Casablanca has an image problem. Thanks to the 1942 Humphrey Bogart film — which was shot entirely on a Hollywood backlot and has almost nothing to do with the real city — visitors often arrive expecting atmosphere and leave confused by what they found: a sprawling, modern, busy city with wide boulevards, a seafront, and a skyline that looks more like a Mediterranean European capital than a Moroccan medina.
That is actually the point. Casablanca is not Marrakech. It is not Fes. It is Morocco's economic engine, home to 3.7 million people, and it has the character of a city that has been shaped by maritime trade, French colonial architecture, and the daily life of Moroccan modernity. The Hassan II Mosque, built from 1986 to 1993, is genuinely one of the most spectacular buildings in the world. The Art Deco district, left behind by French urban planners, is extraordinary. The restaurant scene is the most sophisticated in Morocco.
If you treat Casablanca as a stop on a broader Morocco itinerary — which is how most itineraries treat it — you need 1–2 days and a clear plan. This guide covers everything you need.
What to Know Before You Arrive
Getting There
Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) is Casablanca's main airport and Morocco's busiest, handling flights from across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and within Africa. Royal Air Maroc operates direct flights from New York (JFK) and Washington Dulles. European connections include Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid, and London. From the airport, the ONCF train runs directly to Casablanca Port and Casa Voyageurs stations in about 40 minutes ($4–6). Taxis are available but negotiate the fare before getting in — or use the train.
Getting Around
Casablanca has a modern tramway (Tramway de Casablanca) with two lines crossing the city. It is efficient, cheap ($0.70 per ride), and air-conditioned. Petit taxis (small red taxis) operate on meters within the city limits; a typical ride across central Casablanca costs $2–5. Ride-sharing apps (Careem, InDriver) are increasingly available. The city is large and not fully walkable between areas — the Hassan II Mosque, the Art Deco district, and the Corniche are each distinct areas best reached by tram or taxi.
Language and Money
Arabic and Darija (Moroccan Arabic dialect) are the primary languages. French is widely spoken in business and tourist contexts — Casablanca's French colonial history means French works better here than anywhere else in Morocco. Some English is spoken in hotels and upscale restaurants. The currency is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD); €1 = approximately 10–11 MAD, $1 = approximately 9–10 MAD. ATMs are widely available. Many restaurants and hotels accept credit cards, but small cafés and local eateries are cash-only.
What to Do in Casablanca
Hassan II Mosque — The Essential Casablanca Experience
Everything else in Casablanca is optional. The Hassan II Mosque is not. It is the second-largest mosque in the world (the largest outside Saudi Arabia), capable of holding 25,000 worshippers inside and another 80,000 in the outdoor esplanade. Its minaret stands 210 meters — the tallest religious structure in the world. At night, a laser beam projects from the top toward Mecca.
What makes it genuinely extraordinary is not just its scale but its setting and craftsmanship. The mosque extends over the Atlantic Ocean on a purpose-built promontory — glass floors in sections reveal the sea below — and its interior contains hand-carved stucco, zellij tilework, and cedar wood panels executed by the best artisans in Morocco. The courtyard alone, surrounded by arcades and framed against the ocean, is one of the most beautiful spaces in Africa.
The Hassan II Mosque is the only mosque in Morocco open to non-Muslim visitors. Guided tours depart daily (except Friday mornings) at 9am, 10am, 11am, and 2pm. The tour lasts approximately 1 hour. Entry costs 130 MAD ($13) per person. Book ahead online or arrive 20 minutes early as spots fill quickly, especially in peak season. Photography is permitted.
The Art Deco District
Casablanca contains one of the finest concentrations of Art Deco architecture outside of Miami or Buenos Aires. During the French Protectorate period (1912–1956), French urban planners built a new European-style city alongside the existing medina. The result is a downtown core of striking 1920s–1940s buildings — ornate facades, curved corners, decorative ironwork, and the Moorish Art Deco hybrid style sometimes called "Mauresque."
