Overview
Casablanca is Morocco's largest city and its economic engine — a sprawling Atlantic port of four million people that handles the bulk of the country's trade, finance, and industry. It is not an imperial city in the way Marrakech or Fes are. There are no ancient medinas to get lost in, no centuries-old dynasties carved into its walls. What Casablanca offers instead is Morocco at full speed — ambitious, modern, and unapologetically urban.
The city was a small fishing village until the French began transforming it in the early 20th century. What they built — wide boulevards, white apartment buildings with curved facades, ornate civic architecture — became one of the finest collections of Art Deco in the world. That legacy sits alongside the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest in the world, and a coastline that faces straight out into the Atlantic. Not sure it deserves a stop on your trip? Read our honest take on whether Casablanca is worth visiting.
What to see
Hassan II Mosque
There is no more impressive building in Morocco. The Hassan II Mosque, completed in 1993, was built on a promontory over the Atlantic Ocean — on clear days, the sea is visible through a glass floor in the prayer hall. Its minaret rises 210 metres, the tallest in the world, and is visible from almost anywhere in the city. The mosque can accommodate 105,000 worshippers inside and on its esplanade.
Unlike most mosques in Morocco, non-Muslims are permitted inside on guided tours. The interior — carved cedar, Italian marble, hand-laid mosaic zellige — is extraordinary. Tours run several times daily except Friday mornings. Book ahead, especially in summer.
Art Deco City Centre
The area around Boulevard Mohammed V is one of the best-preserved Art Deco streetscapes outside of Miami. Walk the boulevard from Place des Nations Unies south toward the Medina and you'll pass building after building of ornate white facades, wrought-iron balconies, and tiled archways. The Marché Central (Central Market) is worth stopping into for fresh produce, fish, and a strong coffee at one of the stalls inside.
Look out for the Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur, a striking 1930 Art Deco church that is now a cultural centre. It no longer holds services but is open to visit and hosts exhibitions and concerts.
The Old Medina
Casablanca's old medina is compact and low-key compared to the labyrinthine medinas of Fes or Marrakech — which is part of its appeal. Most of it dates to the 18th and 19th centuries. You can walk the whole thing in an hour without getting seriously lost. The atmosphere is that of a working neighbourhood rather than a tourist zone: local butchers, cheap cafés, fabric shops, and the occasional artisan.
The ramparts facing the port are worth walking for the views. La Sqala, a restaurant set within the old fortifications, is one of the most atmospheric lunch spots in the city.
Quartier Habous
Built by the French in the 1930s as a planned Moroccan-style quarter, the Quartier Habous (also called the New Medina) has a tidiness and order that feels very different from historic medinas. The arcaded streets are lined with patisseries selling Moroccan pastries, ceramics shops, leather goods, and bookshops. It is a good place to shop without the pressure tactics common in older medinas.
The Royal Palace is adjacent — you can walk along its exterior walls, though the palace itself is not open to the public.
The Corniche
The Ain Diab Corniche is Casablanca's seafront — a several-kilometre stretch of Atlantic coast lined with beach clubs, seafood restaurants, cafés, and open terraces. It is where the city comes to breathe. On summer evenings it fills with families, couples, and groups of friends; in the morning it belongs to joggers and fishermen.
The beach clubs along the corniche charge an entry fee that includes use of sun loungers and pools. The Atlantic here can have a strong undertow — check conditions before swimming. Several of the better seafood restaurants are clustered at the southern end of the corniche near Ain Diab.
Where to eat
Casablanca has the most diverse restaurant scene in Morocco — a function of its size, its cosmopolitan population, and the number of business travellers passing through. Fresh Atlantic seafood is the standout: grilled sole, sea bass, prawns, and oysters from the nearby coastline appear on menus across the city at prices well below what you'd pay in Europe.
For traditional Moroccan food, the Old Medina and Quartier Habous are the best hunting grounds — small family-run restaurants serving harira, tagine, and couscous with no pretension and reasonable prices. The smarter restaurants are in Gauthier and along the corniche, where the cuisine ranges from upscale Moroccan to French, Japanese, and Lebanese.
Specific picks: La Sqala (medina ramparts, traditional Moroccan, lunch only); Le Cabestan (upscale seafood on the corniche with Atlantic views — book ahead for weekends); Rick's Café (Humphrey Bogart–themed, charming piano bar, good for an evening drink); La Brasserie Bavaroise (long-standing city-centre brasserie, reliable European and Moroccan menu, open daily).
Where to stay
Casablanca's accommodation skews toward business hotels — there is less of the riad culture that defines Marrakech. The main areas to stay are around Place Mohammed V and the city centre (close to the train stations and business district), Gauthier (upscale, quieter), and the corniche (best for leisure visitors).
