Casablanca

About Casablanca

Casablanca is Morocco’s largest city and main business centre. Its 20th-century centre has a remarkable collection of Art Deco and Mauresque buildings from the protectorate era.

The Hassan II Mosque, completed in 1993, stands partly over the ocean and has one of the tallest minarets in the world. It is one of the few mosques in Morocco that non-Muslims can visit, on guided tours outside prayer times.

Top things to do

• Hassan II Mosque. An extraordinary showcase of Moroccan craftsmanship; guided visits for non-Muslims run on set schedules.
• The Corniche. The seafront boulevard of Ain Diab, with beaches, cafés and ocean views.
• Habous quarter. The ‘new medina’, built in the 1930s, with arcaded streets, bookshops and pastry shops.
• Art Deco downtown. Walk around Boulevard Mohammed V and Place Mohammed V to spot ornate façades.
• Old medina and port. A small, workaday medina near the harbour, with the fish market nearby.
• Notre-Dame de Lourdes. A 1950s church known for its large stained-glass windows.

Outdoor activities

• Seafront walks along the Corniche
• Surf lessons on nearby Atlantic beaches
• Architecture photography in the Art Deco centre

Getting there & best time

Getting there

• Mohammed V International Airport is Morocco’s main hub, about 30–45 min from the city.
• From Rabat: approx. 1–1.5 h by road or train.
• From Marrakech: approx. 3–3.5 h by road; regular trains.
• From Fes: approx. 3.5–4 h by road or train.
• From Tangier: around 2 h 10 by Al Boraq high-speed train.

Best time to visit

Mild all year thanks to the Atlantic. Spring and autumn are ideal; winter can be grey and rainy.