Casablanca sparks more debate than almost any other city in Morocco. Travelers who arrive expecting the labyrinthine medina of Marrakech or the blue alleyways of Chefchaouen leave disappointed; those who come expecting the economic capital of North Africa, with one of the world’s largest mosques, French art deco, and an Atlantic waterfront with bars open late, leave enchanted. This guide answers the question that stalls most trips: what to do in Casablanca and, more importantly, whether it’s even worth the stop.
Casablanca is worth it for 1 to 2 days, mainly to see the Hassan II Mosque — one of the few in the country open to non-Muslims — and as a point of arrival or departure in Morocco. Any longer and it becomes a comfortable base, not a destination for contemplation. If you have limited time in Morocco and have to choose between Casablanca and another city, pick the other city: Casablanca is a smart stopover, not a final destination.
Getting to Casablanca
Casablanca is Morocco’s main aerial gateway: the Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) is 30 km south of the city center and receives direct flights from several European capitals — Lisbon, Madrid, Paris, Frankfurt — and connections from Brazil, usually via Lisbon with TAP or direct with Royal Air Maroc, depending on the season. Brazilians don’t need a visa for Morocco for tourist trips of up to 90 days; just a passport valid for 6 months and proof of accommodation.
From Mohammed V to the center, the cheapest and fastest option is the al-Bidaoui train: it leaves from inside the airport itself, runs every 30 minutes, takes 40 to 50 minutes to reach Casablanca-Voyageurs station (the central one), and costs around 43 MAD (Jul/2026). If your hotel is near Casa Port, take the train to Casa-Voyageurs and switch to a local train — it’s still much cheaper than a taxi. By taxi (beige grand taxi), the price ranges from 250 to 400 MAD, depending on the time and your haggling; agree on the fare beforehand or use Uber/Bolt, which work well in the city.
Within the city, the light rail (tramway) crosses the center for just 6 MAD per ticket and connects key neighborhoods like Sidi Belyout, Habous, and Ain Diab. Red petit taxis are everywhere and run on a meter; for short trips, accept sharing the car with another passenger — it’s the local rule, not an intrusion. Uber and Bolt work well and cost less than a taxi on most routes.
Arriving by land is also worthwhile: from Spain, the Tarifa–Tangier ferry and then the Al Boraq train (Morocco’s TGV) to Casa-Voyageurs in 2h10 is an elegant option for those wanting to combine a European trip with Morocco.
Best time to visit and how long to stay
Casablanca is on the Atlantic coast, which softens the climate compared to the interior: summer rarely exceeds 28 °C, and winter doesn’t drop below 8 °C. The most comfortable window is April to June and September to October, with temperatures of 20–25 °C, little rain, and a friendly sea for the Corniche. July and August climb to 27–30 °C and the waterfront gets crowded — it’s the local high season. November to March brings occasional rain and strong wind, but it’s still fine for walking and visiting mosques.
Keep an eye on Ramadan: in 2026, it starts around February 18. In Casablanca, being more cosmopolitan, many tourist restaurants stay open during the day, but local cafés close; the late afternoon and evening turn into a celebration with iftar. Eating, drinking, or smoking in public before sunset is still considered rude.
As for duration: 1 full day covers the essentials (Hassan II Mosque, a lunch at the port, a quick stroll through the old medina and Habous). 2 days allow you to include the Corniche in Ain Diab and a great dinner in Guéliz. Anything more is only worth it if you’re using Casablanca as a base for day trips to Rabat, El Jadida, or Marrakech by train. For a city-only itinerary, three nights starts to stretch too thin.
What to see: Hassan II, Habous, and art deco
The Hassan II Mosque is the number one reason to stop in Casablanca. Completed in 1993 on a terrace jutting out over the Atlantic, it has the world’s second-tallest minaret (210 meters), holds 25,000 worshippers inside and another 80,000 on the esplanade, and is a UNESCO World Heritage candidate. Unlike most Moroccan mosques, it opens to non-Muslims for guided tours of about 1 hour several times a day (in French, English, Spanish, and occasionally Italian); tickets are around 140 MAD (Jul/2026) for adults, with a student discount.
Arrive 30 minutes before your tour time: the ticket line is separate from the entry line, and you need to have your shoulders and knees covered (women may be offered a loaner veil, but not always). You’ll need to remove your shoes before entering — bring socks. Photos are allowed inside, without flash. The tour includes the main prayer hall, the ablutions room (one of the most beautiful rooms in the complex, in the basement), and the hammam. It’s worth the time and the price, even for the non-religious.
