Your guide to Casablanca
Casablanca highlights
Modernist architecture
Casablanca’s streets reveal a side of Morocco defined by early 20th-century ambition and design. Across the city, Modernist and Art Deco buildings range from streamlined apartment blocks to civic landmarks with geometric detail. Around Mohammed V Square, the Palais de Justice stands out for its neo-Moorish style, while other districts showcase some of the country’s strongest examples of urban Modernism.
Walled city
To slow things down on your visit to Casablanca, spend some time in the Old Medina. Narrow lanes wind past traditional cafes and shops, with everyday scenes playing out along the way. On the medina’s edge, La Sqala serves Moroccan dishes inside an 18th-century fortress, while Rick’s Café nods to the city’s cinematic legacy with live music and classic interiors.
Seaside promenade
La Corniche traces the waterfront from Ain Diab towards the port, giving you a long stretch of oceanfront to walk as the light shifts. Restaurants and beach clubs line the shore, with the Atlantic always in view. Climb El Hank Lighthouse for wide panoramas, or continue towards Hassan II Mosque, which is especially striking as evening sets in.
Casablanca: Know before you go
| Language | Modern Standard Arabic, Moroccan Arabic (Darija) |
|---|---|
| Currency | Moroccan dirham (د.م.) |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) and UTC+1 (WEST) |
| High season | December - January and June - August |
| Low season | February - April and September - November |
Find the best time to go to Casablanca
Weather in Casablanca
March – May: Bring a light jacket for evening walks and ocean breezes. During Ramadan, cafes are often closed in the day, and some attractions have reduced hours. But the atmosphere after dark remains festive.
June – August: Warm summers are perfect for the beach. The weather rarely gets too hot, and it almost never rains. This is also peak season for music festivals.
September – November: Autumn stays warm, though it can be overcast before the winter rains. Without the summer crowds, it’s one of the nicest times to visit Casablanca.
December – February: Winter is the quiet season. Nights get chilly, but days are comfortable. You’ll want to pack a raincoat for showers, which don’t usually last long.
Events in Casablanca
Casablanca Arab Film Festival (June): Filmmakers from across the Arab world screen documentaries, features and shorts at this annual showcase.
Jazzablanca (July): Now expanded beyond its jazz roots, this festival still ranks among the city’s biggest events. Catch major Moroccan and international artists on the main stage in Anfa Park, or head to United Nations Square for free satellite concerts across the city.
Moussem Moulay Abdellah Amghar (August): Held in El Jadida, about an hour away, this traditional gathering blends pilgrimage and spectacle, with horsemanship displays, markets and large communal celebrations.
L'Boulevard (September): A launchpad for emerging talent, this festival leans into rock, hip-hop and electronic music, drawing local crowds with its DIY spirit and high-energy performances.
The best neighbourhoods in Casablanca
Sidi Belyout
Casablanca’s city centre is a charming mix of elegant Art Deco and the Old Medina’s historic charm, with easy access to landmarks like the Hassan II Mosque. You’ll find plenty of modern hotels, including international chains. Traditional ‘riad’ guesthouses are rarer here than in other Moroccan cities, but there are a few in the Old Medina.
Good for: First-time travellers, architecture, hotels
Habous
Southeast of the city centre, Casablanca’s ‘New Medina’ is packed with souks and bazaars. Browse for artisanal souvenirs, or follow your nose to the spice and olive vendors. Tranquil squares and arcades make the neighbourhood feel like a retreat. And Pâtisserie Bennis has been serving up some of Casablanca’s best pastries since the 1930s.
Good for: Souks, souvenirs, cafes
Ain Diab
If time by the ocean is part of your plans, this is where to stay in Casablanca. Set along La Corniche and linked to the city centre by tram, Ain Diab lines the shore with contemporary hotels and easy beach access. By night, beachfront cafes and clubs keep the area active with music and late hours.
Good for: Beaches, nightlife, resort hotels
Things to do in Casablanca
Family friendly
Artists have decorated the whitewashed walls of Casablanca’s city centre with giant, colourful murals perfect for a street art scavenger hunt. In the summer months, hit the beach at Lalla Meryem for a surf lesson or cool down at Tamaris Aquaparc. Burn off some energy at the Arab League Park, home to lots of green space and play structures.
Take in the culture
Museums in Casablanca range from focused collections to broader cultural spaces. The Abderrahman Slaoui Museum brings together vintage posters, antique jewellery and decorative arts in an intimate setting. At the Villa des Arts, contemporary exhibitions and performances fill a striking Art Deco building. For deeper context, the Museum of Moroccan Judaism traces centuries of heritage through carefully curated displays.
Places to eat
Restaurants in Casablanca reflect the city’s mix of Moroccan, Spanish and French influences, with seafood featuring prominently on many menus. Tagine, a slow-cooked stew prepared in a clay pot, is a staple here, from traditional spots in the Old Medina to more refined dining rooms. In the morning, cafes serve Moroccan breakfasts with fresh bread, spreads and sweet mint tea.
Nightlife
If you’re looking to dance, head to Ain Diab, where beachfront clubs keep the music going late into the night. Along La Corniche, restaurants and cocktail bars pair ocean views with a more relaxed pace. Closer to the Central Market, laid-back pubs draw a mixed crowd for drinks, conversation and seafood-focused snacks.
Shopping
Window-shop your way through upscale Maârif, a hub for contemporary boutiques as well as traditional Moroccan dress, including kaftans and djellabas. The neighbourhood is also home to international and luxury brands, as is Morocco Mall, Africa’s largest shopping centre. For artisanal crafts and souvenirs, head to Habous, where arcades are lined with shops selling textiles, ceramics and leather slippers.
Beaches
Ain Diab draws much of Casablanca’s population to the water with its long urban beach. While parts of the beach are tied to resorts, there’s still public access along the shore. The Atlantic here can feel cool and a bit rough, so many people settle in at beachfront cafes or look for beach clubs with pools for calmer swims.
Get ready for Casablanca
Budget
Food and hotel costs can pile up here, but cheap trips to Casablanca are still very possible. Expect to pay around 50 Moroccan dirhams (MAD) for an inexpensive meal. A short taxi trip should cost you under MAD 30. Ask the driver to use the meter, as it’s often cheaper than agreeing on a fare in advance.
Day trips from Casablanca
Follow the coast to El Jadida, where Portuguese-built fortifications form a UNESCO-listed old town. Inside, a vaulted cistern casts shifting reflections across its stone interior, while the ramparts open onto wide Atlantic views. Closer to Casablanca, Bouznika offers a quieter stretch of shoreline, with calmer waters that make it a popular spot for an easy beach day.
Getting around Casablanca
The area around the Old Medina and United Nations Square is easy to explore on foot, though the medina’s narrow lanes can take some getting used to. For trips beyond the centre, use the Casa Tramway or hail a taxi. Shared ‘grands taxis’ follow fixed routes, and ridesharing apps like InDrive and Careem are widely used.
