Oujda by car: medina, souks, the Fez motorway and distances

Oujda, the capital of Morocco’s Oriental region, lies on the Angad plain close to the Algerian border. You reach it on the motorway from Fez, on the road from Nador or through Oujda-Angads airport, and a car then takes you on to Saïdia, Berkane and the Beni Snassen mountains. Here are the distances worth knowing, the souks and gates of the medina, and how to get around once you are there.

Photo: Farajiibrahim — CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Published on 11 November 2026

Oujda medina: where to park and which gate to use
Bab Sidi Abdelwahab, the “gate of heads”
Oujda souks: souk El Fellah, souk Melilia and the Sidi Yahya market
Fez-Oujda motorway: 320 km since July 2011
Casablanca to Oujda distance: just over 600 km
Taza, Guercif and Berkane to Oujda: how far?
Around Oujda by car: Sidi Yahya, parks and the Beni Snassen
Renting a car in Oujda

Rent a car in Oujda

Compare cars from verified local agencies, then book online.

Browse available cars in Oujda

Oujda medina: where to park and which gate to use

Oujda’s medina was founded in 994 by Ziri Ibn Attia, chief of the Maghrawa tribe. Its oldest monuments date from the Marinid period, in the 13th century: the Great Mosque, the madrasa, the old bathhouse and the kasbah. The walls you see today are more recent, from the late 19th century.

You enter the old town through its gates: Bab Sidi Abdelwahab to the east, Bab El Gharbi to the west and Bab Oulad Amrane, which opens onto Rue de Marrakech. The medina is explored on foot, so leave the car outside the walls in the new town, preferably in a guarded car park, and carry on through the lanes.

Bab Sidi Abdelwahab, the “gate of heads”

Bab Sidi Abdelwahab is Oujda’s most striking gate: a pointed arch framed by two bastions. It was long known as the “gate of heads”, because the makhzen hung the heads of rebels there.

It is the easiest landmark for finding your way around the medina. According to Wikipedia, a weekly souk is held on Thursdays on a square outside the walls near the gate; check locally before making a special trip.

Oujda souks: souk El Fellah, souk Melilia and the Sidi Yahya market

For shopping, Oujda has two well-known addresses in the new medina: souk El Fellah and souk Melilia, also spelled Mlilia. They draw locals and visitors alike, and that is where you will find the most shops.

Six kilometres from town, the Sidi Yahya oasis has its own souk on Friday mornings. Go by car and leave early: the road and the parking fill up quickly at weekends.

Fez-Oujda motorway: 320 km since July 2011

Oujda is served by the A2 Rabat-Oujda motorway. According to Autoroutes du Maroc (ADM), its last section, Fez-Oujda, is 320 km of dual carriageway and opened on 25 July 2011. Before then, the whole journey was on the national road.

Heading east from Fez, the junctions come in this order: Taza West, Taza East, Msoun, Guercif, Taourirt, then El Aïoun before Oujda. It is a toll motorway; our guide to tolls and the Jawaz tag explains how to pay.

To the north, an expressway links Oujda with Nador, which is also the way to the Mediterranean coast and Saïdia.

Casablanca to Oujda distance: just over 600 km

The drive from Casablanca to Oujda is about 608 km by road, according to Rome2Rio, or roughly 6 hours at the wheel without breaks. Almost all of it is motorway: Casablanca-Rabat, then the A2 through Meknes, Fez and Taza.

Over that distance, plan at least two stops and don’t set off tired. If you would rather not drive that far, you can fly to Oujda-Angads and pick up a car there.

Taza, Guercif and Berkane to Oujda: how far?

These are Rome2Rio road distances, rounded. Taza to Oujda: about 220 km, or 2 hours 15 minutes. Guercif to Oujda: about 160 km, or 1 hour 45 minutes. Both trips use the A2 motorway.

Between Oujda and Berkane, allow about 60 km. Saïdia and the Mediterranean are some sixty kilometres north of Oujda, and Oujda-Angads airport is about 15 km from the centre.

Around Oujda by car: Sidi Yahya, parks and the Beni Snassen

The Sidi Yahya oasis, six kilometres away, holds the mausoleum of Sidi Yahya Ben Younès, the town’s patron saint. Near the medina, Lalla Aïcha park covers some twenty hectares and was laid out in 1935. Five kilometres from the centre, Sidi Mâafa park is part of the Jbel Hamra forest.

Further north, the Beni Snassen mountains hold the Zegzel valley, with its gorges, waterfalls and caves. The road is winding, so drive slowly and avoid it after dark. To continue to the beach, read our Saïdia guide.

Renting a car in Oujda

On Loccor, the Oujda page shows the cars listed for your dates, in town and at Oujda-Angads airport. If nothing suits you, look at Nador or Berkane and drive on to Oujda.

A small city car is enough for the town, the motorway and the trips described here. Before you leave, note the mileage and the condition of the car with the agency, and keep enough time in hand to return it.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Oujda from Casablanca?

About 608 km by road according to Rome2Rio, or roughly 6 hours of driving without breaks. The route follows the Casablanca-Rabat motorway, then the A2 through Fez and Taza.

When did the Fez-Oujda motorway open?

On 25 July 2011, according to Autoroutes du Maroc. The Fez-Oujda section of the A2 is 320 km long and passes Taza, Msoun, Guercif, Taourirt and El Aïoun.

How far is Berkane from Oujda?

About 60 km by road. Berkane is on the way to Saïdia and the Beni Snassen mountains.

How far are Taza and Guercif from Oujda?

About 220 km from Taza (2 h 15) and about 160 km from Guercif (1 h 45), on the A2 motorway, according to Rome2Rio.

Where should I park to visit Oujda medina?

Outside the walls, in the new town, preferably in a guarded car park. The medina is visited on foot, entering for example through Bab Sidi Abdelwahab on the east side.