After the mosque, the second stop is the Habous district, the “new medina” designed by the French in the 1920s in a Neo-Moorish style. It’s a planned medina — straight streets, tiles, carved arches — much calmer than Marrakech’s, with good fixed-price craft shops. Here you’ll find the Mahkama du Pacha (the former courthouse, with breathtaking zellige-tiled rooms), the Mohammed V Mosque, and the Livre-service bookstore, great for picking up old maps and film-noir posters.
Casablanca’s art deco deserves at least two hours of walking in the center: follow Mohammed V Square and Nations Unies Square, pass by the old courthouse, the Consular Palace, the Central Post Office, and buildings like the Rialto cinema and the Hotel Lincoln. A guided walking tour in Portuguese or Spanish solves the architectural puzzle and frames the city’s Franco-Moroccan history in two short hours:
booking the guided tour of Casablanca in Spanish is often the most efficient way to cover Hassan II, art deco, and Habous in one outing, without getting lost trying to piece it together on your own.
What to Pair It With: Rabat, Marrakech, and the Coast
Casablanca truly shines when you pair it with other stops. These are the three easiest day trips from Casa-Voyageurs station:
Rabat, the country’s administrative capital, is 1 hour away by train (60 MAD) and easily worth a full day. It has the Kasbah of the Udayas perched over the Bou Regreg River, the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and a medina that’s much smaller and calmer than Marrakech’s. You can leave Casablanca after coffee, grab a fish lunch in Salé, and be back before 8 PM. It’s the best call for anyone with 2 nights in Casablanca. A full-day Rabat tour from Casablanca takes care of transport and a guide, which is handy if you’d rather not plan the day yourself.
Marrakech is 2h20 away on the Al Boraq high-speed train (second class around 200 MAD; first class, 300). It’s the logical combo for anyone arriving in Morocco: land in Casa, see the mosque, sleep one night, hop on Al Boraq the next day, and focus your trip on the Red City. For the full itinerary there, check out the dedicated guide to Marrakech without falling for tourist traps, covering the medina, souks, and riads.
El Jadida, 1h30 south by train, is a former Portuguese fortress (Mazagan) with walls still standing, a cinematic cistern, and a beach. The historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s empty on weekdays and fills up with Moroccans on weekends. If you’re into ports, former Portuguese colonies, and Atlantic history, it’s a better day trip than Rabat.
Another option, heading west, is Casablanca’s own waterfront: the Ain Diab neighborhood is home to the Corniche, the best beach clubs (Tahiti, Miami Beach), and seafood restaurants facing the Atlantic. It’s perfect for the second sunset of your trip and for shaking off the day’s fatigue.
Where to Eat in Casablanca
Casablanca has the most international food scene in Morocco: Atlantic fish straight from the port, French bistros that survived the protectorate, refined Moroccan cuisine, and new chains along the Corniche. The Marché Central, downtown, is the classic spot for a cheap grilled fish lunch: you pick your fish at the front stall and pay the stall in the back to grill it. Sardines, sea bass, shrimp — all served with bread and salad.
For a proper dinner, three well-established names: La Sqala, inside an old Portuguese fort with a garden courtyard, serving traditional Moroccan food; Le Cabestan, on the Corniche, with Mediterranean cuisine and a club-like atmosphere with a view; and Iloli, an excellent Japanese spot that’s unusual for an Arab city. Prices run between 250 and 500 MAD per person (Jul 2026).
The Rick’s Café, a replica of the bar from the movie “Casablanca” (from 1942 — the film wasn’t shot here, but that doesn’t matter), is a tourist trap: decent food, triple the price, and pleasant live music. Go if you’re a film buff checking it off your list, but keep your expectations in check; for real nightlife, head to Ain Diab instead. And avoid eating at the beachfront stalls in the height of summer, when turnover is low and the heat doesn’t let up.
Where to Stay: Downtown, Corniche, or Ain Diab
Choosing a neighborhood in Casablanca is more practical than atmospheric: there’s no “medina to sleep inside” like in Marrakech. Three areas that usually work well:
Downtown (Sidi Belyout / Gauthier) — close to Casa-Voyageurs and Casa Port stations, the art deco district, and the old medina; ideal for those arriving or departing by train, or for a single night. Chains like Novotel, Ibis Styles, and Movenpick are concentrated here, with double rooms between R$ 350 and R$ 700 (Jul 2026).
