Casablanca, Morocco

Casablanca is a Moroccan metropolis and long romanticized destination. The city is famed for its historic architecture and landmark sights. Palm lined avenues lead past Moorish style and French art deco buildings. Islamic minarets tower across the skyline as the call to prayer echos across neighborhoods. Cafes spill out onto geometric tiled sidewalks while lively markets entice the senses. Casablanca is the perfect entry point to Morocco! Plan to spend at least two days here exploring the city prior to continuing onto destinations elsewhere in the country.

Neighborhoods

The Ancient Medina. Casablanca’s walled medina is the historic center of the seaside city. Winding streets and narrow alleyways lead past graffitied buildings with tall wooden doors. “Wrong” turns often lead to dead ends or into someone’s home. Stray cats roam freely at nearly every corner. It’s a wonderful place to experience local life with very few tourists. It’s significantly smaller than the medinas of Marrakesh and Fez making it especially easy to explore.

Habous Quarter. The Habous Quarter is one of the most beautiful areas of Casablanca, offering a blend of historic charm and modern glamour. It’s home to everyone from Moroccan royalty to everyday people. Narrow roads with window cafes, bookstores, street side bakeries and fruit carts meander through older areas. Shops display brass artifacts, Moroccan rugs and traditional clothing beneath arched walkways. Intricately carved stone minarets flank lush parks. Tasteful villas and palm lined avenues comprise modern areas. Flowering bushes and lush hedges overhang sidewalks.

Mers Sultan. Mers Sultan is a mixed residential and commercial neighborhood, known for its walkability and central location. Sidewalk cafes and traditional bakeries line the streets, framed by French Colonial and Moorish architecture, making it an inviting area to explore on foot.

La Corniche. A ritzy seaside neighborhood with city beaches, newly built resorts, luxury restaurants and commercial shopping centers. A cliffside promenade offers views of the Atlantic Ocean, best enjoyed at a restaurant with an afternoon coffee or mint tea. It’s a popular area with tourists but lacks the charm of other areas in the city.

See the Sights

Hassan II Mosque. A grand seaside mosque with a towering minaret. It’s the largest mosque in Morocco and one of the largest in the world. The tan stone facade is adorned with Islamic ornamentation like Moorish arches, geometric patterns and blue-green mosaic tiles. The interior prayer hall is decorated with intricate plasterwork, hand carved wooden features and large chandeliers. A vast plaza leads up to the mosque and serves as an outdoor prayer hall. Arched corridors surround the minaret while large titanium doors lead inside to an underground ablution hall with dozens of lotus shaped marble fountains.

Good to Know. The plaza in front of the mosque is free to visit after 5pm. Paid tours of the interior happen on the hour several times daily.

Ligue Arab Park. An immaculate city park with traditional Moroccan elements like symmetry, tiled fountains and native palms. Rows of towering palm trees line a fountain spanning the length of the park. Shaded walkways and grassy lawns flank its edges. Do as locals do and come here to picnic, read a book or enjoy company with friends.

El Hank Lighthouse. A pale yellow lighthouse with an Arabesque crown overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a scenic spot to watch the waves and popular for sunset.

Mohammad V Square. A plaza surrounded by historic and stately government buildings with a large fountain at its center. Wander the square to appreciate the architecture and surrounding neighborhood before sitting down at Al-Mounia, a landmark restaurant serving traditional Moroccan cuisine. Dine in their garden patio or ornate dining room, feasting on couscous and vegetable spreads paired with khobz.

Old Portuguese Fort. A small colonial era fort with bronze cannons and stone turrets built along the wall of the medina. It serves as an entry point to the medina and hosts, La Sqala, an atmospheric cafe and garden restaurant. Peach colored walls, blue painted shutters and Moroccan tiled tables accent the space as verdant plants grow throughout. Come here for afternoon tea, traditional baked goods and savory tagines.

Rick’s Cafe. Of all the gin joints in the world, this one is likely the most famous. The elegant space is styled after Rick's Café Américain from the 1942 film, Casablanca. Without reservations, we sat at the bar sipping on gin martinis and negronis. Call ahead to make dinner reservations and stay for the live jazz performances.

Shop the Markets

The Great Habous Olive Market. A historic market in the Habous Quarter dedicated solely to the sale of olives and olive oils. Terracotta trays with colorful mounds of olives are displayed on tables throughout the plaza. The tangy smell of brine wafts through the air as welcoming vendors offer free samples. We purchased a half kilo of mixed olives spiced with harissa and a bottle of the purest tasting olive oil.

