A locally-written guide — where to stay, what to eat, and what not to miss.
The Casablanca guide
Here, grand colonial boulevards are lined with crumbling Art Deco facades
Casablanca is a city defined by its raw, industrial energy and its salt-sprayed Atlantic coastline. As the economic powerhouse of Morocco, it trades the fairy-tale exoticism of imperial cities for a gritty, fast-paced modernity. Here, grand colonial boulevards are lined with crumbling Art Deco facades, while the towering minaret of the Hassan II Mosque stands as a monument of engineering over the crashing ocean waves.
This is a working metropolis where business deals are brokered over espresso in sleek cafes and traditional life continues in the shadow of glass skyscrapers. It does not cater to tourists with polished displays; instead, it invites travelers to witness the authentic, forward-looking pulse of contemporary Morocco.
Where to base yourself
Where you sleep shapes the trip. Here’s the honest orientation, area by area.
An upscale, cosmopolitan enclave filled with trendy cafes, art galleries, and high-end boutiques.
Where to stayBoutique design hotels and stylish serviced apartments.
A high-energy commercial district dominated by international retail brands, local fashion boutiques, and fast-paced street life.
Where to stayMid-range business hotels and modern high-rise apartments.
The city's most affluent residential district, characterized by quiet, tree-lined streets and modernist luxury villas.
Where to stayFive-star luxury hotels and private villa rentals.
A beachfront strip lined with beach clubs, surf schools, fast-food joints, and late-night entertainment venues.
Where to stayLarge oceanfront resort hotels.
An orderly, picturesque district planned by French architects in the 1920s to mimic a traditional Moroccan medina with stone arches and neat streets.
Where to stayTraditional guesthouses or small mid-range hotels nearby.
The original pre-colonial walled city, characterized by narrow, winding alleys, local markets, and residential life.
Where to stayTraditional riads and budget hostels.
The colonial-era heart of the city, showcase to grand boulevards and striking Mauresque and Art Deco administrative buildings.
Where to stayClassic mid-range hotels and historic properties.
A dense, authentic residential neighborhood stretching between the city center and the ocean.
Where to stayBudget-friendly apartments and local guesthouses.
A quiet, green residential suburb located south of the city center, well-connected by the tramway.
Where to stayQuiet boutique guesthouses and residential rentals.
Eat & drink
Real tables, by category — from seafood and grills to the budget classics locals actually queue for.
With its prime Atlantic location, Casablanca offers some of the freshest seafood in North Africa, ranging from rustic portside grills to upscale oceanfront dining rooms.
Ain Diab
via GooglePerched directly on the cliffs below the El Hank lighthouse, it offers dramatic ocean views alongside refined French-Mediterranean cuisine.
Port of Casablanca
via GoogleLocated inside the working commercial port, this unpretentious, high-energy restaurant serves exceptionally fresh fish directly from the daily catch.
The city's French colonial heritage has left a lasting love for classic bistro-style steak preparation, alongside traditional charcoal-grilled meats.
Centre Ville
via GoogleA legendary French-style bistro operating for decades, offering professional table service and premium cuts of aged beef.
Maârif
via GoogleA casual, carnivore-focused concept where guests select their preferred cuts directly from an in-house butcher counter to be grilled to order.
Gauthier
via GoogleA modern, stylish steakhouse featuring dry-aged meats displayed in glass curing cabinets.
Traditional Moroccan dining in Casablanca is an elegant affair, often set in historic courtyards or beautifully restored traditional residences.
Centre Ville
via GoogleOne of the city's oldest traditional restaurants, featuring a leafy Andalusian-style garden courtyard and classic Moroccan hospitality.
Ancienne Medina
via GoogleSet within the stone walls of an 18th-century Portuguese bastion, this garden restaurant offers a peaceful escape from the surrounding chaos.
Ancienne Medina
via GoogleAn upscale traditional dining venue housed in a beautifully restored medina residence, featuring rich interiors and live acoustic lute music.
Casablanca's elite dining scene blends international gastronomy with local ingredients, catering to a sophisticated business and diplomatic clientele.
