Attraction
Hassan II Mosque
Casablanca's great waterfront mosque, inaugurated in 1993 with a 210-metre minaret, and one of the few mosques in Morocco that non-Muslims can enter on a guided…
There are more things to do in Casablanca than its business-city reputation suggests. Morocco's largest city faces the Atlantic, and its skyline is dominated by the Hassan II Mosque, one of the few mosques in the country that non-Muslim visitors can enter on a guided tour. Away from the seafront, the centre holds one of the richest collections of Art Deco and Mauresque architecture in the world, laid out under the French protectorate around Mohammed V Square and Boulevard Mohammed V.
The main areas for visitors are the old medina near the port, the planned Habous quarter with its souks and pastry shops, the city centre with its parks and museums, and the Ain Diab Corniche, where restaurants, beach clubs and surf schools line the ocean. Food is a strong point, from seafood at the Central Market and old French brasseries to refined Moroccan cooking and some of the best Japanese food in North Africa. Two days are enough to see the highlights, while a third allows time for the Corniche or a day trip to Rabat or El Jadida.
Attraction
Casablanca's great waterfront mosque, inaugurated in 1993 with a 210-metre minaret, and one of the few mosques in Morocco that non-Muslims can enter on a guided…
Attraction
Casablanca's grand administrative square, laid out from 1916 and framed by Mauresque public buildings, a renovated plaza and the Grand Théâtre de Casablanca.
Attraction
Casablanca's 'new medina', planned under the protectorate in a traditional style, with arcaded craft souks, bookshops, mosques and the Mahkama du Pacha.
Attraction
Paul Tournon's white former church of 1930, an Art Deco landmark beside Parc de la Ligue Arabe, restored and reopened in 2023 as a venue for…
Attraction
A private museum in a 1940s building in central Casablanca, showing the collector Abderrahman Slaoui's Orientalist posters, Moroccan jewellery and paintings by Ben Ali R'bati and…
Attraction
Casablanca's largest central park, laid out by Albert Laprade in the protectorate era and reopened in 2021 after a major renovation, with palm avenues beside the…
Café
A Moorish café and Moroccan restaurant inside the 18th-century Sqala bastion on the edge of the old medina, with an Andalusian garden and views towards the…
Café
A family-run pastry shop in the Habous quarter, dating from the 1930s, known for trays of handmade gazelle horns, chebakia and almond briouates.
Café
A classic Parisian-style café on United Nations Square, between the old medina and the modern centre, serving coffee, pastries and French dishes from breakfast to dinner.
Café
A modern coffee shop inspired by the easy-going spirit of Bondi Beach, serving espresso drinks, teas and healthy dishes from breakfast through to dinner.
Café
An elegant café in central Casablanca devoted to almond and honey sweets, serving soft cakes, crunchy biscuits, teas and coffees daily from morning to evening.
Café
A stylish, modern coffee shop in central Casablanca serving espresso drinks, lattes and teas, suited to a quiet break, a catch-up with friends or a few…
Hotel
An oceanfront luxury hotel on the Corniche, opened in 2015 in a Foster + Partners building, with 184 rooms and suites, a year-round pool and a…
Hotel
The city's palace hotel, in a 1950s Art Deco landmark near the port, with 149 rooms and suites, five restaurants and bars and a two-floor spa.
Hotel
A five-star hotel on United Nations Square at the gateway to the old medina, with 255 rooms, an outdoor pool, a hammam and French and Moroccan…
Hotel
A 16-room boutique hotel in a 1930s Art Deco mansion in the city centre, a Relais & Châteaux member since 2018, with a small spa and…
Hotel
A five-star hotel in one of the Twin Center towers designed by Ricardo Bofill, with 237 rooms, city views and a 28th-floor sky bar.
Hotel
A contemporary five-star hotel on the Hassan II roundabout in the business district, with 184 rooms, a 16th-floor spa and a rooftop restaurant and bar.
Bar
A Mediterranean restaurant and cocktail bar 23 storeys up at the Royal Mansour, with views over the White City to the Hassan II Mosque and a…
Bar
The sky bar on the 28th floor of the Kenzi Tower Hotel in the Twin Center, with 360-degree views across Casablanca.