The best buildings to seek out:
- Place Mohammed V: The administrative heart, surrounded by the Wilaya (Prefecture), post office, Palace of Justice, and the Fountain of Light. French urban planning at its most confident.
- Boulevard Mohammed V: The main commercial street, lined with arcaded buildings in various Art Deco styles. Walk the length of it.
- Villa des Arts: A 1930s Art Deco villa converted into a contemporary art museum. Excellent rotating exhibitions, free entry.
- Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur: A striking 1930 French Gothic church now operating as a cultural center. Its soaring interior is open for visitors.
- Central Market (Marché Central): A 1917 covered market selling fresh seafood, produce, and spices — surrounded by Art Deco facades on all sides.
An Art Deco walking tour of central Casablanca takes 2–3 hours at a relaxed pace. Several guided walking tours depart from Place Mohammed V (book through your hotel or at the tourist information kiosks).
The Corniche and Ain Diab
Casablanca's Atlantic waterfront stretches for several kilometers along the Corniche, a broad boulevard running past beach clubs, seafood restaurants, and ocean views. The Ain Diab neighborhood behind the Corniche is the city's upscale leisure district — private beach clubs ($5–15 day pass for pool and beach access), seafood terraces, and cafés popular with Casablancans on weekends.
The Corniche is best visited in the afternoon and evening. The light over the Atlantic at sunset from the Hassan II Mosque terrace or the Corniche seafront is genuinely beautiful. Several beach clubs allow day access — El Hank and Ain Diab clubs are the most established. The public beach is free but busy on weekends.
The Old Medina
Casablanca's medina is small and relatively underwhelming compared to the imperial city medinas of Fes, Marrakech, or Meknes. It is not the reason to visit Casablanca. However, if you have an afternoon, the narrow lanes around the medina's main gate (Bab Marrakech) offer a glimpse of a more traditional urban fabric — small souks, mosques, and neighborhood hammams — before the French new city was built around it. The medina is compact enough to explore in 30–45 minutes.
Quartier Habous (New Medina)
More interesting than the old medina is the Quartier Habous — a new medina built by French urban planners in the 1930s as a planned Moroccan neighborhood, combining traditional urban forms (arched lanes, a covered souk, a large mosque) with French planning standards. The result is unusually coherent and pleasant to walk. The souk specializes in artisanal goods — leather goods, carpets, ceramics, and the best selection of Moroccan pottery in the city. Also in Habous: the Royal Palace (exterior only visible).
Best Restaurants in Casablanca
Casablanca has the most sophisticated restaurant scene in Morocco, with a concentration of excellent seafood restaurants, French-Moroccan fusion, and upscale traditional Moroccan dining that reflects the city's cosmopolitan character.
La Sqala
Set inside the 18th-century Portuguese fortifications near the Corniche, La Sqala is one of Casablanca's most atmospheric restaurants — a garden restaurant in a historic bastion, specializing in traditional Moroccan cuisine. Tagines, couscous, and pastilla in a beautiful setting. Budget around $20–30 per person for dinner. Reservations recommended on weekends.
Le Cabestan
The most romantic seafood restaurant in Casablanca, located directly over the Atlantic at the end of the Corniche. Grilled fish, oysters, lobster, and Moroccan-inflected seafood — with views that justify the slightly higher prices ($30–50 per person). The sunset from the terrace is spectacular.
Rick's Café
A deliberate Casablanca film tribute, built in 2004 as the bar and restaurant the 1942 film depicted but which never actually existed in Casablanca. It is a tourist restaurant — the food is competent but unremarkable — and it exists primarily for the theme and the piano player. Worth a cocktail for the nostalgia; not worth a full dinner when excellent alternatives exist nearby.
Café Maure
For breakfast or coffee, the Moorish-style café inside the Sqala fortress walls serves mint tea, Moroccan pastries, and fresh orange juice in a beautiful setting for very little money. An essential morning stop near the medina.