Corniche / Ain Diab — 15 minutes by taxi from downtown, ideal for 2 nights with a day dedicated to the beach and a seaside restaurant. Riad Rmila, Four Seasons Casablanca, and Hyatt Regency are the well-known options; rates go up to R$ 800–R$ 2,500. If your trip is a relaxing stopover between flights, you’ll sleep much better here.
Habous — for those who want a traditional riad. The selection is small, but it exists: houses with courtyards, few rooms, and breakfast served inside the complex. It’s a bit off the main tourist axis, which means taxis to and from downtown, but it guarantees the rare silence you don’t find in a big city. Book ahead — the inventory disappears fast.
Practical Tips to Get It Right
The currency is the Moroccan dirham (MAD), trading at around R$ 0.55 (it fluctuates — check on the day you fly). It’s illegal to enter or leave the country with dirhams in cash. Exchange euros or dollars at the airport or withdraw from ATMs at major banks (BMCE, Attijariwafa) — Euronet machines charge double fees. Cards work at hotels, good restaurants, and supermarkets; taxis, the medina, and street stalls require cash.
Casablanca is safe for the average tourist, but it’s a big city with inequality: at night, avoid outlying neighborhoods without a plan, and use Uber or Bolt instead of wandering aimlessly. Downtown, the Corniche, and Habous work well on foot during the day. Pickpockets operate around Casa Port and Marché Central, so keep your backpack in front and use an inner pocket.
What to wear: more liberal than Marrakech, but it’s still worth skipping short shorts and tank tops outside the waterfront — respect the country, it’s not being fussy. At the Hassan II Mosque, shoulders and knees must be covered, and women must cover their hair (a veil can be borrowed, but bring your own to be safe). Stick to bottled water for the first few days; a local Maroc Telecom or Inwi SIM card costs about 100 MAD with 10 GB and covers your whole trip; hotel Wi-Fi works well.
Casablanca can be one stop on a bigger route. If after this you’re thinking of continuing with more bazaars and mosques, consider tacking on Istanbul between two continents: mosques, bazaars, and the Bosphorus crossing. If you have a layover in Portugal before or after, make the most of two days in Lisbon with a solid complete guide. And if your next craving is monumental history on the other side of North Africa, a great follow-up is a visit to the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Casablanca worth it?
Yes, for 1 to 2 days, mainly for the Hassan II Mosque — one of the few in Morocco open to non-Muslims — and for the easy airport arrival into the country. It’s not worth it as the sole destination of a Morocco trip: pair it with Rabat, Marrakech, or Fez to round out the experience.
How Many Days Should You Spend in Casablanca?
A full day covers the Hassan II Mosque, the old medina, and Habous. Two days let you add the Corniche in Ain Diab and a relaxed dinner. Three or more only make sense if you want to use Casablanca as a base for day trips to Rabat, El Jadida, or Marrakech via the Al Boraq high-speed train.
Can Non-Muslims Visit the Hassan II Mosque?
Yes. It’s one of the only mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslims, with guided tours of about 1 hour in French, English, and Spanish several times a day. Tickets run around 140 MAD (Jul 2026), and you’ll need your shoulders and knees covered. Arrive 30 minutes before your time slot to grab your ticket.
Is Casablanca Safe for Tourists?
It’s considered safe for the average tourist, with a strong police presence downtown, along the Corniche, and in tourist areas. Like any big city, there are pickpockets at stations and markets—keep your backpack in front and use Uber at night. Avoid far-flung neighborhoods without a plan after dark.
Do Brazilians Need a Visa for Morocco?
Not for tourist trips of up to 90 days. Just bring a passport valid for at least 6 months, proof of onward travel, and accommodation details for immigration. Always double-check with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website before you fly, since rules can change.
The Bottom Line
Casablanca is the modern, Atlantic, and slightly raw side of Morocco—it doesn’t replace Marrakech or Fez, but it complements them. Fly in, sleep one night, visit the Hassan II Mosque the next morning, grab fish at the port for lunch, and hop a train inland: that’s the formula that works for 90% of travelers. If you have a second night, you get the Corniche at sunset and a decent dinner away from the hum of the souks. For more cities and routes across the Arab world and the Mediterranean, check out the guides at voyagevoyage.com.br.