Oujda

Oujda is the capital city of the Oriental Morocco region, and is in the eastern part of Mediterranean Morocco.

Get in

By plane

• 1 Oujda Angads Airport (OUD  ^IATA). There are daily direct flights from Amsterdam, Paris, Marseille, Madrid and other cities in Morocco.  

By train

There are several trains per day from western Morocco with ONCF, including overnight trains. Journey time from Casablanca is around 10 hours while it's 5½ h from Fez. There are no trains from nearby Algeria.

• 2 Oujda railway station. (updated Sep 2020)

By car

Oujda is accessible from the north via Melilla and Nador, or from the west via Fes and Taza. Arriving from the south is also possible from Figuig and Bouarfa. The Algerian border is closed which prevents land travel to/from the east. There are grand taxis to many destinations including: Taza, Saidia (20 dirhams), Berkane (18 dirhams), Jerada (15 dirhams), and Ain Beni Mathar (15 dirhams).

By bus

The bus station is located next to the grand taxi station in the south of the city. Many destinations are possible. From Oudja to Taza is roughly 30 dirhams, Oujda to Fes around 60 dirhams.

By boat

Boat service is via Nador and Melilla, both around three or four hours away.

See

• 1 Bab Sidi Abdel Wahab (باب سيدي عبد الوهاب), Boulevard Maghreb Arabe. Oujda's historic medina where the 13th century grand mosque and clock tower sit and where the Eastern Gate has a sort of medieval castle look. A very scene of market booths and shoppers. Be careful with your belongings. (updated Aug 2020)
• 2 Parc Lalla Aicha (حديقة لالة عائشة), Avenue Yacoub Al Mansour, ☏ +212 536702500. 06:00-20:00. An oasis-like garden in the city with swimming pool and tennis court, flowering plants and walkways. (updated Aug 2020)
• 3 Parc Lalla Meryem, 48 Rue Mostafa Kamal. Another park with garden and cafe (Cafe El Methef), on the south side of the medina, if you can figure out how to get out of there. (updated Aug 2020)

Do

• 1 SIDI MAAFA Forest (غابة سيدي معافة) (take Boulevard Mohammed VI south from city to forest turnoff). A Moroccan national forest with hiking around rocky hilltops and other recreational opportunities (taking in Moroccan flora, for example). Has a fine overlook of the city. (updated Aug 2020)

Buy

Market of food.

The Bab Sidi Abdel Wahab or adjoining Morocco Market Square are some great places to buy things.

Eat

Sleep

Budget

There are various decent hotels around the Place du 16 Aout, but two of the best are:

• Hotel Telimcen (0536686533), which is attached to a women-friendly patisserie and cafe. 80 dirhams will get you a single room with a hot shower. Friendly staff.
• Hotel Hanna (0536686003) has public hallway showers, but is slightly cheaper.

Mid-range

• 1 Riad DAR AL FASSIA (دار الفاسية), 2 Rue Tifelt, ☏ +212 651960095. Clean rooms, breakfast, wifi. Comfortable accommodations and Moroccan style decor. DH 397. (updated Aug 2020)
• 2 hôtel (riad) Cafeteria Lahlou, 95 rue mazouzie (souk edahab:bijoutier) (in the medina), ☏ +212 677672866. Hotel close to medina with rooftop balcony overlooking souk and a/c. Free breakfast with delicious food and pet-friendly policy. 415 dirham. (updated Aug 2020)

Splurge

• As all over Morocco, the Hotel A ibis is a safe and well located bet. Always right next to the train station, the Ibis offers wi-fi, hot showers, white sheets, a lovely breakfast buffet, a pool and bar. Even if you aren't staying here, just pop in for an afternoon cocktail poolside (even during Ramadan!)
• Another good option in Oujda is the Atlas Spa and Hotel, again, right next to the train station. Swank and brand-new, it's even got a night club (or at least a sign for one).