stroller can fill a petit taxi
The exact drop off	A medina car can’t reach many riad doors
The child fare or extra bed	A child may count as a passenger or a fare
The cancellation terms	Plans change with a tired child

The verdict

FAQ

Do taxis in Morocco have child seats?

No, not as standard. A petit taxi or grand taxi doesn't carry a child seat, and the seat isn't part of the fare. A private transfer may have one, but only as a booking line.

Is a car seat required by law in Morocco?

There's no national law that sets a car seat age, weight or height. Morocco bans children under 10 from the front seat and requires seat belts outside built up areas. A car seat is still the safer choice.

Is the train better than a private driver in Morocco?

The train is better between the main cities, especially with luggage and older children. A private driver is better for the desert, the coast road and any door to door leg. The train doesn't serve Essaouira or the desert.

How many passengers fit in a petit taxi?

Three passengers plus the driver. A child counts toward the limit, so two adults and two children need two taxis or a larger vehicle.

Getting Around Morocco with Kids: Taxis, Trains, Drivers and Car Seats