Bar
A lively bar and restaurant near the Central Market serving Latin, Mediterranean and Spanish dishes with a wide range of drinks until 01:00.
Bar
A traditional-style Irish pub in the Hotel East West, popular with locals and expats for after-work draught beer, live music and sports.
Bar
A warm bar-restaurant with New York-inspired decor on Rue Al Moutanabbi, known for generous dishes, good-value salads and lively match nights.
Bar
A restaurant and lounge bar in Gauthier inspired by the film The Artist, with two bars serving tapas, two dining rooms and varied performances until 02:00.
Restaurant
A restaurant and piano bar opened in 2004 in a 1930 mansion against the medina walls, recreating the bar from the film Casablanca, with international and…
Restaurant
A Casablanca dining name since 1927 beside El Hank Lighthouse, fully renovated with a designer interior, an ocean-facing terrace and a menu of aged meats, truffle…
Restaurant
A Japanese restaurant in Gauthier run since 2013 by chef Yusuke Furukawa and Noëlle Bouayad, ranked in MENA's 50 Best Restaurants for its omakase and Atlantic…
Restaurant
A traditional riad in the old medina turned into a Moroccan restaurant, serving couscous and tagines in a setting that mixes classic decoration with contemporary touches.
Restaurant
The Royal Mansour's 23rd-floor Moroccan restaurant, with views over the medina to the ocean and the Hassan II Mosque, and a menu by chef Karim Ben…
Restaurant
A riad-style restaurant near the old medina with a calm inner patio and intimate lounges, serving Moroccan and Mediterranean dishes with live jazz in the evenings.
Thing to do
A walk through the walled old town rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake, with souks along the ramparts, shrines, the old mellah and the Sqala bastion.
Thing to do
A self-guided walk along Casablanca's main colonial-era avenue, lined with 1920s and 1930s buildings that mix Art Deco lines with Moroccan decoration.
Thing to do
Casablanca's Atlantic seafront, with a long promenade, a beach known for surf schools and water sports, and restaurants, cafés and beach clubs facing the ocean.
Thing to do
A large seafront shopping centre at the end of the Corniche, opened in 2011, with more than 350 stores, the Aquadream aquarium, a musical fountain and…
Thing to do
Casablanca's historic zoo, reopened at the end of 2025 after a full redevelopment, with around 500 animals in Africa, Asia and South America zones.
Tour operator
The Casablanca heritage association founded in 1995 to protect the city's 20th-century architecture, offering guided visits, thematic circuits and the annual Heritage Days.
Tour operator
A three-hour, small-group introduction to Casablanca led by an English-speaking expert, covering the Hassan II Mosque, the Art Deco centre, Arab League Park and the Mellah.
Tour operator
A private four-hour highlights tour by car with an English-speaking guide, covering the Hassan II Mosque, the Art Deco centre, Mohammed V Square and the Habous…
Tour operator
A private day trip from Casablanca to Rabat with hotel pickup and a licensed guide, visiting the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V and the…
Tour operator
Tip-based walking tours of Casablanca with local guides, bookable through GuruWalk, exploring the old medina and the modern city in two to three hours.
Two days cover the Hassan II Mosque, the old medina, the Habous quarter and the Art Deco centre; add a third day for the Corniche or a day trip to Rabat or El Jadida.
The city centre around Mohammed V Square and United Nations Square is best for sightseeing on foot, while Ain Diab on the Corniche suits travellers who want the ocean, beach clubs and nightlife.
Trains run from Mohammed V International Airport to the city's main stations, including Casa Voyageurs, and taxis are available outside the terminal; agree the taxi fare before you set off.
It is more expensive than most Moroccan cities but generally cheaper than Western Europe; luxury hotels and Corniche restaurants are pricey, while local cafés, snack restaurants and petits taxis are good value.
Most visits are trouble-free; take the usual big-city precautions, watch for pickpockets in crowded areas, keep valuables out of sight and use registered taxis at night.