Casablanca Travel Guide 2026 —
Beyond the Postcard

Casablanca is Morocco's economic capital and largest city — 4.7 million people, the country's biggest port, its main financial centre and its primary international airport. It generates around 50% of Morocco's industrial output and is the engine of the national economy.

It's also the most cosmopolitan city in Morocco — more European in feel than Fes or Marrakech, shaped by French colonial architecture, a thriving arts scene, world-class restaurants and a nightlife that other Moroccan cities can't match. The medina exists but it's not the reason to come. The reason to come is the mosque, the art deco architecture, the food, the corniche and the sense of a city that is fully, confidently itself.

It's also the city most Moroccans actually live in — which means if you want to understand modern Morocco, not just its medieval past, Casablanca is essential.

The Hassan II Mosque is the third largest mosque in the world — only the mosques in Mecca and Medina are larger. It was completed in 1993 after 6 years of construction, employing 35,000 craftsmen who worked in shifts around the clock. The minaret stands 210 metres tall — the world's tallest. A laser beam at the top points toward Mecca.

What makes it extraordinary beyond the statistics is its location — built dramatically on a promontory over the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the prayer hall floor is glass — worshippers pray directly above the sea. The building holds 25,000 people inside and a further 80,000 in the courtyard.

Non-Muslims can visit on guided tours — morning departures at 9am, 10am, 11am and 2pm (closed Friday mornings). Entry is 120 MAD. The interior — hand-carved cedarwood ceilings, Italian marble floors, zellij tilework, retractable roof — is genuinely breathtaking. One of the finest examples of contemporary Islamic architecture anywhere. Do not skip this.

1. Hassan II Mosque tour — See above. Non-negotiable. 120 MAD, morning tours.

2. Quartier Habous (New Medina) — Built by the French in the 1930s as a model Moroccan neighbourhood. Beautiful architecture blending French urban planning with traditional Moroccan design. Excellent pastry shops, a souk with real local prices, almost no tourists. Far more pleasant than the old medina for shopping.

3. The Corniche — Boulevard de la Corniche — The seafront promenade stretching from the Hassan II Mosque toward Ain Diab beach. At sunset the light on the Atlantic and the mosque silhouette is extraordinary. The corniche is lined with restaurants, cafés and beach clubs — busy at weekends with Casablancans doing exactly what Casablancans do.

4. Villa des Arts — A stunning 1934 art deco villa converted into Morocco's finest contemporary art gallery. Free entry. Beautiful Andalusian garden. Rotating exhibitions of Moroccan and international contemporary art. One of the best free things to do in the city.

5. Old Medina — Small and manageable compared to Fes or Marrakech. Worth an hour of wandering but not the reason to come to Casablanca. The Ancienne Médina has a few surviving traditional crafts workshops and a small souk.

6. Rick's Café — Yes it's touristy and yes it's a recreation of the fictional bar from the 1942 film (which was never actually filmed in Casablanca). And yet — the building is beautiful, the food is excellent, the live piano music is genuine and the atmosphere is special. Go for a drink or dinner at least once. Around 150–300 MAD for a meal.

7. Mohammed V Square — The grand civic square built during the French protectorate — beautiful colonial architecture, fountains, the Palais de Justice. The best example of Casablanca's art deco and Mauresque architectural heritage.

Seafood at the port — The old port area (near the Ancienne Médina) has a row of seafood restaurants serving the morning's catch. Grilled sardines, fried calamari, shrimp tagine — fresh, cheap and excellent. A full plate costs 60–100 MAD. This is where Casablancans actually eat seafood, not the tourist corniche restaurants.

Kaab el-ghazal — Casablanca's signature pastry — a crescent-shaped cookie filled with almond paste and orange blossom water. The Habous patisseries make the best in Morocco. A box of 12 costs 40–60 MAD.

La Sqala restaurant — Inside a restored 18th-century fortress bastion near the port. Traditional Moroccan cuisine in a beautiful setting with a garden. One of the best value quality restaurants in Casablanca — around 100–180 MAD for a full meal. Book ahead for lunch.

Rick's Café — See above. Around 150–300 MAD for dinner. Worth it once for the atmosphere.

Au Petit Poucet — One of the oldest restaurants in Casablanca, open since 1920. French-Moroccan cuisine in an art deco dining room. Around 120–200 MAD. A slice of colonial history that's still excellent.

Street food in Maarif — The Maarif neighbourhood has excellent street food — msemen with honey, harira, brochettes, fresh juice. A full street food meal costs under 40 MAD.

By plane: Mohammed V Airport (CMN) is Morocco's largest international airport — direct flights from most European cities, North America, the Middle East and West Africa. Take the train from the airport to Casa Voyageurs station — 45 minutes, 45 MAD. Far better than a taxi (which costs 250–350 MAD and takes longer in traffic).

From Marrakech by train: 3 hours, 130 MAD. Frequent departures from Marrakech station.

From Rabat by train: 1 hour, 55 MAD. Very frequent — almost every 30 minutes.

From Tanger by TGV: 2 hours, 150 MAD. The Al Boraq high-speed train is excellent.

From Fes by train: 4.5 hours, 140 MAD. The main intercity train line.

Getting around Casablanca: The tramway is cheap (7 MAD per journey) and covers the main areas. Petit taxis are abundant — agree on the price or insist on the meter. Ride-sharing apps (Careem) work well in Casablanca.