Central Market and Surrounding Stalls
For the cheapest and most authentic eating, the stalls and small restaurants surrounding the Marché Central serve excellent grilled fish, harira soup, and street food. A full lunch at the market costs $5–8 per person.
Day Trips from Casablanca
Rabat (45 minutes by train)
Rabat, Morocco's capital city, makes an excellent Casablanca day trip. The ONCF train runs frequently from Casa Voyageurs station ($3–5 each way, 45 minutes). Rabat's UNESCO World Heritage medina is more manageable than Fes or Marrakech, the Kasbah of the Udayas is genuinely beautiful (whitewashed lanes, ocean view, Andalusian-style gardens), and the Hassan Tower and Mohammed V Mausoleum are essential Moroccan royal architecture. Allow a full day and return to Casablanca for the evening.
El Jadida (1 hour by car or bus)
A former Portuguese fortified city on the Atlantic coast south of Casablanca, El Jadida's Portuguese Cistern — a subterranean vaulted chamber filled with still water reflecting the columns above — is one of Morocco's most haunting and beautiful spaces. The UNESCO-listed Portuguese medina (Cité Portugaise) is compact and atmospheric. Reach El Jadida by CTM bus from Casablanca's bus station or by rented car.
Ouzoud Falls (3 hours by car)
One of Morocco's most spectacular natural sites, the Ouzoud Falls cascade 110 meters into a series of pools surrounded by olive trees and Barbary macaques. It is too far for a comfortable day trip from Casablanca alone but works well if you are driving to Marrakech — the falls are roughly on the route and make a memorable stop. Allow 4 hours at the falls for the full experience including swimming in the pools below.
2-Day Casablanca Itinerary
Coffee and msemen (Moroccan flatbread) at a neighbourhood café near your hotel — the experience Casablancans start every day with.
Hassan II Mosque morning tour (book in advance). 1 hour guided tour inside the mosque, then time to walk the exterior oceanside terrace and photograph the minaret.
Walk or take the tram to central Casablanca for the Art Deco district. Start at Place Mohammed V — the Wilaya, Palace of Justice, and fountain are all here. Walk Boulevard Mohammed V south to the Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur.
Lunch at or near the Marché Central — fresh grilled fish at one of the surrounding restaurants ($8–12/person).
Quartier Habous — walk the planned medina lanes, browse the artisan souk, and see the exterior of the Royal Palace.
Taxi to the Corniche. Walk the waterfront as the Atlantic light shifts to gold. Find a perch at a Corniche café for tea before sunset.
Dinner at La Sqala or Le Cabestan. Evening walk back along the Corniche.
Train from Casa Voyageurs to Rabat Agdal (45 minutes, departs frequently). Buy tickets at the station the morning of — no advance booking needed for this route.
Kasbah of the Udayas — Morocco's most beautiful kasbah, whitewashed streets above the ocean, with Andalusian-style garden in the interior. 1.5 hours to walk thoroughly.
Hassan Tower and Mohammed V Mausoleum — the tower is a 12th-century unfinished minaret, the mausoleum one of Morocco's finest examples of modern traditional architecture. Free entry.
Lunch in Rabat's medina — harira, couscous, or grilled kefta at the mechoui stalls near the main gate.
Walk Rabat's old medina (smaller and less chaotic than Marrakech's — good for a relaxed browse).
Return train to Casablanca. Evening at leisure.
