Overview

There's a rich heritage in Casablanca that has been influenced by many civilisations. But it was the French who really stamped their mark, giving the city its wonderful Art Deco architecture and café lifestyle. Though there are surprisingly few tourist attractions in Casablanca, the real joy is simply wandering the broad avenues and web of narrow backstreets. Lingering at a sidewalk café on Place Mohammed V or marvelling at the grandeur of the Hassan II Mosque are both requisite activities.

Hassan II Mosque

Casablanca's most famous and impressive attraction is its gigantic Islamic mosque perched on a seaside finger of reclaimed land. It's a truly marvelous piece of architecture, capable of holding 25,000 people inside and 80,000 more outside. Every detail of the mosque embodies the highest Moroccan craftsmanship. A section of clear glass flooring allows you to see the ocean, the roof retracts, and the ablutions hall has 40 fountains. Take the one-hour guided tour for the best perspective on this amazing mosque.

Place Mohammed V

Previously known as Place des Nations Allies, this bustling colourful square is unquestionably the heart of Casablanca. A massive clock tower keeps watch over the scene of busy cafés and vendors selling trinkets under the arcades. The popular Boulevard Houphouët Boigny runs off the square and is literally lined with shops and restaurants until it hits the port. For people-watching at a sidewalk café, it doesn't get better than this.

Quartier Habous

A quirky mix of French practicality and Moroccan character went into creating this traditional medina in the 1930s. It is almost like a fairytale version of idyllic Moroccan living, with its tidy rows of shop stalls and organised streets. Some travellers may find it too sanitary to be authentic Moroccan, but this new medina still has great bazaars, shops and cafés without the chaos and dirt of the rest of Casablanca.

Aïn Diab

This seaside suburb of Casablanca lies to the west of the city centre. At its heart is the lengthy beachside promenade known as the Corniche, which runs for three kilometres along the sea. The Corniche is lined with countless restaurants, bars, nightclubs and hotels, making it an ideal place to either stay or visit. This is where you'll most likely see the contrast of modern Casablanca mixing with its traditional side, and the beach is lined with popular beach clubs.

Old Medina

Whereas Quartier Habous is considered the new medina, the Old Medina still contains two of the original gates to the old town walls. This ancient district is where there are still traces of the early Casablanca, such as an 18th century fortress, a famous jewellery market, and the 1350 tomb of the city's patron saint, Sidi Allal el-Kairouani. Although the two medinas are quite different in atmosphere, they both offer a unique look into the local side of Moroccan city life.

Museum of Moroccan Judaism (Musée du Judaïsme marocain)

This museum has the unique honour of being the only Jewish museum located in a Muslim country. It also happens to be the only museum in Casablanca, so if you are curious about the harmonious relationship that exists between Jews and Muslims in this city, this venue will shed some light on this rare coexistence. The exhibits contain relics and artefacts that reflect the special role the 5,000 Jews in Casablanca have played in local society.

Villa des Arts

This gallery is one of the only establishments in Casablanca dedicated to presenting contemporary Moroccan and international art. It contains an excellent gallery of rotating art exhibits from around Morocco and abroad. Best of all, it's housed in a stunning Art Deco building near Parc de la Ligue Arabe.

Overview

Casablanca does not offer much in the way of outdoor recreation or spectator sports. The beaches along Aïn Diab and the Corniche are the best option for a blend of walking promenade and sandy beach club action. The city's public park is another good place to conveniently escape the urban chaos. But Casablanca's main activities involve the culture. Be sure and relax in a traditional hammam, and catch a movie in the city's classic Art Deco movie house, Cinema Rialto.

Hammams

One of the unique features of Moroccan society is the hammam, a relaxing hideaway similar to a Turkish bath. This is the best place to wash off the dust, soak away the aches of travelling and lose yourself in a timeless atmosphere. There are public hammams in every district that are reasonably-priced and welcoming. But if you need more pampering, there are also some newer, more indulgent private hammams operated like health spas.