Gauthier
via GoogleMorocco's premier Japanese fine dining restaurant, offering masterfully executed kaiseki menus in a sleek, minimalist space.
Ancienne Medina
via GoogleA physical recreation of the famous bar from the classic film, set in a grand courtyard mansion with live piano music and a nostalgic atmosphere.
For those eating on a budget, Casablanca offers exceptional value through fast-paced seafood joints and historic bakeries.
Centre Ville
via GoogleA legendary, fast-paced local institution famous for serving incredibly fresh, affordable seafood to packed communal tables.
Habous
via GoogleAn iconic bakery operating since 1930, famous for producing the finest traditional Moroccan pastries in the city.
Bourgogne
via GoogleA no-frills neighborhood grill joint popular with locals for quick, flavorful charcoal-grilled meats.
While traditional Moroccan cuisine is meat-heavy, a growing health movement has brought dedicated vegetarian and organic cafes to the trendy districts.
Gauthier
via GoogleA stylish, eco-conscious cafe focusing on organic, locally sourced ingredients with numerous creative vegetarian and vegan options.
Maârif
via GoogleA dedicated vegetarian and vegan cafe offering clean, modern dishes in a bright, contemporary space.
Gauthier
via GoogleA reliable Indian restaurant featuring a separate, extensive vegetarian menu with authentic spiced dishes.
After dark
Where the night goes — clubs, rooftop cocktails and the rooms with the best live music.
The beachfront strip of Ain Diab is the epicenter of Casablanca's late-night clubbing scene, where high-end venues host international DJs.
Ain Diab
via GoogleAn upscale, multi-space venue featuring a chic restaurant, an outdoor terrace, and a high-energy club room.
Centre Ville
via GoogleLocated inside the Hyatt Regency, this long-running club is a favorite for late-night dancing in the city center.
Rooftop bars are highly popular in Casablanca, offering panoramic views of the city skyline and the Atlantic Ocean.
Maârif
via GooglePerched on the 28th floor of the Kenzi Tower Hotel, it offers the most dramatic panoramic views of the city and the Hassan II Mosque.
Anfa
via GoogleAn elegant, garden-like rooftop terrace overlooking the hotel's pool and the surrounding residential villas.
Gauthier
via GoogleA trendy rooftop venue in the heart of the restaurant district, popular with young professionals after work.
For a more casual evening, several venues across the city offer live music performances ranging from rock covers to traditional acoustic sets.
Centre Ville
via GoogleA multi-level Spanish-themed bar famous for its lively atmosphere, tapas, and energetic live bands.
Bourgogne
An industrial-style bar offering American-style pub food alongside regular live acoustic performances.
See & do
Museums, landmarks and galleries worth structuring a day around.
Casablanca's museums offer intimate insights into contemporary Moroccan art, decorative history, and the country's unique religious heritage.
Gauthier
via GoogleHoused in a beautifully restored 1930s Art Deco villa, this cultural center hosts rotating exhibitions of contemporary Moroccan and international artists.
Centre Ville
via GoogleDisplays a private collection of Moroccan decorative arts, including vintage travel posters, gold jewelry, and hand-painted boxes.
Oasis
via GoogleThe only museum dedicated to Jewish history and culture in the Arab world, showcasing the deep historical roots of Morocco's Jewish community.
The city's architectural landmarks showcase a fascinating dialogue between traditional Islamic craftsmanship and 20th-century European modernism.
Sour Jdid
via GoogleOne of the largest mosques in the world, built on a rocky platform over the Atlantic Ocean, featuring a spectacular retractable roof and a 210-meter minaret.
Centre Ville
via GoogleA deconsecrated neo-Gothic cathedral built in 1930, featuring striking white concrete architecture that blends European Gothic and Moroccan styles.
Habous
via GoogleAn administrative building functioning as a courthouse, showcasing a masterclass in traditional Hispano-Moorish stucco and cedar wood carving.
Casablanca is the heart of the Moroccan art market, with several prominent galleries showcasing cutting-edge contemporary works.
