Casablanca (the "White City") is Morocco's largest city and economic capital. The 15 best things to do: Hassan II Mosque (Africa's largest, tallest minaret 210 m, guided tour ~130 MAD — open to non-Muslims), Old Medina + Sqala fortress (free), Rick's Café (dinner ~200–500 MAD, film-themed), Corniche promenade (free — sunset), Mohammed V Square (Art Deco, free), Quartier Habous / New Medina (free — pastries, crafts), Central Market (seafood ~80–150 MAD), Sacré-Cœur Cathedral (Art Deco, free), Morocco Mall (largest in Africa), Mahkama du Pacha, Arab League Park, Villa des Arts, Museum of Moroccan Judaism, Notre-Dame de Lourdes (1954, stained glass), Twin Center. Best in 1–2 days. MDT: day trip from Marrakech €80.
15 Best Attractions
Casablanca blends Art Deco grandeur, Moorish heritage, and modern commerce in a way no other Moroccan city does. Here’s everything worth seeing, with entry fees and time needed.
| # | Attraction | Type | Time | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hassan II Mosque | Mosque · Landmark | 1–1.5 hrs | ~130 MAD (tour) |
| 2 | Old Medina + Sqala | Historic Quarter | 1–2 hrs | Free |
| 3 | Rick’s Café | Restaurant · Bar | 1.5–2 hrs | Dinner ~200–500 MAD |
| 4 | Corniche | Promenade · Beach | 1–2 hrs | Free |
| 5 | Mohammed V Square | Art Deco · Square | 30 min | Free |
| 6 | Quartier Habous | New Medina | 1–1.5 hrs | Free |
| 7 | Central Market | Market · Food | 1 hr | Free (food ~80–150 MAD) |
| 8 | Sacré-Cœur Cathedral | Art Deco · Cultural | 30–45 min | Free / donation |
| 9 | Morocco Mall | Shopping · Aquarium | 2–3 hrs | Free (aquarium ~50 MAD) |
| 10 | Mahkama du Pacha | Architecture | 30 min | Free (exterior) |
| 11 | Arab League Park | Park · Gardens | 30–60 min | Free |
| 12 | Villa des Arts | Art Museum | 45 min | ~20 MAD |
| 13 | Museum of Moroccan Judaism | Museum | 30–45 min | ~20 MAD |
| 14 | Notre-Dame de Lourdes | Church · 1954 | 20 min | Free |
| 15 | Twin Center | Modern Landmark | 15 min | Free (exterior) |
Hassan II Mosque
The Hassan II Mosque is Casablanca’s defining landmark. Built in 1993 under King Hassan II, it holds several records: Africa’s largest mosque, the world’s tallest minaret (210 m), and one of the only mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslim visitors.
The mosque sits partly over the Atlantic Ocean — waves crash beneath the glass floor. The interior features a retractable roof, hand-carved cedar and stucco ceilings, 78 granite columns, Italian marble, and zellige tilework crafted by over 6,000 Moroccan artisans. Capacity: 25,000 inside + 80,000 in the courtyard.
Guided tours run at fixed times (typically 9 AM, 10 AM, 11 AM, 2 PM — closed Friday mornings). Tours last ~1 hour, cost approximately ~130 MAD (~€12). Photography allowed inside. The exterior and esplanade are free and spectacular at sunset.
Old Medina & Habous
The Old Medina is Casablanca’s historic heart — smaller and grittier than Marrakech’s, but authentic. The Sqala, an 18th-century Portuguese-built fortress, offers Atlantic views and houses Café La Sqala — one of Casablanca’s best lunch spots (tagine ~60–80 MAD). Free to explore.
Quartier Habous (the “New Medina”) was built in the 1930s by French architects who blended Moroccan medina design with wider streets. A clean, navigable market district: pastry shops (cornes de gazelle, chebakia), olive merchants, and the Royal Palace (exterior only). Free.
Art Deco & Architecture
Casablanca has the largest collection of Art Deco architecture outside Miami — a legacy of the 1920s–1940s French Protectorate. Best seen around Mohammed V Square (Wilaya, Palace of Justice, Post Office — all free), Boulevard Mohammed V, and Anfa.
Sacré-Cœur Cathedral — a striking 1930s Art Deco church, now a cultural centre. Twin towers, geometric concrete. Occasional exhibitions inside. Free. 30 minutes.
Mahkama du Pacha — a masterpiece of Moroccan-Andalusian architecture: carved stucco, zellige, cedar, 64 ornate rooms. Exterior always accessible, interior not always open. Free.
