Most travelers fly through Casablanca on their way to Marrakech or Fes — and that’s a mistake. If you’re searching for what to do in Casablanca Morocco, you’re about to discover that Morocco’s largest city is far more than a transit hub. It’s a living contradiction: a bustling modern metropolis layered over a rich Islamic and French colonial history, where Art Deco facades stand next to soaring minarets and Atlantic waves crash below rooftop restaurants.
Getting Around Morocco starts in Casablanca — and this guide covers everything you need to know about what to do in Casablanca Morocco — from world-famous landmarks and atmospheric neighborhoods to the best local food, day trips, and insider tips that most visitors never discover.
Why Casablanca Morocco Deserves More Than a Layover
Casablanca — or “Casa” as locals call it — is home to over 4 million people and serves as Morocco’s economic and cultural engine. Unlike the ancient medinas of Fes or the palace-lined streets of Marrakech, Casablanca wears its modernity proudly. Yet scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find a city overflowing with character: a thriving art scene, incredible seafood, Moroccan-French architecture unlike anywhere else in the world, and a waterfront corniche that rivals the best in the Mediterranean.
Knowing what to do in Casablanca Morocco means understanding that this city rewards the curious traveler — not just the one ticking off UNESCO sites.
1. Visit the Hassan II Mosque — Morocco’s Most Iconic Landmark
No guide to what to do in Casablanca Morocco would be complete without the Hassan II Mosque. It is one of the largest mosques in the world and the only one in Morocco open to non-Muslim visitors. Built on a promontory over the Atlantic Ocean, the mosque’s minaret soars 210 meters into the sky — visible from almost anywhere in the city.
Guided tours run daily (except Fridays) and take you inside the breathtaking prayer hall, which can hold 25,000 worshippers. The marble floors, hand-carved cedar ceilings, and retractable roof make it one of the most impressive feats of Islamic architecture in the modern era. Book your tour early, especially during peak season.
Tip: Visit at dusk when the mosque is lit up and the ocean reflects its golden light. It’s one of the most photogenic moments in all of Morocco.
2. Explore the Art Deco Architecture of Downtown Casablanca
When thinking about what to do in Casablanca Morocco, most people don’t picture Art Deco — but they should. Casablanca contains one of the largest collections of Art Deco buildings in the world, a legacy of French protectorate rule in the early 20th century. The area around Boulevard Mohammed V and Place des Nations Unies is an open-air architectural museum.
Look up as you walk: you’ll spot ornate facades, curved balconies, geometric motifs, and hand-painted tilework on buildings dating back to the 1920s and 1930s. The Central Post Office (La Poste), the Hyatt Regency, and the covered market at Marché Central are all outstanding examples.
3. Stroll the Corniche and Ain Diab Beachfront
The Ain Diab Corniche is Casablanca’s answer to a beachside promenade and one of the most enjoyable things to do in Casablanca Morocco for first-time visitors. Stretching several kilometers along the Atlantic coast, it’s lined with cafés, seafood restaurants, beach clubs, and shisha lounges — all with sweeping ocean views.
On weekends, locals flood the Corniche for a stroll, a coffee, or a swim. During summer evenings, it transforms into a lively social scene. Even outside of summer, the Corniche is a wonderful place to experience everyday Casablanca Morocco life away from tourist sites.
4. Wander Through the Old Medina
While Casablanca’s Old Medina is smaller and less labyrinthine than those in Fes or Marrakech, it offers a more relaxed and authentic experience. Built in the 18th century, it’s a quiet maze of souks, artisan workshops, cafés, and historic mosques — and a genuinely underrated answer to what to do in Casablanca Morocco beyond the major tourist sites.
Pick up handmade leather goods, spices, and traditional crafts without the hard sell you’d encounter in more touristy medinas. The Sqala de la Ville, a Portuguese-era sea fortress converted into a garden restaurant, is one of the most atmospheric spots in the city — perfect for a mint tea break.
5. Discover the Habous Quarter (New Medina)
If you’re still wondering what to do in Casablanca Morocco beyond the obvious, the Quartier des Habous is your answer. Built by the French in the 1930s as a planned residential quarter inspired by traditional Moroccan urban design, it’s a fascinating hybrid of European planning and Moorish aesthetics — cleaner and more organized than the Old Medina, making it ideal for leisurely browsing.
Here you’ll find excellent pastry shops selling cornes de gazelle and almond briouates, bookshops, antique dealers, and the stunning Mahkama du Pacha — a palace-courthouse with intricately carved plasterwork and cedarwood ceilings that rivals anything in Fes.
6. Eat Your Way Through Casablanca
What to do in Casablanca Morocco on a food lover’s itinerary? Eat. A lot.
Casablanca’s restaurant scene is arguably the most diverse and sophisticated in Morocco. From hole-in-the-wall fish stalls to upscale fusion restaurants, the city offers world-class dining at every price point. Eating your way through Casablanca Morocco is one of the most rewarding experiences the city has to offer.
