Things to Do in Casablanca: Top Sights, 1- and 2-Day Itineraries and Local Tips

Casablanca rarely makes the first impression that Marrakech or Fez do, and that is part of its appeal. It is a working Atlantic city, busy and modern, where you can go from a monumental mosque built over the ocean to 1930s Art Deco boulevards and then to a fish market where lunch is oysters shucked in front of you. This guide helps you decide what to see, in which order, and how to get around efficiently, whether you have a one-day layover or a full weekend.

Opening times and ticket prices below are correct to the best of our knowledge at the date of publication, but they do change. Always confirm the day before, especially during Ramadan and on public holidays.

What are the must-see sights in Casablanca?

Hassan II Mosque

This is the main reason many travellers stop in Casablanca. Partly built over the Atlantic, it has a minaret of about 210 metres and a prayer hall for around 25,000 worshippers, with room for tens of thousands more on the esplanade. It is one of the very few mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslims, and only on guided tours.

• Typical tour times: several morning slots (from 8am or 9am depending on the season) and one in the early afternoon; fewer slots on Friday, with no tours during the midday prayer. Hours are reduced during Ramadan. Check the official Hassan II Mosque Foundation website before you go.
• Typical price: around 140 MAD for foreign adults according to the official website, with reduced rates for students and children, and free for under-6s.
• Dress code: shoulders and knees covered, no shorts or sleeveless tops. Women do not have to cover their hair, but it is appreciated. Shoes come off at the door (a bag is provided).

Aim to arrive 20 minutes before your slot, as queues build up in high season.

The Ain Diab Corniche and El Hank Lighthouse

The Corniche is Casablanca's seafront: a long promenade facing the Atlantic, lined with cafés, beach clubs and hotels. It is at its best in the late afternoon and at sunset. On the coast road between the mosque and Ain Diab, the El Hank Lighthouse (around 51 metres tall, in service since 1920) stands on its rocky point and makes an easy photo stop.

The old medina and the Skala

Smaller than the medinas of Fez or Marrakech, Casablanca's old medina is a lived-in neighbourhood with very little staged for tourists. On its seaward side, the Skala is a fortified bastion rebuilt in the 18th century under Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah, with its cannons still pointing at the ocean. Today it houses a garden-style restaurant.

The Habous quarter

Also known as the "new medina", the Habous was planned in the 1920s and 1930s, during the French Protectorate, in a careful neo-Moorish style: arcades, tidy lanes and small squares. You will find booksellers, craft, leather and spice shops, and the Mahkama du Pacha, a former courthouse built in 1941 and 1942. It is one of the most pleasant places in the city to wander and to buy souvenirs at fair prices, and its traditional pastry shops are well known.

Art Deco downtown

Casablanca has one of the finest collections of Art Deco and neo-Moorish architecture in Africa. Walk Boulevard Mohammed V and the streets around Place Mohammed V and United Nations Square, and keep looking up: carved facades, wrought iron and rounded balconies. Nearby, the former Sacred Heart Cathedral, designed by Paul Tournon and completed in 1930, stopped being a church after independence and now hosts exhibitions and cultural events.

Arab League Park

Right next to the Sacred Heart, this park of around 30 hectares reopened in 2021 after a full renovation. Palm-lined avenues, playgrounds and cafés make it a welcome green break in the middle of a day of sightseeing.

Museums, markets and places worth knowing

Central Market

Completed in 1917 on Boulevard Mohammed V, this is the historic market of downtown Casablanca. Come for the fish counters, flower stalls and spices, and above all to sit down at one of the small restaurants that grill whatever you pick from the stalls. Oysters are opened to order.

Rick's Café

Opened in 2004 by a former American diplomat in a house set against the old medina walls, Rick's Café recreates the mood of the 1942 film. It is still running, serving lunch and dinner, with jazz piano in the evening. Smart casual dress is expected and booking is a good idea.

Morocco Mall and Anfa

At the far end of the Corniche, Morocco Mall is one of the largest shopping centres on the continent, with an aquarium and plenty of restaurants. Up on the hill, the residential Anfa district has villas, cafés and smarter boutiques, and is where many locals go out in the evening.

