Casablanca (map) may be the cosmopolitan, industrial and economic heart of Morocco, and its largest city, but it is one of the less endearing of the country’s sights.

With a small, unassuming medina and a traffic-congested ville nouvelle, travellers arriving via Casablanca may be tempted to find the first train out to nearby Rabat (map). The awe-inspiring Hassan II Mosque (map) and happening nightlife and architecture (mostly colonial times buildings), however, are worth at least a day of your Moroccan itinerary.

The modern city of Casablanca was founded by Berber fishermen in the 10th century BCE, and was used by the Phoenicians, Romans, and the Merenids as a strategic port called Anfa.

Other than that, Casablanca is like any other European city: the streets (mostly) have signs, and passersby are extremely helpful in French or Arabic and, more rarely, Spanish or English. The Medina can be hard to navigate, but it’s so small that no matter how blindly you wander into it, you’re never more than ten minutes from an exit.

King Hassan II Mosque (map). The largest mosque in Morocco and the third largest in the world. The 210 m high minaret is the tallest in the world. It opened in 1993, after six years of construction. It is one of the two main mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslims. Beautiful interior complete with water features, a roof that opens to the sky, a huge hammam in the basement (not in use), and beautiful tile work.

Old Medina (map). If you are in town it’s worth a visit, but it is nothing compared to the glories of *Fes or Marrakesh.

Casablanca is one of the least interesting places to shop in Morocco. Around the old Medina it’s easy to find places selling traditional Moroccan goods, such as tagines, pottery, leather goods, hookahs and a whole spectrum of knicknacks, but it’s all for the tourists. Much better to wait until you’re in Fes and can bargain with someone who sells things to both Moroccans and tourists.

Almost all of the things to see in Casablanca are in the north of the city; very few maps even show the southern end of this sprawling metropolis. Common sense will alleviate 99% of problems; try to look as little like a tourist as possible, do not flash large quantities of cash, and so on.

Casablanca is one of the two Moroccan cities with a tram. The first line opened in late 2012. Service runs from 05:30 to 22:30 with frequent trains (during the day, the interval seems to be shorter than 10 minutes). ⇒ Casa Tramway website

⇒ Also сheck оut мore info: GETTING AROUND MOROCCO (visitmorocco.com)

BUS: Luxury buses are the next best bet, with almost universal coverage, if somewhat odd departure times in some places. CTM, Supratours and some smaller companies provide good comfort with reasonable prices.

TRAIN: Trains are generally the best option because of their speed, frequency and comfort ⇒ ONCF.

AIRPORT: Major airlines that serve Morocco would most likely be landing at Casablanca / Mohammed V Int’l Airport

Play it again Sam, yes you can visit Rick’s Cafe and you can visit one of the most impressive Mosques in the world at Hassan II mosque. Casablanca is a modern city that travelers to Morocco may fly into or out of and it is worth a day or two of your time. This video goes over what to see and do in Casablanca. Information on accommodation and transportation in Casablanca and a lot more.

⇒ video source: Wolters World /youtube.com/

• City of Casablanca
• City of Marrakech
• Kasbah of the Udayas