Must-try dishes and where to eat them:
- Seafood tagine — Head to the Port de Pêche (fishing port) for the freshest catch in the city, grilled simply with chermoula sauce
- Harira soup — A hearty tomato and lentil soup best eaten at any local café in the medina, especially around sunset
- Pastilla au lait — A sweet cream-filled pastry at Pâtisserie Bennis in Habous, a Casablanca institution
- Moroccan mezze — Order a spread at Le Cabestan, a clifftop restaurant on the Corniche with stunning ocean views
- Street food — Try msemen (flatbread), brochettes, and fresh jus d’avocat (avocado juice) at the Marché Central
7. Visit the Mohammed V Square and Central Fountain
Place Mohammed V is the civic heart of Casablanca Morocco — a grand Haussmann-inspired square surrounded by key government buildings, the Palace of Justice, the Préfecture, and a beautiful illuminated fountain. It’s especially impressive at night when the French colonial buildings are floodlit and the fountain glows.
This square is a must when planning what to do in Casablanca Morocco — sit at a café terrace, people-watch, and absorb the city’s unique blend of cultures.
8. Explore the Villa des Arts and Casablanca’s Art Scene
Casablanca Morocco has a surprisingly vibrant contemporary art scene that most tourists overlook entirely. The Villa des Arts, a beautifully restored Art Deco villa, hosts rotating exhibitions of Moroccan and international contemporary artists. Entry is free or very low-cost, and the building alone is worth the visit.
For street art enthusiasts, the Maarif and Gauthier neighborhoods are increasingly covered in impressive murals — a living gallery that’s completely free to explore and one of the more offbeat things to do in Casablanca Morocco.
9. Take a Day Trip to Rabat or El Jadida
Casablanca’s central location on Morocco’s Atlantic coast makes it an ideal base for day trips. Planning what to do in Casablanca Morocco often means using it as a launchpad for the surrounding region.
- Rabat (1 hour by train): Morocco’s capital offers a stunning Kasbah of the Udayas, the Hassan Tower, and the royal mausoleum — far less crowded than Marrakech’s equivalent sites
- El Jadida (1.5 hours south): A UNESCO-listed Portuguese fortress town with one of the most beautiful underground cisterns in North Africa
10. Experience Casablanca’s Nightlife and Café Culture
Casablanca Morocco has the most active nightlife scene in the country. The Maarif district and Gauthier neighborhood are packed with rooftop bars, live music venues, and modern cafés. Casablancans take their coffee culture seriously — an afternoon coffee at a terrace café is as important a ritual here as anywhere in Europe.
For a more local experience, join the evening paseo on Boulevard d’Anfa or settle into one of the French-style brasseries around Place de France. This side of Casablanca Morocco is what turns a two-day visit into a lifelong love affair with the city.
FAQ: What to Do in Casablanca, Morocco
Is Casablanca nicer than Marrakech?
It depends on what you’re looking for. Marrakech dazzles with its ancient medina, vibrant souks, and palace architecture — it’s the Morocco most tourists picture. Casablanca, on the other hand, is more cosmopolitan, relaxed, and authentically urban. It has better fine dining, a more diverse nightlife, and a sophistication that Marrakech’s tourist-heavy centre can’t always match. If you want postcard Morocco, go to Marrakech. If you want to experience how modern Moroccans actually live, Casablanca wins.
How to spend a day in Casablanca?
Start your morning at the Hassan II Mosque for a guided tour, then walk the Corniche for coffee with Atlantic views. Head to the Habous Quarter for lunch and a browse through the artisan shops, then spend the afternoon exploring the Art Deco architecture along Boulevard Mohammed V. End your day with fresh seafood at the fishing port and a sunset drink at a rooftop bar in the Maarif district. That’s one very full — and very rewarding — day in Casablanca Morocco.
Can females wear shorts in Morocco?
In Casablanca specifically, you’ll see local women wearing a wide range of clothing, and foreign tourists in shorts are generally not cause for concern in modern areas like the Corniche, Maarif, or Gauthier. That said, wearing knee-length or longer bottoms is advisable when visiting religious sites like the Hassan II Mosque or wandering through the medina, both out of respect and to avoid unwanted attention. A light scarf or linen trousers in your bag give you flexibility throughout the day.
Is $50 a lot in Morocco?
$50 USD (roughly 500 MAD) goes surprisingly far in Morocco. In Casablanca, it can comfortably cover a solid lunch and dinner for one, including drinks, a petit taxi ride across the city, entrance to a museum or two, and a coffee on the Corniche — with change to spare. Mid-range hotel rooms can be found from $40–70 per night. Budget travelers can get by on $30–40 a day; comfortable mid-range travel runs $60–100. By Western standards, Morocco remains very affordable.
Final Thoughts: Make Casablanca More Than a Layover
There’s a reason Moroccans are quietly proud of their biggest city. Casablanca Morocco moves at a different rhythm than the imperial cities — faster, more cosmopolitan, and more self-assured. What to do in Casablanca Morocco spans sacred architecture and sun-drenched beaches, candlelit medina alleys and buzzing rooftop bars, world-class mosques and cutting-edge contemporary art.
Give it two proper days, and you’ll leave wondering why no one told you about it sooner.
