Things to do in Casablanca — A guide for travellers

Casablanca is Morocco's economic engine and largest city, but it rewards visitors who look past the business-travel stereotype. Three distinct layers define the city's attractions. First, the French Protectorate heritage (1912–1956): Boulevard Mohammed V, Place Mohammed V, and the surrounding blocks form one of the finest concentrations of Art Deco and Mauresque architecture in the world, built by architects including Henri Prost and others under the urban planning brief of Lyautey. Second, mid-20th-century Islamic ambition: the Hassan II Mosque (1993), designed by French-Moroccan architect Michel Pinseau on a platform over the Atlantic, rises 200 metres — the world's second-tallest religious structure — and is one of very few mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslim visitors. Third, the city's living neighbourhoods: the Habous quarter, a planned 1930s new medina with covered souks and a small royal palace gate; Ain Diab and the Corniche for Atlantic seafood and beach clubs; and the Maarif and Gauthier districts for contemporary Moroccan dining.

Most Casablanca attractions are within a 30-minute taxi ride of the city centre. Unlike Fes or Marrakech, there is no single pedestrian medina loop — the city is large and car-dependent, so a taxi or a hop-on-hop-off approach works better than a walking circuit. The Hassan II Mosque is the fixed anchor of any Casablanca itinerary: its guided interior tours run daily except Friday (departures typically at 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, and 14:00 — verify current schedule on arrival). A morning at the mosque followed by lunch in the Habous quarter and an afternoon walk along Boulevard Mohammed V makes a strong first-day itinerary. Casablanca also has some of Morocco's best Atlantic seafood: the fish market in the port district and the restaurants along the Corniche are both worth planning around.

Day trips from Casablanca connect to Morocco's most significant sites within 1–2 hours. Rabat, the political capital, is 1 hour by train (Al Boraq high-speed rail from Casablanca Voyageurs) and contains the Kasbah of the Udayas, the Hassan Tower (unfinished 12th-century minaret), and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. El Jadida, a UNESCO-listed Portuguese fortified city with a stunning underground cistern, is 1 hour south by road. Settat and the wider Chaouia plain are for those interested in rural Moroccan architecture and local markets. This page lists Casablanca's attractions, restaurants, hammams, and itineraries verified by our team; each entry includes opening hours, location, and tips for combining with nearby stops.