What's the difference between a petit taxi and a grand taxi?

Two completely different animals sharing the same word. One zips you across town. The other waits until it's full and takes you across the country. Mixing them up is a rite of passage.

**Petit taxis** — the small, zippy, colour-coded ones darting through city traffic. Three passengers max. They run on meters, in theory, with a base fare of 1.20–2 MAD and a minimum charge around 7–10 MAD. A cross-city trip rarely costs more than 30–50 MAD. After 8 or 9pm, the tariff bumps up 50%. Don't be alarmed if the driver picks up another passenger going the same way — it's normal, not a trick.

And every city paints them a different colour, which is genuinely delightful. Marrakech: ochre. Casablanca: red. Rabat: blue. Fes: red. Tangier: light blue with a yellow racing stripe. Meknes: light blue. Agadir: orange. Essaouira: blue. Chefchaouen: blue. Ouarzazate: white. Tetouan: yellow. It's all municipal regulation — basically a licence plate you can spot from a block away, and an excellent reason to photograph taxis in every city you visit.

Now, the meter. The eternal petit taxi negotiation. In Rabat and Casablanca, most drivers flick it on without drama. In Marrakech — well. If yours doesn't, say *compteur* (French) or *counter* (Darija) with a friendly smile. If they refuse, most people agree a price before the wheels turn, or step out and try the next one. There's always a next one. The phrase *bzef, khouya!* — too much, brother! — delivered cheerfully, opens more doors than frustration ever will. Airport taxis are a different system entirely: fixed fares on posted boards, no negotiation needed.

**Grand taxis** are something else entirely, and one of Morocco's most distinctive experiences. These are the intercity shared rides — traditionally those indestructible Mercedes W123 and W124 sedans, some running since the 1980s, now increasingly Dacia Lodgy minivans. Six passengers. Four across the back, two up front with the driver. This is the standard configuration, not overcrowding. Each car runs a fixed route and doesn't leave until every seat is sold. No timetable. No meter. No app. You just show up.

Grand taxi stands cluster near the *gare routière* in every city. Someone will wave you toward the right car for your destination. Fares are fixed per seat for each route — Marrakech to Essaouira runs about 80–100 MAD, Fes to Meknes around 25–30 MAD. The person next to you will usually say the price before anyone asks. People in a hurry buy the empty seats and leave immediately — but you'll pay for them.

Think of the grand taxi as Morocco's original rideshare — predating every app by decades. It reaches towns no train serves, it's faster than the bus, and it's the transport system that genuinely stitches the country together. Not just the cities — the small towns, the mountain villages, the places between the places. You'll remember the ride.