Maârif
via GoogleA leading contemporary art gallery representing many of Morocco's most established modern painters and sculptors.
Gauthier
via GoogleA sleek gallery space focusing on contemporary African and Moroccan art, known for its high-caliber exhibitions.
Gauthier
via GoogleAn intimate, independent art space dedicated to showcasing up-and-coming local painters and photographers.
Don’t-miss
It is the only way for non-Muslims to experience the interior of this architectural masterpiece, marveling at the hand-carved cedar wood and zellij tilework.
via GoogleTo sample legendary cornes de gazelle pastries fresh from the wood-fired ovens of Pâtisserie Bennis Habous, followed by mint tea at a nearby cafe.
via GoogleTo discover the fading grandeur of 1930s Mauresque facades along Boulevard Mohammed V with an architectural map or local guide.
via GoogleBeyond the city
To explore Morocco's relaxed, coastal capital, featuring the blue-and-white Kasbah of the Udayas and the historic Hassan Tower.
Getting there1 hour by high-speed Al Boraq train from Casa-Voyageurs station.
To visit the UNESCO-listed Portuguese fortified port city and its famous vaulted underground cistern.
Getting there1.5 hours by regional train from Casa-Port station.
To wander through a quiet, whitewashed medina decorated with expressive street art murals along the Oum Er-Rbia River.
Getting there1 hour by grand taxi or regional train.
Book ahead
Top-rated tours, tickets and experiences — book in seconds, skip the line.
from $1539 approx.
from $20 approx.
from $173 approx.
from $2327 approx.
from $4548 approx.
from $4070 approx.
from $180 approx.
from $1499 approx.
from $2147 approx.
from $2088 approx.
from $3254 approx.
from $1000 approx.These are affiliate links. We may earn a commission when you book — at no extra cost to you. Tours are sold and operated by our partner, who is the merchant of record.
What it costs
Casablanca is more expensive than rural Morocco but remains highly affordable compared to European destinations. Public transit and street food are cheap, while high-end dining and alcohol carry premium prices.
| Travel style | Per day |
|---|---|
| Backpacker | €30-50 (band) |
| Mid-range | €80-150 (band) |
| Luxury | €250-500+ (band) |
Timing
The coastal climate makes Casablanca a year-round destination, though spring and autumn offer the most comfortable temperatures for urban exploration.
Logistics
The ONCF train runs hourly from Mohammed V International Airport to the central Casa-Port and Casa-Voyageurs stations, taking approximately 35 minutes.
The Casa Tramway is a clean, modern, and highly efficient network with two main lines connecting major residential and commercial districts to the city center.
Rechargeable smart cards (Irtiyah) can be purchased at tram stations for a low cost (€) and loaded with multiple journeys, offering a slight discount per ride.
While central districts like Gauthier and the Ancienne Medina are highly walkable, the city's massive scale and heavy traffic make public transit or taxis necessary for traveling between neighborhoods.
Travel smart
Casablanca is generally safe, but petty crime like phone snatching and pickpocketing is common in crowded areas like the Ancienne Medina and Centre Ville. Avoid walking alone in poorly lit areas at night, and always use registered red taxis.
Local etiquette
From the ground
Book direct
Loading live availability and real-time prices…
Good to know
Yes, spending two to three days allows you to appreciate the unique Art Deco architecture, the historic Habous district, and the dynamic contemporary dining scene.
The most reliable option is the train, which runs hourly from Mohamed V Airport to Casa-Port and Casa-Voyageurs stations.
Yes, it is one of the few active mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslims, but only through scheduled, paid guided tours.
The modern tramway system is clean, cheap, and efficient for traveling between major neighborhoods, while red 'petits taxis' are ideal for shorter, direct trips.
Yes, alcohol is served in many restaurants, hotel bars, and nightclubs, and can be purchased at select supermarkets, though it is not consumed publicly.
Yes, haggling is expected in the souks of the Medina and Habous, but prices are fixed in modern shops, supermarkets, and restaurants.