Casablanca (Spanish for ‘white house’ and commonly shortened to ‘casa’ by locals) has long been a center of romance in the Western imagination. When most people think about Casablanca, they think about the Marrakech Express and the movie Casablanca. The reality of this fast-paced Moroccan city is, of course, a very different one. Our inside Casablanca travel guide is designed to help you make the most of your visit to Casablanca:
Casablanca does not live up to the romantic, maybe even adventurous, image we have of the city. The truth is, however, that the city is quite grimy. With endless traffic and a uniform layer of dirt, it is a grey city rather than a gleaming white one. It could do with a good scrubbing, that’s for sure. But if you can scratch beneath that grubby exterior, Casablanca offers some of the best and most international cuisine in Morocco, as well as a sense of what modern Morocco means to the people who live and work here. As the country’s main business center, the atmosphere is decidedly more urban, with people constantly talking on their phones, men in their sharp Armani suits, and female executives showing off their Louis Vuitton bags as they rush off to a power lunch or an important meeting.
Most travelers arrive in Morocco at the Mohamed V International Airport (CMN), which is about an hour from the center of Casablanca, depending on traffic. Traffic is obviously a problem in Casablanca, but you can avoid much of it by taking the train and the new eco-friendly tram! It connects with airport trains at Casa Voyageurs and Gare Oasis stations and makes stops all over Casablanca, including Place Nations Unis (next to Casa’s entrance). If you’re really short of cash, you can always hail one of the many red petit-taxis, but make sure you have the name and address of where you’re going. Many of the most popular locations (like the Hassan II mosque or the Morocco Mall) are widely known.
Notes on the History of Casablanca Travel Guide
The earliest known settlement in present-day Casablanca was called Anfa and predates the Romans in Morocco. Although no ruins have been found, Anfa has been mentioned on several parchments. After the Romans were driven out of Morocco, the Barghawata, a powerful local tribe, took control until the Almoravid Empire of the 11th century. Anfa remained a part of Morocco through subsequent dynasties before regaining independence in the 15th century, where it became a safe haven for pirates and slave traders, drawing the ire of Portugal, who razed the city to the ground in 1468, took it over, rebuilt their own city and named it Casa Branca: Casa Branca (Portuguese for “White House”, from which modern-day Casablanca takes its name).
It was rebuilt by Sultan Mohamed Ben Abdellah and named Dar al-Bayda (Arabic for ‘White House’, a name still used by Arabophones today) after an earthquake destroyed much of the city in 1755, but remained quite small. The city didn’t really start to grow until the arrival of French colonialists in 1906. Under the French, the city became an Art Deco oasis with wide, planned boulevards and even a French-built Moroccan medina (known today as the Habous Quarter).
Casablanca has become a modern financial and industrial center. Today, almost 4 million people from all over the world call Casablanca “home”. What Casablanca lacks in terms of architectural history it makes up for in terms of modern amenities: restaurants, shopping, and nightlife. However, there are a few must-sees in and around Casablanca.
Casablanca travel guide: What to see
Very few mosques in Morocco are accessible to non-Muslims. The Hassan II mosque is one of them (the other being the Tim Mil mosque south of Ouirgane). The Hassan II Mosque is located on the Atlantic coast, about half an hour’s walk from Casa Port station (or a 15-20 dirham petit taxi ride). It rises 210 meters (about 700 feet) into the air. It is the largest mosque in the world and one of the most elaborate. Much of the mosque’s surface is covered in elaborate, traditional Moroccan tiling (zellij), woodcarving, and stucco. Worth mentioning is the vast, ornate, and decorated Great Hall of Prayer.
You must be properly dressed to visit the Hassan II mosque. Men should wear trousers and a shirt, but not shorts or a tank top. Females have to cover their heads, arms, and legs.
Tours are available every day except Fridays and religious holidays. Tickets cost Dhs120 (Dhs60 for students with ID) and can be purchased at the mosque. Tours are currently available in French, Spanish, English, German, and Fus’ha (standard Arabic).
Tour Hours: Saturday – Thursday, 9:00 am, 10:00 am, 11:00 am and 2:00 pm, subject to changes according to prayer times.
Jewish Museum (Musée du Judaïsme Marocain) – Located in the Oasis suburb, the Museum of Moroccan Judaism is one of only two Jewish museums in the Muslim world (the other is in Istanbul) and the only one in the Arab world. This recently renovated museum of history and ethnography displays artifacts – including Torah scrolls, Hanukkah lamps, photographs, carpets, and kaftans – that trace the Jewish history of Morocco. It’s a smaller museum, but it does have some real treasures in it. The museum and grounds can be visited in about an hour for most people. Access to the museum can be a bit of a challenge. It’s about a 20-25 dirham taxi ride from the Hassan II Mosque. However, if you’re coming by train, it’s better to take the train to the “Oasis” stop and then take a petit taxi from the station for about six dirhams or so.
Casablanca Guided tour: A guided tour in English with the curator, Mrs. Zhor Rehinel, can be arranged for clients (traveling with Sahara Morocco Travel) (not available on Saturday or Sunday). For more information on these sites, read more about Jewish Morocco.
Casablanca Jewish Synagogue: Beth El – This is the main synagogue in Casablanca known as Beth El (sometimes referred to as Bet El, particularly in Marrakech where another synagogue is known as Beth El). It was once the most important of over 30 scattered all over Casablanca. Note the beautiful stained glass inspired by Marc Chagall. The sunlight streaming in is colored by the stained glass and shimmers off a huge central crystal chandelier, creating a rainbow effect throughout the synagogue. Ancient Hebrew scrolls are on display. The walls are inscribed with gilded quotes from the Torah.