Luxury options are well-represented: the Hyatt Regency on Place des Nations Unies, the Sofitel Tour Blanche, and several five-star hotels near the corniche. Mid-range hotels are concentrated in the Gauthier and Maarif districts. Budget options exist in the city centre but quality varies — read recent reviews before booking.
For the 2030 World Cup, accommodation will be in extremely high demand. Booking 12–18 months in advance for match weeks is not excessive.
Specific picks: Four Seasons Casablanca (corniche, top-tier luxury with direct beach access); Hyatt Regency (central on Place des Nations Unies, excellent for the business district); Kenzi Tower Hotel (sleek tower in the Twin Centre complex, outstanding city views from upper floors); Hotel Novotel Casablanca City Centre (mid-range, reliable chain standard, well-located near the business district).
Getting there
By air: Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) is 30 km southeast of the city centre. The ONCF shuttle train (Ô Train) runs between the airport and Casa Voyageurs station roughly every 30 minutes — the journey takes around 35 minutes and costs about 45 MAD. Taxis from the airport are available but significantly more expensive; agree a price before getting in.
By train: Casablanca is the hub of Morocco's rail network. The Al Boraq high-speed train connects to Tangier in around 2h 15min. Regular ONCF services run to Rabat (~45 min), Marrakech (~2h 20min), and Fes (~4h 30min). Casablanca has two main stations — Casa Port (closer to the old medina and corniche) and Casa Voyageurs (larger, more connections).
By bus: CTM operates comfortable intercity coaches from the Oulad Ziane bus station in the south of the city, with routes to Marrakech, Agadir, Fes, and beyond.
| Destination | Public transport | By car |
|---|---|---|
| Rabat | 45min — train | ~1h |
| Marrakech | 2h 15min — train | ~2h 30min |
| Tangier | 2h 15min — Al Boraq (high-speed) | ~3h |
| Fes | 4h 30min — train | ~3h |
| El Jadida | 1h 30min — bus | ~1h |
| Agadir | 7h — bus | ~4h 30min |
Practical tips
- Best time to visit: March–May and September–November. Summers are warm (25–30°C) and the Atlantic breeze keeps it bearable. Winter is mild but can be grey and rainy.
- Getting around: The Casablanca Tramway (two lines, T1 and T2) covers much of the city cheaply and reliably. Petits taxis are plentiful for shorter journeys — insist on the meter. Ride-hailing apps also operate in Casablanca.
- Dress code: Casablanca is the most cosmopolitan city in Morocco — dress standards in the ville nouvelle and on the corniche are relaxed by Moroccan standards. More conservative dress is appropriate in the medinas and near the mosque.
- Money: ATMs are everywhere in the city centre. Major hotels, restaurants, and shops accept cards; smaller establishments and market stalls are cash-only.
- Safety: Casablanca is generally safe. As with any large city, stay aware in crowded areas and around transport hubs. The Old Medina is very low-key for tourist hassle compared to Marrakech.
- Day trips: Rabat is 45 minutes by train — easy to combine the two cities in a longer itinerary. El Jadida, a Portuguese fortified town and UNESCO site, is about an hour south by road.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Casablanca? +
Casablanca is on the Atlantic coast of western Morocco, in North Africa, about 90 km southwest of the capital, Rabat. It is Morocco's largest city and main port, and its airport — Mohammed V International (CMN) — is the country's busiest, making Casablanca the main international gateway to Morocco.
What country is Casablanca in? +
Casablanca is in Morocco, a country in North Africa. It sits on Morocco's Atlantic coastline and is the country's largest city and economic centre. Its name is Spanish for "white house"; in Arabic the city is called Dar el-Beida, which means the same thing.
Is Casablanca the capital of Morocco? +
No — the capital of Morocco is Rabat, about 90 km up the coast. Casablanca is Morocco's largest city and its economic and commercial capital, but the seat of government, the royal palace and the foreign embassies are in Rabat. The mix-up is common because Casablanca is far bigger and better known internationally. See our Rabat guide.
Is Casablanca worth visiting? +
Yes, for a day or two. Casablanca is a modern commercial city rather than an imperial one, so it has fewer historic sights than Marrakech or Fes — but the Hassan II Mosque is one of the most spectacular buildings in the world, and the Art Deco centre and Atlantic corniche are worth a day. We weigh it up fully in Is Casablanca worth visiting?
How many days do you need in Casablanca? +
One full day is enough for the highlights: the Hassan II Mosque on a guided tour, the Art Deco city centre, the old medina and the Ain Diab corniche. A second day lets you slow down or take an easy day trip to Rabat, just 45 minutes away by train.
How big is Casablanca? +
Casablanca is Morocco's largest city, home to around four million people, with a still-larger metropolitan area. It is the country's busiest port and the heart of its economy, finance and industry — considerably bigger than Rabat, Marrakech or Fes.