How to get from Essaouira to Safi: your travel options explained

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With a choice of bus, self-drive or private transfer, there are a few options to travel between Essaouira and Safi. While the bus is the most common option, many travellers enjoy the freedom of self-driving along the quiet coastal road.

With a journey time of only two hours, the trip from Essaouira to Safi is straightforward, but one that many travellers ignore, preferring instead to continue directly on to Casablanca.

It’s a rewarding journey though; Safi makes for an excellent day trip from Essaouira and it’s a popular leg on a longer-term Moroccan road trip. Even if it’s not yet on your itinerary, we’d highly recommended adding Safi as a stopover on the journey between Essaouira and Casablanca.

Whether you plan to travel from Essaouira to Safi via bus, car or private transfer, we’ve got you covered here in this guide.

And do check out our travel guide to Safi to get the most from your visit.

Getting the bus from Essaouira to Safi

CLICK HERE to book your bus tickets from Essaouira to Safi

The most comfortable and convenient public transport option is the four times daily CTM bus from Essaouira to Safi. Although there are a couple of other bus companies on the route, CTM are the most trusted and reliable, with a modern fleet of vehicles. Onboard facilities include reclining seats, air-conditioning and USB charging ports.

Timings for the CTM bus are:

The most straightforward option for booking tickets is on the 12Go website, click here to make your booking. It’s also the best resource for checking routes, timetables and operators.

CTM’s bus station in Essaouira is located here. Unless you’re staying nearby, you’ll find it easiest to jump into a petit taxi (flat fee of 8DH from anywhere in Essaouira city) and get dropped-off right outside the station. Once you arrive in Safi, the CTM station is just south of the city centre; jump into a petit taxi again (10DH) and ask to be taken to the medina area.

Grand Taxi from Essaouira to Safi

It can be quicker to take a Grand Taxi from Essaouira to Safi, especially if you don’t fancy sticking to an exact timetable. From the Grand Taxi station in Essaouira (located here), you can expect to pay around 600-700DH for the entire taxi.

There should be a price list on display (although it’s often not visible when tourists are around, so ask to see it), from where you can check the latest prices.

Grand Taxis should take around two hours to reach Safi. If you’ve rented the entire vehicle, you will depart immediately, otherwise you’ll have to wait until it fills up with other passengers. On the whole, Grand Taxis are comfortable and if you have rented the entire vehicle, you should have more control over comfort breaks and music choice.

Self-drive from Essaouira to Safi

For ultimate flexibility and comfort, nothing quite beats hiring a car and taking to the Moroccan roads. Check out this guide to driving in Morocco if you need some tips.

The 120km journey from Essaouira to Safi takes about two hours in a car, depending how often you stop. You can choose to either take the main road (N8 towards Marrakech and then the N1 north), which passes a couple of sights along the way (including Had Draa market if you’re travelling on a Sunday), otherwise it’s a pretty bland drive.

Alternatively, the R301 coastal road is less developed but significantly more interesting, passing very close to the coastline along the way. Suggested stops include:

• Mogador’s Oasis Beachfront Villas and Camping about an hour outside Essaouira, ideal for an overnight stay away from the crowds.
• Café Gerf Bel Arbi for a quick coffee stop.
• Souira Kedima, a small attractive town just south of Safi.

Hiring a car can be very cheap in Morocco (about $20 per day) but a one-way rental will make it much more expensive (and often, not even possible). It’s more financially viable if you’re driving from Essaouira to Safi as part of a self-drive Moroccan road trip.

Private transfer from Essaouira to Safi

CLICK HERE to book a private transfer from Essaouira to Safi

The most expensive way to get from Essaouira to Safi is a private transfer. With door-to-door collection and drop-off, it’s especially useful if you have a large amount of luggage or are travelling in a group or with a young family.

Once again, the 12Go website is the best place to book a private transfer, with a choice of operators and vehicle types. The journey should take around two hours, and you’ll be able to request stops along the way when you need a break.

Prices start from around 1000DH for the entire vehicle up to four passengers and luggage. Larger vehicles are available at a higher cost if you need more space.

Is there a train from Essaouira to Safi?

No, unfortunately Essaouira isn’t on the Moroccan railway network, so it’s not possible to take the train. Safi itself is on the railway network if you want to continue your Moroccan journey on the rails. There are two daily trains from Safi to Casablanca, taking just over four hours and costing 130DH.

Train tickets can be booked on the 12Go website.

Can you fly from Essaouira to Safi?

No, Safi doesn’t have its own airport, so flights from Essaouira (or anywhere else for that matter) aren’t available.

Final thoughts on getting from Essaouira to Safi

Aside from the regular buses, the 12okm between Essaouira and Safi isn’t especially well served by public transport. If you’re not keen on the bus, your other options centre around Grand Taxis and private transfers.

For those people with a bit more time on your hands, self-drive is an option, ideally as part of a longer Moroccan road trip. Taking the coastal road is recommended, allowing you to visit some parts of the coastline you’d otherwise miss.