Casablanca travel guide: What to do
When you start researching things to do in Casablanca, you may think that the city has less to offer than other destinations in Morocco, but dig a bit deeper and Casablanca will surprise you.
Art Deco Tour: One of the rich historical aspects of Casablanca is the Art Deco architecture left behind by the French colonialists throughout the city center. Many of these buildings are in a variety of different states of disrepair.
However, an absolute must for Art Deco enthusiasts is the Rialto cinema on rue Mohammed Qorri. Worth an afternoon stroll, this particular area is rich in examples of Art Deco. The Catholic Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (although it ceased to function as a church with Moroccan independence in 1956) is not far from the Cinema Rialto. The best way to guarantee an informed and entertaining exploration of Casablanca’s Art Deco architecture is to include a visit to the main sights as part of your tour with our Morocco team.
Luxury Spa: Need to get pampered? It’s no wonder that Casablanca has some of the finest luxury spas in the country, with its high-powered, high-stress business clientele. Consider booking a half-day spa treatment at the O-Spa in the Kenzi Hotel, where you can be massaged with argan oil and enjoy a relaxing shiatsu massage.
Head to the Mall: Just a few kilometers south of the Hassan II Mosque, along the Atlantic coast, is the largest shopping center in Africa: The Morocco Mall. This mall is an elaborate version of the American-style mall with a bit of local color. The mall features mostly upmarket shops such as Fendi, Dolce and Gabbana, and Louis Vuitton, as well as some French shopping standards such as H&M, Zara, Virgin Records, FNAC, and Galleries Lafayette, although there is a small ‘souk’ on the upper level full of traditional Moroccan goods, designed to reflect the traditions of Moroccan shopping. There is also an IMAX 3D cinema. On Thursdays, the latest blockbusters are shown in English. You can also go ice skating. Afterward, you can enjoy an après-ski at Starbucks! Most visitors will be better off exploring other parts of Morocco, but for those who are here on business and need a quick change of clothes, or perhaps want to take a Western-style break after traveling around the rest of the country, this mall could be just the ticket.
Mall opening hours: Sunday-Thursday, 10:00 – 21:00; Friday and Saturday, 10:00 – 23:00
Be a beach bum: Just a few minute’s taxi ride south of the Hassan II mosque are Ain Diab and la Corniche, popular beach spots for those looking for a bit of sun and sand. Casablanca’s proximity to the Atlantic and its southern latitude almost guarantee beach weather all year round. Locals flock to the beaches to cool off in the water and play a bit of football. For quieter beaches, you’ll have to head a little further south. The restaurants along this beach are generally poor and overpriced, but if you need a drink or a quick bite – beggars can’t be choosers!
Getting out of Casa: There are several day trips from Casablanca. These include the nearby cities of Rabat, El-Jadida and Marrakech.
Casablanca travel guide: Where to eat
If you are looking for a specific restaurant, Casablanca Travel Guide, recommends Best Restaurants in Morocco for the most up-to-date menus and other information available on the internet. Look no further if you are wondering where to eat in Casablanca! The following are just a few of our favorite places to eat in Casablanca.
This traditional Italian trattoria is located just outside Casablanca’s city center. For those who need a break from traditional Moroccan cuisine and just want a good old-fashioned wood-fired pizza, this is a welcome respite.
Rick’s Cafe: Built to recreate the famous Rick’s Cafe from the film Casablanca, the real Rick’s Cafe, which sits against the old medina walls of the real Casablanca, is something of an anomaly. It looks like a tourist trap, but it captures the atmosphere of the film so well. There’s great food, wonderful cocktails, and soothing piano music that sets the scene for a romantic evening. It’s often one of the best dinners you’ll have in Morocco!
248 Bd. Sour Jdid, +212 (0)5 22 27 42 07 or +212 (0)5 22 27 42 08, reservations highly recommended. Email: reservationsrickscafe@gmail.com, Lunch: 12:00 – 15:00, Dinner: 18:30 – 01:00. Remember there is a dress code.
Rick’s also has a souvenir shop at the front of the restaurant. Without a T-shirt or coffee mug, many visitors to Casablanca can’t resist leaving the city.
La Bavaroise: Located in the heart of Casablanca behind the old central market, La Bavaroise is a hip, yet cosy, fine dining restaurant. The food is consistently first-class. French brasserie-inspired and definitely not what you would expect to find in Morocco. A fantastic selection of wines from one of the most extensive wine caves in Morocco can be paired with the great classics of French cuisine, such as beef tartar. The wines are mainly French, with a limited choice of wines from Morocco. For those who are looking for a five-star dining experience, this is the place to go.
Find out more about the Casablanca Travel Guide
To get a better idea of what the city has to offer, read more articles about Casablanca.
More information about Morocco
About our team: To help you experience the real Morocco, Sahara Morocco Travel offers a range of unique itineraries. Our Eclectic Tour will give you an overview of the highlights of the country in terms of culture and landscape, while our Imperial Cities Tour will take you to the most inspiring places, including museums, UNESCO sites, and much more. We also offer several trips to the Sahara desert. We hope you enjoy our website and quality articles, and please feel free to join us on Facebook, and Instagram.
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