Casablanca, Morocco: travel guide
Art Deco boulevards and a mosque rising over the Atlantic
Morocco's largest city and economic capital — Art Deco boulevards, an Atlantic corniche and the colossal Hassan II Mosque rising over the ocean.
About Casablanca
Casablanca is Morocco's big commercial city on the Atlantic coast, and it feels more modern and working than the imperial cities. It is a place for a short stay, often as an arrival point, with a mix of Art Deco buildings and a long oceanfront.
The Hassan II Mosque is the main sight, built out over the sea with a very tall minaret, and visitors can take a guided tour inside. Elsewhere you can see Art Deco architecture on the central boulevards, wander the old medina, and walk or eat along the Corniche in Ain Diab. Cafes and seafood restaurants are everywhere.
Casablanca suits city breaks and those combining it with Rabat or Marrakech. Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable weather.
- Country
- Morocco
- Currency
- MAD
- Time zone
- Africa/Casablanca
- Nearest airport
- CMN
Last updated
Top places to visit in Casablanca
Hassan II Mosque
mosque · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
One of the largest mosques in the world, rising on a platform over the Atlantic with a 210m minaret. Non-Muslims enter on guided tours of the breathtaking marble-and-titanium prayer hall.
Old Medina of Casablanca
old town · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
The walled pre-colonial old town near the port — a working, un-touristy warren of lanes, small mosques and markets beside the modern city.
Place Mohammed V
square · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The grand civic square ringed by Mauresque-Art-Deco public buildings and a musical fountain — the ceremonial heart of colonial-era Casablanca.
Cathedrale du Sacre-Coeur
cathedral · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
A striking whitewashed neo-Gothic former cathedral (1930) now used for exhibitions; you can climb the tower for a view over the city centre.
Quartier Habous (New Medina)
neighbourhood · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
A charming 1930s French-designed "new medina" blending Moroccan arches with orderly streets — olives, pastries, brassware and the best bookshops in the city.
Corniche Ain Diab
promenade · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Casablanca's seafront promenade of beach clubs, cafes and restaurants stretching west from the Hassan II Mosque toward the lighthouse — the city's leisure strip.
Morocco Mall
shopping mall · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
One of Africa's largest shopping malls at the western end of the corniche, with international brands, a musical fountain and a giant aquarium.
Villa des Arts de Casablanca
art gallery · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
A restored 1934 Art Deco villa set in a garden, now a free contemporary-art gallery showing Moroccan and international artists.
Mahkama du Pacha
palace · about 0.7 h · check the fee at the gate
A 1950s courthouse-and-reception palace in the Habous quarter with over 60 rooms of carved plaster, painted ceilings and zellige — a hidden gem when open to visitors.
Notre-Dame de Lourdes
church · about 0.3 h · check the fee at the gate
A 1950s modernist church famous for its immense stained-glass walls by Gabriel Loire that flood the concrete interior with colour.
Things to do
- Hassan II Mosque Guided Tour Tour · 1.5 h · from MAD 140 per person
- Casablanca City Highlights Tour Tour · 4 h · from MAD 350 per person
- Casablanca Street Food & Market Tour Culinary · 3 h · from MAD 300 per person
- Art Deco & Mauresque Architecture Walk Tour · 2.5 h · from MAD 200 per person
- Corniche & Ain Diab Beach Club Day Leisure · 4 h · from MAD 250 per person
Day trips and tours
- Casablanca City & Hassan II Mosque Tour 4 h · from MAD 350
Where to stay in Casablanca
- Corniche Ain Diab about MAD 1,200 per night
Seafront strip of resort hotels, beach clubs and restaurants along the Atlantic — best for ocean views.
- Centre-ville about MAD 850 per night
Downtown around Place Mohammed V and the Art Deco quarter — walkable to the medina and tram.
Hotels
- Hyatt Regency Casablanca 5-star · MAD 2,200 to MAD 4,500 per night
- ONOMO Hotel Casablanca City Center 3-star · MAD 750 to MAD 1,200 per night
- Hotel Central Casablanca 2-star · MAD 350 to MAD 600 per night
- Four Seasons Hotel Casablanca 5-star · MAD 3,200 to MAD 7,000 per night
- Movenpick Hotel Casablanca 4-star · MAD 1,200 to MAD 2,000 per night
Where to eat
- Rick's Cafe International, Moroccan · about MAD 350 per person
- La Sqala Moroccan · about MAD 180 per person
- Le Cabestan Seafood, Mediterranean · about MAD 550 per person
- Restaurant du Port de Peche Seafood · about MAD 250 per person
- Al-Mounia Moroccan · about MAD 200 per person
- Ostrea Seafood · about MAD 280 per person
- La Bodega Spanish, Tapas · about MAD 200 per person
Getting to Casablanca
Airport: Casablanca, Mohamed V (CMN)
How visitors arrive in Casablanca
- Flight into Mohammed V airport By air from International hubs · common
Mohammed V is Morocco's busiest gateway; a train links the airport with the city. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Train via Casa-Voyageurs By train from Rabat / Tangier / Marrakech · common
Casa-Voyageurs is the main station and the only one served by the Al Boraq high-speed train from Tangier. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Intercity bus By road from Marrakech / Rabat · possible
CTM and private bus companies serve most Moroccan cities from the Gare Routiere. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
From the airport to the centre
- ONCF train from the airport
The guide calls the train the only public transport from Mohammed V airport. It serves Casa Voyageurs, the main station, with Casa Port closer to the centre. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Petit taxi
Red petit taxis are the usual choice. Insist the meter is running, as overcharging at the end of trips is reported. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
Getting around
- Bus limited to a few areas
City buses follow fixed numbered routes, though the network can be hard to read for a first-time visitor.
- Taxi
Red taxis are the standard city option and should run on a meter; drivers may pick up other passengers along the way.
- Tram
The tram is a straightforward option along its line, with stops announced in Arabic and French.
- Walking
Paying
- Make sure the taxi meter is switched on before you leave. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
Safety and scams to avoid
Unmetered petit-taxi fares
Airport, port & tourist areas
Drivers refuse the meter (compteur) and quote an inflated flat fare, especially to/from the airport or at night.
How to avoid it: Insist on the meter or agree the price before getting in; a metered city ride is usually 10-30 MAD.
Best time to visit Casablanca
- Jan 18°C
- Feb 18°C
- Mar 20°C
- Apr 21°C
- May 23°C
- Jun 25°C
- Jul 26°C
- Aug 27°C
- Sep 26°C
- Oct 24°C
- Nov 21°C
- Dec 19°C
More in Morocco
Frequently asked questions about Casablanca
- What are the main places to visit in Casablanca?
- Places covered in our Casablanca guide include Hassan II Mosque, Old Medina of Casablanca, Place Mohammed V, Cathedrale du Sacre-Coeur, Quartier Habous (New Medina).
- Where should I stay in Casablanca?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Casablanca: Corniche Ain Diab, Centre-ville.
- How do I get around Casablanca?
- Ways to get around Casablanca covered in our guide: City bus, Taxi, Tram, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Casablanca?
- Scams reported to us for Casablanca include Unmetered petit-taxi fares. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- What is the weather like in Casablanca?
- Average daytime highs in Casablanca run from 18°C in Jan to 27°C in Aug.
- Which airport is nearest to Casablanca?
- The nearest airport to Casablanca has the code CMN.