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Casablanca is Morocco’s biggest city and its financial hub, which means flights are available from all over Europe and the rest of the world and can sometimes be picked up relatively cheaply.
Made famous by the 1942 classic film, it is important to note that Hollywood chose to film that in LA rather than come to Casablanca itself. But actually that is probably rather fitting. The Casablanca we saw was probably best described as the Beverley Hills of North Africa. The coastal city has a huge beach, wide boulevards lined with impossibly tall palm trees and more designer boutiques than you could possibly visit, even in a month.
There is an argument that Casablanca is less “Moroccan” than the rest of the country, but it does feature one of the country’s most significant landmarks.
Our two-week exploration of Northern Morocco started in Casablanca but we also think it’s the perfect place for a weekend break.
Below is our two-day itinerary of the best things to see, do and eat in Casa as the locals call it.
DAY ONE
Hasan II Mosque
The largest mosque in all of Africa sits on a little islet jutting into the Atlantic Ocean. It’s positioning is inspired a Quranic verse stating Allah’s throne was built upon water as the world was being constructed.
This incredible place of worship was completed in 1993 and named after the father of Morocco’s current king. There is space for 25,000 inside the cavernous prayer hall, built with hand-carved marble and equipped with a retractable roof, but 80,000 can worship outside, giving you an idea of its scale.
The square minaret is the second-tallest in the world and built in classic Moroccan style, tall and rectangular. You will see more built in this exact same style all over the country, as opposed to cylindrical minarets common in most Muslim countries.
It’s one of just two Moroccan mosques open to non-muslims but you can only enter if you are “modestly dressed” and with one of the multilingual tours conducted outside of prayer times.
This is the best place to start your journey in Morocco. The cedar wood is from the Atlas Mountains, the pink marble is from Agadir and the lotus-shaped ablution fountains are made from local marble. While Hasan II paid for most of the mosque, Moroccans also paid a subscription towards its construction, making it truly Moroccan.
Mahkamat al-Pasha and Quartier Habous
Our biggest regret in Casablanca was not visiting the interior of Makhamat al-Pasha, built in the 1940s as the city’s main courthouse and the residence of the Pasha (governor), parliamentary reception hall and jail.
The vast and stunning building can only be entered with a pre-booked tour as it is still used as an administrative building. We recommend booking the tour ahead of arriving here and planning your day around it. As it’s not an official tourist attraction, you won’t feel like it’s a tourist trap. Opening hours are 9 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday.
The surrounding neighbourhood, Quartier Habous, should also be explored. It is one of the city’s older neighbourhoods and features many white buildings for which the city was named.
Thanks to Makhmat al-Pasha, many of the surrounding buildings are used by lawyers and the area has a scholastic atmosphere.
Royal Palace
Most Moroccan cities have a royal palace. You can’t usually enter them but they often have stunning gates and landscaped gardens around them, like the one in Casablanca. The palace is a stone’s throw from Makhamat and is worth swinging by.
Casablanca Cathedral and Arab League Park
Église du Sacré-Cœur was built while the city was still under French rule and rapidly expanding. It is huge, completely white and built in an art-deco meets gothic revival style.
The cathedral’s religious functions ceased after Moroccan independence in 1956 but it is sometimes used for exhibitions.
Next to the cathedral is Arab League Park, a haven for lovers of symmetry and palm trees. It is also Casablanca’s biggest green space and was recently revamped.
Mohammed V Square
Every Moroccan City has a “big square”, and this is Casablanca’s. A stone’s throw from the Arab League Park, it was the centre of the Ville Européenne or European City but also lies close to the Old Medina. Around the edges are grand civic buildings including a court, Wilaya (the administrative building), post office and Bank al-Maghreb.
Nearby Place des Nations Unies is the gateway to Old Medina.
Where to eat:
NKOA
Usually in Morocco, we would recommend eating wherever the locals do. Moroccan food, as you will experience, is nuanced and heartening. But in Casablanca try something different.
NKOA is an upscale African fusion restaurant which is considered the best in the city by many. Remarkably affordable for the quality and taste, this will probably be one of your best meals in Casablanca, and that’s saying something.
Nightlife
The trendiest restaurants, bars and clubs in the city are in the Corniche area just off the beach. Partygoers congregate in the streets here as the cool ocean breeze powers you up for a night on the town.
DAY TWO
Beach
Down the road from Hasan II Mosque is Ain Diab beach, a good place to start your second day in the city. There are beach clubs for the traveller looking for pampering but if you just want a quick splash this is also a good place for that.
Shopping District
The Beverley Hills of Casablanca is spread out across the streets around Boulevard Al Massira Al Khadra. There is also Morocco Mall, just by the Ain Diab beach if you prefer the shopping centre experience.
Rick’s Cafe
If the film Casablanca is what drew you to this coastal metropolis, you shouldn’t miss Rick’s Cafe. I’ve already mentioned that the legendary film was actually filmed in a Hollywood studio, but the mythical saloon from the film has been recreated in Casa. This meal will recreate a sense of old-world luxury but beware there is a dress code, so pack something other than graphic teas and tracksuit bottoms.
That brings an end to our Casablanca adventure. When we visited the city it was part of a two-week exploration of Northern Morocco, which we will be telling you more about in the coming weeks.
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