Casablanca in two days: what to see, do and know

Two days is a good fit for Casablanca. Spend the first on the coast: a guided tour of the Hassan II Mosque in the morning, then the Corniche and Ain Diab for the afternoon and sunset. Give the second to the city itself: the small old medina, the Habous quarter and the early-20th-century buildings around Boulevard Mohammed V. Casablanca isn't a monument city like Fes or Marrakech, and it doesn't pretend to be. It's Morocco's big working city, with traffic, office towers and a lot of everyday life. A direct train from the airport, the tram and metered red taxis make it easy to get around. The one thing to plan around is the mosque tour times.

Getting there

From Mohammed V airport

The airport station is in the basement of Terminal 1. Trains run without a change to Casa-Voyageurs, about 30 minutes away, and on to Casa-Port, stopping at L'Oasis and a few other stations on the way. The airport authority lists fares of 50 MAD in second class and 70 MAD in first. Departures from the airport generally run from 06:50 to 22:50, and Wikivoyage describes the service as hourly.

If you land late or have a lot of luggage, a taxi is the other option. Wikivoyage reported a fare of 280 MAD into town in late 2022, so expect a bit more now and agree the price before you set off.

By train from the rest of Morocco

Casablanca has two central stations:

• Casa-Voyageurs is the main station, about 2 km from the centre. It's the only station in the city served by Al Boraq, the high-speed train to Tangier. Tram line T1 stops outside, and a petit taxi into the centre costs about 15 MAD.
• Casa-Port is closer to the centre and the medina, but fewer trains use it.

Rabat is about an hour away, so Casablanca and the capital pair easily in one trip.

Tip: Check train times and buy tickets on the ONCF website or app before you travel, especially for Al Boraq at weekends.

Day 1: the Hassan II Mosque and the Corniche

Morning: a guided tour of the Hassan II Mosque

The Hassan II Mosque is the city's landmark, built right at the edge of the Atlantic. Visitors see the prayer hall on guided tours run by the Hassan II Mosque Foundation. These are the foundation's published times:

Times change during Ramadan, so check before you go then.

The foundation lists these prices: 140 MAD for foreign adults, 70 MAD for Moroccans, residents and foreign students, 30 MAD for children over 6 and Moroccan students, and free for children under 6. The site also has a museum with its own ticket.

The dress code is strict. Cover your shoulders and torso, and wear something that reaches below the knee. Shorts and sleeveless tops aren't allowed. You take your shoes off and carry them (bags are handed out at the entrance), smoking and drinks aren't allowed, and video cameras stay outside. A petit taxi from the centre shouldn't cost more than about 20 MAD.

Tip: Arrive a little before your tour time and keep a scarf or light layer in your bag, in case what you're wearing doesn't meet the rules.

Afternoon: the Corniche and Ain Diab

After the tour, head west along the ocean to the Corniche, the seafront boulevard that runs to Ain Diab. Ain Diab is the chic beachfront district, and the best plan is simply to walk the boulevard and stop at one of the ocean-view cafés. The Corniche was a busy resort area decades ago, and some of the older hotels and clubs look tired, but the sea air and the sunset make up for it. Tram line T2 ends at Ain Diab Plage if you'd rather not take a taxi back.

Evening: Morocco Mall (optional)

The tourist office lists Morocco Mall among the city's most popular sights. It's a very large mall with shops and a cinema, in the far southwest of the city near Ain Diab. It's a useful plan B on a hot or rainy afternoon.

Day 2: the medina, the Habous and the art-deco centre

Morning: the old medina

The old medina is a small walled town in the north of the city, next to Place des Nations Unies. Its main entrance is Bab el-Kebir. The tourist office calls it one of the most recent medinas built in Morocco, and it's compact: you're never more than about 10 minutes from an exit. It's nothing like the old cities of Fes or Marrakech, but it's worth an hour or two, and you'll find traditional goods like tagines and pottery for sale nearby. Fake guides work mostly around here, so a polite "no, thank you" and walking on is enough.

Midday: the Habous quarter

The Habous (also written Hubous) is a planned neighbourhood. Its development began in 1916, in the early years of the French Protectorate, when Henri Prost's planning team laid out a new district with traditional-style architecture. Today it's a cultural and religious centre: the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs is here, along with bookshops run by major Moroccan and Arab publishing houses. Its traditional-style streets and historic buildings make it one of the city's most pleasant walks.

Afternoon: Boulevard Mohammed V and the Central Market

Boulevard Mohammed V opened in 1915, under the Protectorate, as the "Boulevard de la Gare". It was laid out by the planners Henri Prost and Jean Claude Nicolas Forestier, and different architects designed its buildings in a mix of styles: art deco, neo-Moorish, neoclassical and art nouveau. Look out for the Central Market, designed by Pierre Bousquet in 1917, and the post office building from 1919. Walk slowly and look up, because most of the detail is on the upper floors.

Eating and drinking

Casablanca eats late. Many restaurants don't open for dinner until around 19:00, and it's worth calling ahead to check they're open. In the centre you'll find fruit smoothie stands, which are handy for a break between sights. On the Corniche, the ocean-view cafés are the classic stop at sunset.

If you'd like a drink, hotel bars and European-style restaurants are the usual choice. Wikivoyage notes that women may feel uncomfortable in the mostly male crowds of many bars and nightclubs.

Getting around

• Tram: four tram lines (T1 to T4) and two busway lines share one network. The first trams leave around 05:30–06:00 and the last around 22:30. A single ticket costs 8 MAD, or 6 MAD per trip on a rechargeable card. Most ticket machines only take coins.
• Petit taxis: they're red. The minimum fare is 7 MAD. Check that the meter is running, and don't be surprised if the driver picks up other passengers on the way.
• On foot: the medina, Boulevard Mohammed V and the Central Market are close together. The mosque, the Corniche and the Habous are better reached by tram or taxi.

Where to stay

We list areas, not businesses:

• City centre and Boulevard Mohammed V: handy for the tram, the Central Market and the art-deco streets. A good choice for a short stay.
• Near Casa-Voyageurs: practical if you're arriving or leaving by Al Boraq or the airport train.
• Around the medina and Place des Nations Unies: close to the old town and Casa-Port.
• The Corniche and Ain Diab: ocean views and beach walks, but further from the centre.
• Near the airport: only worth it for a very early flight.

Browse stays in Casablanca, or look along the coast in Mohammedia.

Safety and practical tips

The UK government advises the usual care in big cities. Petty crime is common in tourist areas, medinas and on beaches, including pickpocketing, bag snatching and thieves on motorbikes grabbing visible jewellery. Keep your phone and bag on the side away from the road. Card fraud and scams happen, unofficial guides approach tourists, and women may get unwanted attention, especially when travelling alone. Wikivoyage advises against walking alone at night. The UK also warns that demonstrations can start without notice in large cities: stay away from them. Same-sex relations are illegal in Morocco, and public displays of affection can lead to prosecution, so couples should keep things low-key.

Emergency numbers (checked on GOV.UK and France Diplomatie, October 2026): police 190 (or 19), ambulance and fire 150 (or 15), gendarmerie 177 outside towns.

Costs and two-day checklist

Prices change, so treat these as a guide.

• Pick your mosque tour time and build Day 1 around it
• Pack clothes that cover your shoulders and knees
• Carry coins for the tram, or buy a rechargeable card
• Insist on the meter in petit taxis
• Keep your phone away from the kerb
• Save the emergency numbers

Ready to book? See stays in Casablanca, cars in Casablanca if you're driving on to the coast or the mountains, or read all guides.