We hadn’t planned to travel to Casablanca, but since our flight from the Gambia stopped there, we decided to stay for a day. It’s the largest city in Morocco and quite a famous place located along the Atlantic Ocean. There is a nice mix of old and new architecture. Compared with Marrakesh, it was a lot more relaxed and I didn’t feel bothered as a tourist. I even went for a sightseeing run to explore the city. Of course, one of the highlights is the impressive Hassan II Mosque. We also enjoyed the markets, especially for olives and spices.
Since we were there during Ramadan, our one big meal out was a Ramadan feast at La Sqala restaurant. The building is a beautiful old fort, and the restaurant is huge with a mix of indoor and outdoor seating. People were eating quickly then going to pray, so our buffet was brought to us on plates to speed us up. We tried a lot of fish, seafood, salads and desserts. Although we only had a day, we enjoyed visiting the city and would go back!
Highlights
- Hassan II Mosque and museum
- Habbous Market including the olive market
- Walk along La Corniche to enjoy the seaside and beaches
- Shopping centres including Marina Shopping
- Stroll through the Old City
- Central Marketplace
- Medina Market
- United Nations Square
- Muhammad V Square
- CasArt’ Théâtre de Casablanca for shows and the architecture
- Sacred Heart Cathedral
- Arab League Park
- Church of Notre Dame of Lourdes
- Royal Palace
Before you go
- The ticket queue can be long for Hassan II Mosque and it is only open during specific hours so check timing
- At night a laser points from the Mosque to Mecca
- Some places are closed on Fridays
- Weather can be variable. In April, we had some sunshine, then lots of wind and rain
- Taxis can be shared so don’t be surprised if you pick up other people. Also, agree on the price before getting into to the car. Cash only
- Mastercard and Visa are widely accepted, less so American Express
- The official languages are Arabic and Berber, and many people speak French
- It is a Muslim country, and many mosques require women to cover their heads
Transport
- Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport is located about 35 minutes to the south of the city. Allow more time during rush hour
- In the city, we mainly flagged down the local red taxis to get around. Make sure that you agree a price before getting into the car. The hotel can give you a general idea of how much you should be paying. At night, the prices may be higher. And, as we found out, at Ramadan there are few cabs around when it is time to break fasting at sundown
- Taxis are often communal so we picked up people going the same direction. Locals pay a bit less but it was still quite cheap in general
- Walking around the city centre is mostly safe and easy to get around
Accommodation
- We stayed at a quaint and central hotel called Yto boutique Hotel. The room was comfortable and spacious, staff were friendly, and breakfast was amazing!
- We arrived in the morning and had booked from the night before so we could rest. The chef cooked me a huge breakfast with a mix of European and traditional foods and made a tray for my friend to take upstairs.
- Location was good to get to all of the city’s main attractions, and the small streets were safe and nice to walk around. Also, there were many restaurants and cafes nearby
- As usual I recommend checking reviews on Google Reviews or using AirBnB
Food
Markets and Snacks
Pâtisserie Bennis Habous was recommended by a friend for their pastries, especially the chicken pastillas. The pastillas are a delicious combination of savoury and sweet, with a nice flavour of cinnamon. Also, the people working there were really nice. I asked to buy a couple of the briouats, and they just gave me them to me to try.
Dahab cafe was a nice, local place near the hotel that had strong coffee, macarons and pastries.
Habous market was great fun to explore, especially the olive and spice market. They are generous with the samples, and we tried a lot of olives before deciding which to buy. Additionally, they have sauces, honey, and other culinary treats to buy. Prices are reasonable and we did not feel a need to try to bargain, and were not sure if we should.
Café/Restaurant Marina was recommended by a local friend and it is close to the Hassan II mosque if you need a place for refreshments.
Restaurants
Unfortunately, we didn’t have a lot of time to go out to eat, so we really just had one big meal for dinner at La Sqala restaurant. It was Ramadan so the only choice was to have the buffet. We didn’t even get to go to the buffet because the servers kept bringing plates of food to our table. It was truly enough for ten people!
For starters, there were fried pastries, salads, dips, nuts, and dried fruits. Then we had a variety of fish and seafood. There was also meat but my friend is pescatarian and I was happy to stick to that because it was plenty of food. I think I did end up having some chicken that was served to us. Dessert was excessive and included mini cakes, baklava, and cookies. For that course, I did go up to the buffet for a few more of my favourites. The atmosphere at the restaurant was really nice and lively, and it is located in an old fortress.
The breakfast at Yto hotel was plentiful and delicious. I had an omelette, a variety of breads and pastries, orange juice and savoury porridge.
FAQs
Q: Do I need a tour guide?
A: No, it is easy to find the places of interest and safe to get around the city
Q: Do people speak English?
A: Some people speak English but not really the taxi drivers and some restaurant servers. Arabic and French are much more widely spoken
Q: Is it a walkable city?
A: No, the city is quite spread out so it is easier to take taxis at times. In certain areas, you can walk around
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