Nador travel guide

Getting around

Buses and grands taxis arrive at a large and fairly confusing terminal at the lagoon end of Av des FAR. CTM and SATAS buses have a city centre terminus near the Hotel Ryad and the Municipality. The ONCF buses from Taourirt arrive on Av Sidi Mohammed. One principal street, Blvd Youssef Ben Tachfine (at right angles to the lagoon), cuts right through the centre from the roundabout on the Melilla road to the Hotel Rif on the waterfront. The administrative quarter, post office, and the modern Grand Mosque with its unusually tall and slender minaret are all located on this road. If you come in by public transport, turn right out of the bus/grand taxi terminus and walk into the centre along the Av Hassan II to meet Blvd Ben Tachfine. A couple of the better eateries are near here. The grid pattern of the town makes orientation straightforward, though street signs are notable by their almost total absence.

Ins and outs

Getting there

Nador is easily reached by bus from Al Hoceïma (3½ hours), Melilla, Oujda (2½ hours), and Taza. ONCF, the national railway company, have a bus from Taourirt which meets the train between Meknès/Fès and Oujda. There is also a daily bus from Casablanca (12 hours) and from Tetouan (9½ hours). If coming by ferry from Sète in France, Nador might be your first meeting with Morocco. There is also an international airport. At the time of writing, work was underway on a huge project to build a new train line from Nador to link up with the national rail network at Taourirt. Once complete, in 2010 or 2011, the line will open up transport links from Europe through the port of Melilla, and could transform this part of the coutry.

Nador

Apart from Melilla, Nador is a fair distance from other major towns: 175 km from Oujda, 120 km from Al Hoceïma on an often tortuous though beautiful road, 275 km from Taza, 400 km from Fès.

There are 3 main departure points for public road transport: the busy, grotty main bus station, shared with grands taxis, at the junction of Av des FAR and Hassan II; CTM and the better private lines depart from Av Ibn Rochd near the Municipalité; and grands taxis for Melilla from behind the town hall. The CTM departure for Al Hoceïma leaves from the Av des FAR terminus.

Air

Flights to Nadar Airport are irregular. Choose Iberia connections from Spain to nearby Melilla. RAc, 24 Blvd Mohammed V, T056-606478.

Boat

There is a Comanav car and passenger ferry service from Nador to Sète in France, every 4 days Jun-Sep, tickets and information from Comanav Passages, Immeuble Lazaar Beni Enzar, BP 89, T056-608538, or from the same company in Casablanca, 43 Blvd des FAR, T022-310015/6. The ferry service between Nador and Almería, which is operated by Ferrimaroc, http://www.ferrimaroc.com, runs up to 5 times a day in summer, less often in winter, arriving in Almería 8 hrs later. Cost is E48. Cabins from E71 per person.

Bus

CTM buses run to Tangier (via Fès, Meknès, Larache and Asilah), Al Hoceïma, Oujda and Fès, Meknès, Rabat and Casablanca. For Melilla, take a private line bus to Beni Enzar (frequent departures). If you want a seat be sure to board the bus at the terminal as it fills up rapidly along the way (journey time 30 mins). Other private line destinations include: Er Rachidia (8 hrs via Missour/Midelt), Figuig (9 hrs via Oujda), Kariat Arkmane, Ras el Ma’a/Ras Kebdana, Taza, Fès and Meknès (several departures, including early morning), Casablanca, Guercif, Oujda (numerous during day), Chefchaouen, Tetouan and Tangier (take early morning bus to see mountainous route), Targuist, Al Hoceïma, Rabat, Taourirt, and Berkane. Note that the ONCF runs an evening service to Taourirt to connect with trains to Fès, Meknès, Rabat and Casablanca.

Taxi

Grands taxis leave from beside the bus station, with numerous destinations including Ahfir (over 1 hr) and from there to Saïdia, to the border with Melilla (5dh, 20 mins), to Al Hoceïma (50dh), Meknès and Fès.

Taxis for Beni Enzar (border) and other points north depart from the main road near Hotel Ryad.

Banks

There is no shortage of banks to process money sent home by migrant workers. Wafa Bank, on your right on Blvd Ben Tachfine as you head uphill, not far from Hotel el Menzah. Other ATMs are on or near this street.

Medical services

Chemists: Pharmacie du Rif, corner of Blvd Ben Tachfine and Av Moulay Hassan. Pharmacie Ibn Sina, top end of Blvd Ben Tachfine under the arches.