Top 15 Things to Do in Casablanca

Last updated: March 2026

Casablanca does not try to be a tourist city, and this is one of its best qualities. The attractions here are real things rather than recreations of real things: a functioning fishing port, an extraordinary mosque, a coastline that locals actually use, and a café scene that runs on genuine urban energy rather than visitor expectations. The city rewards people who come ready to observe rather than to check boxes.

What follows is a practical list of the things worth your time in Casablanca, organized roughly by what kind of experience you’re after rather than any imposed ranking. The order is not priority; the first item is simply the one that no visit to Casablanca can reasonably skip.

1. The Hassan II Mosque

The largest mosque in Africa and the seventh largest in the world, the Hassan II Mosque is built on a promontory over the Atlantic with a 210-metre minaret that is visible from most of the city. The guided tour for non-Muslim visitors is one of the best architectural experiences in Morocco: the prayer hall’s retractable roof, the hand-carved cedarwood, the zellige tilework extending across every surface. Tours run most mornings except Friday and cost around 130 MAD. Go early for smaller crowds and the best light on the exterior from the sea side.

2. The Art Deco Walking Route

The downtown area around Place Mohammed V is a concentrated example of the French colonial architecture built in the 1920s and 1940s, a mix of Art Deco and Mauresque styles that would be a significant heritage attraction if it were in Europe. A self-guided walk takes around 90 minutes. The Banque Al-Maghrib building, the Palais de Justice, and the arcaded streets of the old central business district are the high points. Ask at the tourist office near the square for the walking route map.

3. The Corniche and Ain Diab

The corniche running along the Atlantic south from the mosque toward Ain Diab is where Casablancans spend their leisure time. The beach strip mixes seafood restaurants, beach clubs, and ocean views that are best in winter light. The restaurants along the Ain Diab end of the corniche serve excellent grilled fish and fried calamari. Lunch here rather than in the tourist-facing medina is the right call.

4. The Old Medina

Smaller and less tourist-saturated than Fes or Marrakech, Casablanca’s old medina is a genuine neighborhood rather than a heritage precinct. Worth two hours of wandering for the architecture, the central market, and the pace that feels different from the commercial new city surrounding it. Buy nothing here that you can buy more honestly elsewhere.

5. Rick’s Café

Yes, it’s inspired by the film. Yes, it’s a tourist trap in the most genuine sense. And yes, it’s worth a drink. The building, a restored 1930s house in the old medina, is genuinely beautiful. The cocktails are competent. Dinner requires a reservation and a willingness to pay premium prices for the atmosphere. A drink at the bar at 7pm, before it fills completely, is the right way to experience it.

6. The Quartier Habous

The New Medina, built by French planners in the 1930s as a planned Moroccan quarter, is tidier and more navigable than the old medina with good craft shops and a famous patisserie, Bennis Habous, that makes some of the best Moroccan pastries in the city. Worth an hour and a bag of chebakia to take back to the hotel.

7. The Port of Casablanca

The working commercial port is not a tourist attraction but the fish market and the seafood restaurants immediately adjacent to the port entrance are excellent. The fish here comes from boats that docked hours earlier. Grilled sole, fried red mullet, and an excellent version of fish tagine are the things to order.

8. The Mohammed VI Museum of Modern Art

One of the better contemporary art museums in Africa, with a permanent collection of Moroccan modern art from the 19th century forward and rotating international exhibitions. Near the central train station in a well-designed building. Worth two hours.

9. The Central Market (Marché Central)

The covered central market near the Hotel Lincoln is Casablanca’s best single food shopping experience: meat, fish, produce, olives, preserved lemons, and spice blends all in one covered space. Not the cheapest option but the quality is consistent and the staff are experienced with foreign customers.

10. The Ain Chock Neighbourhood

One of the less-visited residential districts in the south of the city with a local neighbourhood market and a Saturday morning souk that is one of the most authentic market experiences in Casablanca. Worth a Saturday morning if you have a day to spare.

11. Evening Walk in Gauthier

The upscale Gauthier neighbourhood at the end of the working day, when the pavement cafes fill up and the window display of Casablanca’s working professional class is on show, is the best introduction to the modern city. The Rue Tiznit and Avenue Hassan II section has the best café and restaurant concentration.

12. The Corniche Swim Clubs

Several private beach clubs along the corniche are open to non-members for a daily fee (typically 150 to 400 MAD). These give access to seawater pools and Atlantic views with changing facilities, food service, and a level of comfort that the public beach does not provide. Worth knowing about for summer visits.

13. Villa des Arts

A cultural space in a 1934 Art Deco villa in the Gauthier area, Villa des Arts hosts contemporary art exhibitions and cultural events throughout the year. Free admission and a beautiful building. Check the program before visiting.

14. The Casablanca Cathedral (now Espace Riviera)

The former Sacré-Coeur Cathedral, a striking Art Deco-Moorish hybrid building in the Plateau district, is now a cultural centre. The exterior is one of the most photographed buildings in Casablanca and the interior spaces host events and exhibitions.

15. Day Trip to Rabat

Casablanca and Rabat are 45 minutes apart by train (Al Boraq) or just over an hour on the regular service. Rabat’s Oudayas Kasbah, Hassan Tower, and medina are a genuinely excellent day trip from Casablanca for visitors who want historic architecture that Casablanca itself does not provide. The Rabat guide covers the full visit.

Getting Around Casablanca

Casablanca’s tramway (ligne 1 and ligne 2) is the cleanest and most efficient way to move between major points in the city. A single ticket costs 6 MAD and is valid for one trip including transfers. The tram connects the neighborhoods of Ain Diab, Maarif, the city center, and Sidi Bernoussi. For areas not served by tram, petit taxis are abundant and metered. A cross-city trip rarely exceeds 30 to 50 MAD during the day.

If your time is limited, prioritize the Hassan II Mosque (morning, as tours run on schedule), the old medina and Quartier Habous (afternoon), and the corniche for an evening walk. This covers the essential Casablanca experience in a single day. With two days, add the Art Deco walking route, the Central Market, and a longer evening exploring Gauthier’s restaurants and cafes.

Accuracy note: Regulations, procedures, and practical information in Morocco can change. This article is a general guide only. Verify current requirements with the relevant authorities or institutions before making decisions.