Beaches

The beaches that line the western edge of Casablanca are not the most picturesque in North Africa, but they certainly provide a pleasantly cool and entertaining environment. Aïn Diab is the suburb where you want to go. This is home to the fantastic beachfront promenade called the Corniche, as well as the best beach clubs in Casablanca. These beach clubs charge a fee, but it's worth it to enjoy a quiet, uncrowded stretch of sand.

Art Deco buildings

One of Casablanca's most endearing qualities is the number of original Art Deco buildings scattered around the city centre. Many of the city's finest examples are found in an area bordered by Rue Ibn Batouta to the east, Rue du Prince Moulay Abdellah to the west, Avenue Lalla Yacout to the south and Boulevard Mohammed V to the north. Wandering within this perimeter will bring you to highlights like the 1925 Palais de Justice, 1918 General Post Office, and the 1930 Préfecture.

Parc de la Ligue Arabe

Casablanca's main public park is the best place to quickly escape the heat, hustle and bustle of the city. Located just to the southwest of the city centre, this pleasant park has grassy lawns, shady spots and plenty of room to walk or play around. A handful of cafés are also found inside the park, ensuring you can make a full day out of lingering here.

Parc des Jeux Yasmina

If you have your kids along, or just feel like being a kid for an afternoon, head over to this small but interesting amusement park located within the grounds of Parc de la Ligue Arabe. It's quintessentially Moroccan, and although hardly high-tech, it has its own special atmosphere.

Cinema Rialto

There are a number of venues where you can catch a movie in Casablanca, but the undisputed winner of coolest movie theatre goes to the classic Art Deco Cinema Rialto. This building is simply adorable, and features some wonderful details that epitomise the era of Art Deco style. Seeing a movie here is an experience you won't soon forget.

Dining and shopping

Casablanca is one of the best cities in Morocco for dining out. There are dozens of restaurants and cafés, many of which specialise in seafood, filling the city's districts. From the quality and ambiance of La Bavaroise to the hundreds of simple snak cafés that serve up cheap shwarmas, sandwiches and roasted chicken, visitors have lots of choices in Casablanca.

Like in countries such as Spain, restaurants in Casablanca don't even open until around 19:00. Locals don't actually eat until much later, usually around 21:00, so it pays to give the restaurant of your choice a call to see when they're open. One of the city's hottest new areas for wining and dining is opposite the Marché Centrale along Rue Allal ben Abdallah.

The Quartier Habous is another good area for a range of upscale restaurants and simple Moroccan cafés. There are also plenty of choices along the Corniche promenade. Seafood is the best way to go when dining along the beach, but the quality varies widely so ask your hotel to suggest their favourite place to eat out.

Most menus in Casablanca focus on traditional Moroccan fare, but there are also a large number of international cuisine restaurants that cater to tourists. Delicious Magreb fare like mechoui (spit-roasted lamb), pastille (tasty meat pie), aromatic tagines (stews) and couscous (crushed and steamed semolina) prepared exactly the way it should be are all culinary highlights not to be missed.

As opposed to the extensive local dining scene in Casablanca, the city is nearly devoid of traditional souks or craftsman quarters where Moroccan artisans practice their skills. Nearly everything you see for sale in Casablanca has been imported from another region of the country, resulting in higher prices and lower quality. Shopping for Moroccan handicrafts in Casablanca is only recommended if you don't plan to visit any other town in the country.

One of the best places to shop for Moroccan crafts is along Boulevard Felix Houphouet Boigny, which is lined with craft shops on both sides of the street. All of these shops sell the same things, and all seem intent on getting the most money from their customers, as haggling is the custom.

If you want to shop for overpriced souvenirs but don't want the hassle of dealing with pushy haggling shopkeepers, check out the Exposition Nationale d'Artisanat at the junction of Rue Maarakat Ohoud and Avenue Hassan II. The three floors of this store are packed with every conceivable art or craft produced in Morocco. The prices are fixed and there's no bargaining.

For a more local shopping experience, check out the Marché Centrale (Central Market). This massive covered marketplace positively buzzes with activity from early in the morning until late in the evening. Fresh produce and the like are mainly sold in the Central Market, but it's a great place to explore for the cultural experience.