Twin Center — Casablanca’s modern skyline symbol. Two 115 m towers by Ricardo Bofill (2000). Free to view.
Rick’s Café & Dining
Rick’s Café — inspired by the 1942 film Casablanca (Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman). Opened 2004. Moorish-Art Deco décor, live jazz, courtyard. Mains ~200–350 MAD, cocktails ~100–150 MAD. Reserve ahead — especially weekends. Boulevard Sour Jdid, Old Medina.
Where else to eat: La Sqala (fortress café, tagine ~60–80 MAD), Le Cabestan (ocean-view, mains ~150–300 MAD), Central Market seafood stalls (fish platters ~80–150 MAD — point and pick), Habous pastry shops (cornes de gazelle ~5–10 MAD each).
Corniche & Coast
The Corniche stretches along the Atlantic from the mosque to Ain Diab, Casablanca’s beach district. Restaurants, cafés, beach clubs, luxury hotels. Free to walk. Best at sunset.
Ain Diab — public beaches free; private beach clubs ~50–150 MAD for sunbed. Water: 18–22°C (Atlantic, refreshing). Swimming best June–September.
More to See
Morocco Mall — the largest shopping mall in Africa. 600+ stores, aquarium (~50 MAD), ice rink, IMAX. Ain Diab. Free entry.
Arab League Park — Casablanca’s largest green space. Palms, fountains, tranquility. Free.
Villa des Arts — contemporary art in a beautiful Art Deco villa. ~20 MAD.
Museum of Moroccan Judaism — the only Jewish museum in the Arab world. Documents Morocco’s Jewish heritage (once 250,000+ Jews). ~20 MAD. Oasis district.
Notre-Dame de Lourdes — 1954 Catholic church with extraordinary stained-glass windows (800 m²). Plain exterior, kaleidoscope interior. Free.
Getting to Casablanca
| From | Method | Duration | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marrakech | MDT guided day trip | ~3 hrs each way | €80 |
| Marrakech | ONCF train | 2.5–3 hrs | ~100–150 MAD |
| Marrakech | Car (A7) | ~3 hrs | Fuel + tolls ~100 MAD |
| Rabat | ONCF train | ~1 hr | ~50–80 MAD |
| Tangier | Al Boraq (high-speed) | ~2 hrs | ~200–350 MAD |
| Airport (CMN) | Train to Casa Voyageurs | ~30 min | ~50 MAD |
| Airport (CMN) | Taxi to centre | ~30–40 min | ~250–350 MAD |
Budget Guide
| Item | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel (per night) | ~200–400 MAD | ~500–1,000 MAD | ~1,500–4,000 MAD |
| Lunch | ~30–60 MAD | ~80–150 MAD | ~200–400 MAD |
| Dinner | ~50–100 MAD | ~150–300 MAD | ~300–600 MAD |
| Hassan II tour | ~130 MAD | ||
| Petit taxi | ~15–40 MAD (meter) | ||
| Tram | ~7 MAD | ||
| Rick’s Café | ~200–500 MAD/person | ||
| Daily budget | ~€25–35 | ~€50–80 | ~€150+ |
1-Day Itinerary
Morning: Hassan II Mosque guided tour (9 or 10 AM, ~1.5 hrs). Walk to Old Medina. Sqala fortress. Coffee at Café La Sqala (~30–50 MAD).
Midday: Taxi to Quartier Habous — pastry shops, olive stalls, leather goods. Lunch at a local restaurant (~60–100 MAD) or Central Market seafood (~80–150 MAD).
Afternoon: Mohammed V Square + Art Deco boulevard. Sacré-Cœur Cathedral (30 min). Optional: Morocco Mall.
Evening: Corniche at sunset. Dinner at Rick’s Café (reserve) or Le Cabestan. Return to Marrakech or hotel.
#1: Hassan II Mosque — Africa’s largest, 210 m minaret, tour ~130 MAD, open to non-Muslims.
Duration: 1–2 days. Day trip from Marrakech: MDT €80.
Architecture: Largest Art Deco outside Miami. Mohammed V Square, Sacré-Cœur, Mahkama, Twin Center.
Food: Rick’s Café (~200–500 MAD), La Sqala (~60–80 MAD), Central Market seafood (~80–150 MAD).
Unique: Museum of Moroccan Judaism (only Jewish museum in Arab world), Morocco Mall (largest in Africa).
Safety: Generally safe. Casablanca safety guide →