2 days in Casablanca

Day by day

1. Day 1: Hassan II Mosque and Corniche Ain Diab

   Hassan II Mosque, Corniche Ain Diab, Old Medina and Sqala bastion, then Place Mohammed V in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Hassan II Mosque

      Guided tours for non-Muslims cover the prayer hall and the ablution rooms below.

   2. Late morning

      Corniche Ain Diab

      The Atlantic surf here is strong, and beach clubs offer pools as an alternative.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Grilled sardines

      Small grills around the port and Marché Central, and fish restaurants along the Corniche.

   4. Afternoon

      Old Medina

      Its ramparts, the restored Sqala bastion and the clock tower at Bab Marrakech are the main landmarks.

   5. Late afternoon

      Sqala bastion

      An 18th-century fortified bastion on the edge of the old medina, with cannons on the ramparts facing the port and a garden café-restaurant inside its walls serving Moroccan breakfasts and tagines.

   6. Evening

      Place Mohammed V

      Check the Grand Théâtre's programme for concerts and dance during your stay.

2. Day 2: Quartier Habous and Mahkama du Pacha

   Quartier Habous, Mahkama du Pacha, Art Deco downtown and Boulevard Mohammed V and Marché Central, then Ain Diab Corniche in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Quartier Habous

      The French-planned 'new medina' of the 1930s combines Moroccan forms with ordered streets: arcaded souqs for olives, books, brass, babouches and kaftans, a small mosque and some of the city's best-known traditional pastry shops.

   2. Late morning

      Mahkama du Pacha

      Visits are restricted and depend on its official use.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Oualidia oysters

      Seafood counters at Marché Central and Corniche fish restaurants.

   4. Afternoon

      Art Deco downtown and Boulevard Mohammed V

      Boulevard Mohammed V, Rue Tahar Sebti and the streets around the Marché Central are the richest, and the heritage association Casamémoire organises walks.

   5. Late afternoon

      Marché Central

      The early 20th-century central market on Boulevard Mohammed V sells fish, oysters, olives, flowers and produce around a courtyard, and the small restaurants along its edge will cook seafood bought from the stalls.

   6. Evening

      Ain Diab Corniche

      Beach clubs, lounges and nightclubs facing the ocean, busiest on Friday and Saturday nights.

Before you go

• Hassan II Mosque: Entry inside is by guided tour only; buy tickets at the site or online, and check tour times before you go, especially on Fridays.

If it rains

• Swap in Museum of Moroccan Judaism (Oasis): Take a taxi and call ahead or check with your hotel, as visiting arrangements can change.
• Swap in Abderrahman Slaoui Foundation Museum (Centre-Ville): A good indoor stop on a rainy afternoon downtown.
• Swap in Morocco Mall (Ain Diab and the Corniche): Useful with children on a hot or rainy day; combine with a walk along the Corniche.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 12–14 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.9 hours in December to 14.4 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Tram. Several tram lines connect the city centre, Casa-Voyageurs station, Maarif, the Corniche at Ain Diab and outlying districts.

More or fewer days

• One day in Casablanca
• 3 days in Casablanca

Questions travellers ask