If you wander around the Old Medina you can find plenty of shops selling Moroccan goods but again, they cater entirely to tourists. The Maarif neighbourhood is good for Western fashion chains that sell at bargain prices, and the Derb Ghraleef neighbourhood's huge souk is exciting if you want to experience market shopping, Moroccan style.

Befitting a city of its legendary nomenclature and popularity as a gateway to Morocco, Casablanca has more than enough quality restaurants to keep you satisfied during your visit. Some of them are quite extraordinary, in terms of both food and ambiance, but others are simply renowned for their simple but tasty local Moroccan fare.

Overview

Most travellers fly into Casablanca's Mohammed V Airport, which handles regular direct flights from around Morocco and several international destinations. Trains are a great way to travel to Casablanca if you're already in Morocco, while the CTM long-distance coaches can even bring you from France and Spain. Transport within Casablanca is handled by petit taxis, but you can easily explore the city centre on foot.

Airports

Casablanca's airport, Mohammed V Airport, is located 25kms south of the city and serves as the main gateway into Morocco. Domestic flights arrive regularly from Fez, Marrakech, Agadir, Oujda, Essaouira, and Ouarzazate to the airport's two domestic terminals.

Most of Morocco's international flights also arrive at Casablanca. Terminal 3 handles regular direct flights mainly from Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and North America, but European cities are also serviced with less frequency. The domestic and international terminals are connected by a convenient free shuttle bus.

Casablanca's airport has plenty of facilities to get you started upon arrival in Morocco. Currency exchange booths, banks and ATMs will take care of your money concerns, while several restaurants, shops and bars handle more carnal needs. The Tourist Help Desk is also useful if you need some direction or assistance arranging transport or accommodation.

If possible, try and arrange an airport pickup through your hotel. This is common practice and will save you the hassle of dealing with the taxi drivers. Grand taxis can hold up to six passengers and operate on fixed routes, making them a slow but affordable way to get to your hotel. Regular private taxis are also available outside Arrivals, but make sure you negotiate the fare with the driver before getting in. Taxi drivers will accept foreign currency but you'll get your change in local dirhams.

The airport is also serviced by the national train system. A reliable hourly train connects the airport with Casa-Voyageurs Station from 06:50 until 22:50 every day. The ride takes around 35 minutes and is very cheap. A shuttle bus also operates between the airport and Casablanca's CTM terminal 12 times a day between 07:30 and 00:30.

Public transportation

Casablanca is connected to the rest of Morocco by comfortable, efficient trains operated by the national railway company. Trains from cities like Fez, Tangier and Marrakech arrive at Casa-Voyageurs Station, which is located two kilometres from the city centre. Train fares are comparable to bus fares, but trains offer a more interesting and enjoyable journey.

Long-distance buses operated by CTM in conjunction with the international Eurolines bus network link Casablanca with virtually every other town in Morocco. CTM buses arrive at the conveniently located bus station right in the centre of the city. CTM also has international service to Spain and France, offering an easy way to get to Morocco from Europe by land.

Casablanca is notorious for its chaotic traffic congestion and dangerous driving habits. Fortunately, most of the things worth seeing in Casablanca are within the city centre, which is best explored on foot. Just be careful if you walk around after dark. To get to outlying parts of the city like Aïn Diab and the Hassan II Mosque, you'll need to hop in a petit taxi.

Casablanca's petit taxis are the most convenient means of travelling around the city. These red vehicles are easily spotted and run by the government. Your hotel can call one for you, or you can hail one along the street. Drivers can only carry three passengers at a time, but if there's an empty seat be prepared for the driver to stop and pick up another passenger. Always request the driver to turn the meter on as this is the law.

White minibuses known as grand taxis act as a shared bus service and follow regular routes around the city. They make a good choice for travelling outside Casablanca. The city's system of public buses is only for the brave of heart. They are crowded, chaotic and signs are only in Arabic. Renting a car is not recommended in Casablanca as the driving in the city is challenging for the uninitiated.