30–50 MAD rides: petit taxis are for Casablanca city, not CMN
Petit Taxi Casablanca works well once you’re in town, not for the 30 km run from Mohammed V Airport (T1/T2) into the city. They’re metered, small red cars meant for intra-city trips, like 5–20 minute hops between Casa Voyageurs, Casa Port, and central hotels. Forum regulars are clear: most petit taxi drivers simply refuse airport–city rides and expect you to use the train or a grand taxi for CMN.
Inside Casablanca, a metered petit taxi ride often comes in under 30–50 MAD for short central trips, even at busy spots like Casa Voyageurs. They’re everywhere near major stations and on main avenues, so you usually flag one in a couple of minutes. Cars are small and officially limited to 3 passengers, so groups of 4+ should split up or skip this option.
How to use petit taxis with the train from CMN
The cleanest combo is: CMN–Casa Voyageurs or Casa Port by ONCF train, then petit taxi to your hotel. The airport train usually runs every 30–60 minutes; once you step out at Casa Voyageurs, petit taxis form a loose line near the main exit on Place de la Gare. Expect 5–15 minutes to most central hotels from Casa Voyageurs, and 5–10 minutes from Casa Port to downtown spots around Boulevard des FAR.
Step-by-step: from CMN to your hotel with petit taxi
- 1. Land at CMN T1 or T2 and follow signs for the ONCF train station under the terminal; buy a ticket to Casa Voyageurs or Casa Port (price is fixed by ONCF).
- 2. Ride 30–45 minutes to Casa Voyageurs or about 45 minutes to Casa Port, depending on the schedule.
- 3. At the station, walk outside to the main street rather than jumping into the first taxi cluster right at the exit; regulars say street-hailed cars meter more reliably.
- 4. Raise your hand to stop a red petit taxi and say your hotel name and area (for example, “Hotel XYZ, centre-ville” or “Gauthier”).
- 5. As you open the door, say “compteur, s’il vous plaît” so the driver hears it before you sit; check the meter starts near the standard flag fall, not at 20–30 MAD.
- 6. If the driver refuses the meter, offer a flat fare you’re fine with for a 5–20 minute hop (for central hotels, many travellers cap this around 30–50 MAD) or politely step out and flag another car.
- 7. Pay in cash at the end; have 10 and 20 MAD notes plus coins ready, since drivers often claim they don’t have change for 100–200 MAD bills.
What regulars do
Seasoned visitors heading from Casa Voyageurs say they walk 100–200 meters away from the station forecourt before hailing a petit taxi on the street. They report those drivers more often using the meter without debate and quoting less inflated flat fares after 20:00. Many also keep Google Maps open on their phone to see if the taxi adds an unnecessary 5–10 minute loop through traffic-heavy boulevards.
Watch out for
Complaints focus on drivers refusing the meter or stretching a 5-minute hop into a 15-minute spin from Casa Voyageurs, which might bump a 20 MAD ride to 40–50 MAD. Some drivers also skip very short 2–3 block trips, preferring longer rides. If you hit resistance twice in a row, just walk one block, try another corner, and reset.
One last tip: before you fly into CMN, screenshot your hotel address in French plus a map pin; showing that on your phone in the petit taxi cuts down on language mix-ups and detours.