Practical Information
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Currency | Moroccan Dirham (MAD). €1 ≈ 10–11 MAD, $1 ≈ 9–10 MAD. ATMs widely available. |
| Visas | US, EU, UK, Canadian citizens get 90-day visa-free entry. Passport must be valid for 6+ months beyond travel dates. |
| Electricity | Type C and E plugs (European standard), 220V. US visitors need an adapter. |
| Tipping | 10% in restaurants is standard and appreciated. Round up for taxis. 10–20 MAD for hammam attendants. |
| Wi-Fi and SIM | Maroc Telecom and Orange Morocco SIM cards available at the airport and throughout the city. Prepaid data plans are very cheap ($5–10 for 10GB). |
| Hassan II Tour Cost | 130 MAD (~$13) per person. Tours daily except Friday mornings. Advance booking recommended. |
| Accommodation range | Budget guesthouses: $30–50/night. Mid-range hotels: $60–100/night. Luxury (Hyatt, Four Seasons): $150–300+/night. |
Where to Stay in Casablanca
The best areas to stay are the Gauthier district (upscale residential, good restaurants, central) or Maarif (lively, good transport links). Staying near the Corniche puts you farther from the Art Deco district and mosque but close to the waterfront. Avoid the immediate medina area for your first trip — it is one of Morocco's more subdued medinas and the surrounding streets can feel disorienting without the rewards of the great medina cities.
The Four Seasons Casablanca (oceanfront, from $200/night) and Hyatt Regency Casablanca (central, from $120/night) are the most reliable luxury options. For mid-range, the Hotel Barceló Casablanca and Hotel Kenzi Tower offer good value at $70–120/night. Boutique guesthouses in the Art Deco district (several converted 1930s villas) run $50–80/night and are the most atmospheric option.
Casablanca vs. Other Morocco Cities
| City | Best For | Days Needed | Atmosphere |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casablanca | Hassan II Mosque, Art Deco, restaurants, entry/exit point | 1–2 | Modern, commercial, cosmopolitan |
| Marrakech | Medina, souks, Djemaa el-Fna, riads, Atlas day trips | 3–4 | Intense, medieval, sensory |
| Fes | Fes el-Bali, tanneries, the most authentic medina in Africa | 2–3 | Ancient, labyrinthine, overwhelming (in the best way) |
| Chefchaouen | Blue medina, Rif Mountains, slow travel | 2–3 | Laid-back, photogenic, mountain village |
| Essaouira | Atlantic coast, wind sports, ramparts, Gnawa music | 2 | Arty, breezy, beach-town relaxed |
Most Morocco itineraries use Casablanca as the arrival and departure city, spending 1 day at the start (Hassan II Mosque, Art Deco) and 1 day at the end (relax, last dinner). The core of the trip runs through Marrakech, Fes, the Sahara, or the Atlas Mountains. For a complete Morocco plan, see our 5-day Morocco itinerary.
Plan Your Casablanca and Morocco Trip
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Plan My Morocco Trip →Frequently Asked Questions
Is Casablanca like the movie?
No. The 1942 film "Casablanca" starring Humphrey Bogart was shot entirely on Warner Bros. studio lots in Burbank, California. No location filming occurred in Morocco. The film's "Rick's Café Américain" did not exist in the real Casablanca until a replica was opened by an American expat in 2004. The real Casablanca is a modern commercial city that has very little to do with the film's aesthetic of dusty 1940s colonial romance.
Do I need a guide in Casablanca?
A guide is not strictly necessary in Casablanca the way it is strongly recommended in Fes's medina (where getting lost in the labyrinthine lanes without a guide is genuinely easy). Casablanca's main attractions are navigable independently. The Hassan II Mosque tour is guided by default. For the Art Deco district, a self-guided walk with a map works well. If you want historical context for the architecture, a 2-hour guided walking tour ($15–25/person) adds significant depth.
What should I not do in Casablanca?
Don't skip the Hassan II Mosque for something else — it is genuinely unmissable. Don't spend all your time in the old medina expecting a Marrakech-like experience; Casablanca's medina is small and less interesting than the city's other attractions. Don't take unofficial taxis without agreeing on a price in advance. Don't leave the mosque area without walking the oceanfront esplanade.
Can I drink alcohol in Casablanca?
Yes. Casablanca is the most permissive city in Morocco for alcohol consumption. Restaurants with liquor licenses (most mid-range and upscale restaurants), bars, hotel bars, and nightclubs all serve alcohol openly. Morocco produces its own wines (Coteaux de l'Atlas, Médaillon) and local beers (Flag, Casablanca). This is notably different from more conservative Moroccan cities where alcohol is much harder to find.