Central Marketplace. A seafood marketplace with icy displays of freshly caught Atlantic seafood. Come here to enjoy a seafood meal prepared at one of the many no frills restaurants. Hosts playfully compete for customers, offering free sides dishes. We dined at Chez Lachen, ordering the pan fries sardines and freshly shucked oysters paired with khobz, za’alook, lentils, tomato salad and harissa.

The Medina Market. A market within the Medina lined with shops and vendors selling a range of goods including clothing, shoes, accessories, jewelry, textiles, oils, teas and spices. It caters heavily to locals looking for a deal. Enter the market through, Baba el Kebir, an arched sandstone gate within the Medina wall.

Chleuh Market. A local morning market along Rue Chleuh in the Ancient Medina. Vendors display carts and wooden boxes with vegetables, fruits and freshly caught fish. The scent of fresh mint wafts from piles of herbs. Bakers deliver baskets of aromatic breads. Corner stores sell nuts, trays of dates and stacked cartons of eggs. Butchers behead chickens on the spot for paying customers.

Moroccan Cuisine

Tagine. A mixture of vegetables, meats, dried fruits and spices stewed together in a conical clay dish. It’s a staple dishes of Moroccan cuisine.

Couscous. A steamed grain covered in a savory broth and garnished with vegetables and meats.

Harira. A traditional Moroccan soup made from tomatoes, chickpeas, fresh herb and aromatic spices.

Khobs Bread. A light and airy flatbread served with every meal. It’s fresh baked daily and can be bought from for 1 DH from local bakeries.

Msemmen. A flaky and layered pan fried flat bread often eaten at breakfast with honey. It’s commonly cooked by street vendors on flat top griddles.

Sfenj (Moroccan Donuts). Yeasty rings of fried dough heavily coated in plain sugar. They’re a common street food snack and usually paired with a tiny cup of coffee.

Moroccan Pastry. Small pastries made from filo dough, peanuts, honey, orange blossom water and spices. They common to enjoy with mint tea.

Mint Tea. Hot tea made with fresh mint leaves and sugar cubes. It’s served as a common welcome drink.

Fresh Squeed Juice. Juices are commonly drank across Morocco. Try fresh squeed orange, pomegranate or sugar cane from a street side juice cart.

Moroccan Orange Soda. Orange is one of the most popular flavors in Morocco. Try a Moroccan orange soda like Orangina or Hawai.

Arabic Words & Phrases

Knowing a few worlds and phases in Arabic goes a long way in Moroccan when interacting with locals. Some of the most common and easy to remember are:

Hello = Salama
Goodbye = Beslama
Thank you = Shukran
You’re welcome = Marhaba

Location Specifics

When to Visit. September is the best month of the year to visit Morocco. It’s just before peak travel season with hot to moderate temperatures. Temperatures are typically cooler near the Atlantic coast in Casablanca.

Language. Arabic, French and English are commonly spoken by many people, seen on signage and menus.

Cash vs Card. Cash is preferred and often only accepted method of payment at many businesses. Confirm before ordering at restaurants or agreeing to services.

Safety. Casablanca a generally safe destination to visit. Be aware of your surrounding and keep hold of personal belonging to avoid pick pocketing.

Drinking Water. Tap water is not safe for consumption or cooking with in Morocco. Only use bottled water.

Alcohol. The sale of alcohol is heavily controlled throughout the country. Only some restaurants will serve cocktails, beer and wine.

LGBTQ+ Safety. Moroccan laws and customs are not very accepting of LGBTQ+ individuals. Stay up to date with the latest laws and suggestions while traveling. Refer to our guide on LGBTQ+ Travel Safety for more advice.

Getting Around

Airport Taxi. There is a taxi stand past customs at the airport with regulated prices for taxis to Casablanca and to cities across the country. Expect to pay around $30 USD from the airport to the city.

Petit Taxi. Small red taxis present throughout the city. They’re safe, affordable and quick when getting around. Hail one off the street and negotiate price before getting in. Fares are usually under 100.

On Foot. The city is easily walkable and generally safe, making it a fun way to get around and explore.

Elsewhere in Morocco

We spent a little over three weeks traveling across Morocco, experiencing so much of the country’s culture, cuisine and history. Drive across the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara Desert, making stops at palm oases and crumbing Kasbahs on a Moroccan Roadtrip. Get lost in the chaotic alleyways, spice markets and souks of Marrakesh. Explore the ancient medina and historic Islamic sights of Fes. Wander the azure streets and hillside of Chefchaouen, The Blue City.