Getting Around Taza
Taza sits in a mountain pass between the Rif and Middle Atlas ranges, and its layout reflects that geography. The city is made up of two formerly separate towns built on different terraces overlooking a valley: the old town (Taza Haut), which is walled and sits higher up, and the Ville Nouvelle (Taza-Bas), the newer town established by the French, which occupies the fertile plain below. The city's shape has been described as a "T" — its root in the high town, stretching north toward the Oued Larbaâ, with urban growth spreading east and west along the N6 between Fez and Oujda. For a visitor, the practical consequence is that "getting around" often means moving between the upper medina and the lower new town, and that the train station sits a few kilometres below the centre.
Rail
Taza is served by the national rail network, run by the Office National des Chemins de Fer (ONCF). The train station, Gare de Taza, is located in the north of the Ville Nouvelle (Taza-Bas) on Avenue de la Gare. Arriving by train is described as an easy and comfortable way to reach the city. ONCF publishes its information online in French and Arabic, so check timetables and fares there before you travel.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Several bus companies serve Taza. Among them, the Compagnie de Transport au Maroc (CTM) is singled out as possibly the most reliable and comfortable option for travelling to the city. CTM buses stop at the Place de l'Indépendance. The standard is described as quite high, though buses sometimes arrive late. CTM's website is available in French and Arabic.
Taxis
For trips to nearby towns such as Fez and Oujda, grands taxis are an option. They are described as faster and cheaper than buses or trains. These cabs are usually shared with other passengers; if you are willing to spend a little more, you can negotiate with the driver to take one by yourself. Travellers with children should note that grands taxis often lack seat-belts. They arrive and depart near the train station in the Ville Nouvelle.
Walking
Taza's two-part layout shapes what is walkable. The old town is surrounded by fortifications and its main thoroughfare runs past the Grain Market and the souks — where wickerwork, tapestries, jewellery and other goods are sold — before ending at a square that doubles as a parade ground, home to the Al-Andalous Mosque. Bab el-Qebbour Street crosses the Kissaria (covered marketplace) and leads on to the Market Mosque, where it meets Bab Jamaa gate, the main point of entry of Taza. Further south, across from Bab el-Rih (the Wind Gate), a 16th-century bastion closes the ring around the kasbah. These historic quarters are best explored on foot. Note, though, that the old town sits at a higher elevation than the newer town on the plain, so moving between the two involves a climb or descent.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Taza has its own airport (Taza Airport). The source material does not describe ground-transport links from the airport into the city, so plan ahead: confirm your onward options before arrival, and consider arranging a taxi or checking with your accommodation. As a general point of orientation, the city's main transport hubs — the train station and the grands taxi stands — are both in the Ville Nouvelle, which is also where CTM buses stop at the Place de l'Indépendance.