One day in Casablanca: an efficient itinerary

1. 9am: Hassan II Mosque. Take the first tour of the day for smaller groups and soft light on the esplanade.
2. 10:30am: old medina and the Skala, a few minutes from the mosque. Coffee on a terrace.
3. 12pm: lunch at the Central Market, grilled fish or oysters.
4. 1:30pm: Art Deco downtown on foot: Boulevard Mohammed V, Place Mohammed V, the Sacred Heart and Arab League Park.
5. 3:30pm: the Habous quarter for shopping and pastries.
6. 5:30pm: El Hank Lighthouse, then the Ain Diab Corniche for sunset.
7. 8pm: dinner on the Corniche, in Anfa or at Rick's Café.

It is a full day, but realistic with a vehicle: the sights are far apart and traffic is heavy at rush hour. By taxi, expect a lot of separate rides and some waiting at each stop.

Casablanca in 2 days: a slower pace

Day 1: Hassan II Mosque, the medina and Skala, the Central Market and Art Deco downtown, with a relaxed dinner downtown or at Rick's Café.

Day 2: a morning in the Habous and one museum (Villa des Arts or the Abderrahman Slaoui Museum), lunch in Anfa, then an afternoon by the sea. Choose between the Corniche and Morocco Mall, or the quieter beaches of Dar Bouazza, about 20 km west of the city. If you have a third day, the capital is an easy trip: see our Rabat day trip from Casablanca guide.

When is the best time to visit Casablanca?

The ocean keeps Casablanca mild all year, without the intense heat of inland Morocco. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most comfortable seasons for walking. Summer is temperate but often misty in the morning, and winter can bring rain.

During the day, book the earliest mosque tour, explore downtown late in the morning and keep the Corniche for late afternoon. Avoid crossing the city between about 5pm and 7pm if you can, when traffic is at its worst.

Where to eat in Casablanca

Rather than specific restaurants, which change often, here are the areas and types of places to look for:

• Central Market: grilled fish and seafood, simple and fresh, best at lunchtime.
• Habous quarter: Moroccan pastries and small local eateries.
• Downtown and Maarif: brasseries, historic cafés and home-style Moroccan cooking.
• Ain Diab Corniche: ocean-view restaurants, ideal for dinner.
• Anfa: more contemporary places and lively terraces in the evening.

Many Moroccan restaurants traditionally serve couscous at Friday lunchtime.

Practical and safety tips

• Dress: Casablanca is cosmopolitan, but covering shoulders and knees is wise in the medina and required at the mosque.
• Tipping: around 10% in restaurants if service is not included, and a few dirhams for small services.
• Taxis: red petits taxis run in the city on the meter; ask for it to be switched on. White grands taxis cover longer routes. Fares go up at night.
• Tram: handy along the downtown axis, with several lines; a ticket costs a few dirhams, so check the current fare.
• Friday prayer: around midday, many shops close for a while and the Hassan II Mosque has no tours at that time.
• Safety: as in any large city, keep an eye on bags and phones in crowds and at night, and avoid showing valuables in the medina.

Why hire a driver for a half day or full day?

Casablanca's main sights are spread along roughly 15 km of coastline and city. Linking the mosque, medina, downtown, Habous and Corniche by taxi means finding a new car and agreeing the fare at every stop. With a driver, the vehicle waits outside each sight, your shopping stays safely in the boot, and you easily save one to two hours over the day.

2025 rates. For a group, the cost per person quickly compares well with several taxi rides, especially with children or anyone with reduced mobility. A half day covers the mosque, medina and Corniche; a full day lets you see everything without rushing, or add Dar Bouazza.

How Alfa Evasions can help

Alfa Evasions is a private tourist transport service based in Sidi Maarouf, Casablanca, and the transport partner of the Casablanca Suites & Spa hotel. Our licensed drivers use Hyundai Staria and Renault Trafic vans with free Wi-Fi and a welcome basket of water and treats on board, available 24/7.

• Flying in? Read our Mohammed V Airport arrival guide and book your airport to city centre transfer.
• Exploring the city? Book a half-day driver or a full-day driver.
• Heading on? See our Casablanca to Marrakech travel guide.

For questions or a tailored quote, message us on WhatsApp at +212 641 99 11 13 or call +212 522 97 20 52.