Casablanca
The economic capital: Art Deco architecture and an ocean seafront
© Hamza Bouchikhi / Unsplash
Casablanca has the country's main international airport and is often visited at the start or end of a trip. A day and a half covers the essentials: the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest in the world and one of the few in Morocco open to non-Muslims, the Art Deco downtown, the Habous quarter and the Ain Diab corniche. It is also a city where you eat very well, from the central market to contemporary restaurants.
- 1 to 2 days
- Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct
- from 450 MAD
- Culture, Food, Nightlife, Shopping
- An arrival or departure stopover, business travellers, architecture and food lovers
Why go
- The Hassan II Mosque, open for guided tours
- Art Deco and neo-Moorish heritage from the 1920s to the 1950s
- The most convenient starting point for Rabat, Marrakech and the north by train
Things to see
Hassan II Mosque
Partly built over the ocean; guided tours several times a day outside prayer times.
Habous quarter
A 1930s 'new medina': bookshops, olives and pastry shops.
Art Deco downtown
Boulevard Mohammed V, the central market and Mohammed V square.
Ain Diab corniche
A seafront promenade, beach clubs and restaurants.
On the map
Things to do
Guided architecture walk
Local associations run tours on the city's Art Deco heritage.
Lunch at the central market
Choose your fish at the counter and have it grilled on the spot.
Sunset on the corniche
Walk to the Sidi Abderrahmane shrine, reachable at low tide.
Food
Atlantic fish and seafood, contemporary Moroccan cooking and the widest international choice in the country. Friday couscous is still a tradition.
Where to eat
Central market
Seafood counters at fair prices.
Maarif and Gauthier
Neighbourhoods of cafés, bistros and new restaurants.
Corniche
Ocean-view restaurants, from casual to upscale.
Where to stay
Downtown and Gauthier
Handy for Casa-Port station and sightseeing on foot.
Corniche
Ocean-facing hotels with a more relaxed feel.
Shopping & evenings
Shopping
Morocco Mall and Anfa Place for brands; the Habous for crafts and books.
Evenings
The country's busiest nightlife: corniche bars, rooftops and clubs.
Day trips
The capital, about an hour by train.
A UNESCO-listed Portuguese fortified city.
Getting around
Mohammed V airport is linked to the centre by train. The tram serves downtown and the corniche. Al Boraq links Casablanca to Tangier, with regular trains to Rabat, Fes and Marrakech.
Budget
- 450 MAD
- 1,100 MAD
- 3,000 MAD
When to go
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr ✓
- May ✓
- Jun ✓
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep ✓
- Oct ✓
- Nov
- Dec
Mild all year thanks to the ocean; ideal from April to October.
Combine with
Plans that stop here
Tips
- Book the Hassan II Mosque tour online or arrive early.
- Ride-hailing apps are handy for longer distances in the city.
Where next?