Things to Do in Casablanca

All too often overshadowed by the magnificence of the Hassan II Mosque, the Notre Dame de Lourdes Cathedral is an important center of worship for Morocco’s Roman Catholic population and serves as a striking example of Casablanca’s modern architecture.

Built in 1954 by architect Achille Dangleterre, the cathedral’s imposing white concrete façade looks more like a warehouse than a church and a simple white cross is the only hint to its purpose. Step inside however, and the cathedral’s popularity becomes obvious – a dazzling kaleidoscope of floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows. Painstakingly crafted by French glassmaker Gabriel Loire, the masterpiece includes an incredible 800 square meters of glass and many visitors to the church come solely to admire its artistry.

A hike through the picturesque Todgha Gorge offers travelers spectacular valley views of the sheer red rock faces Morocco is famous for. Visitors can navigate the picturesque canyon where the final 600 meters offer intrepid trekkers a narrow pass between towering stone walls that is truly awe inspiring. 

In addition to easy hiking trails options ranging from the mostly dry riverbed to the easy paved road, travelers will find more than 150 well-marked rock climbing routes bolted into the mountain side, making Todgha Gorge one of the nation’s premier destinations for those looking for a scramble that’s strictly vertical.

Marking the boundary between the historic Old Medina and the new town built during the 20th century French rule, United Nations Square is not only one of Casablanca’s busiest public squares, but one of its most important navigational landmarks, fed by many of the city’s principal boulevards. Laid out in 1920 by Joseph Marrast, the former marketplace was initially dubbed La Place de France and along with the nearby Mohamed V Square, forms the nucleus of the modern city center, now linked by the a new tramway.

Despite being encircled by a glut of bank headquarters and office blocks, the square is still an elegant example of urban town planning, with its neat gardens set around a striking central fountain. Additional landmarks of the square include the futuristic Zevaco-designed cupola that frames the underpass, the swish Hyatt Regency hotel and the Anglican Church of St John.

Found in the north of the city between the port and the majestic seafront Hassan II Mosque, the Old Medina of Casablanca contains the last vestige of pre-20th century Casablanca. Up until the French took over in 1907, the coastal city was defined by this small area, encircled by defense walls and presided over by the Portuguese-built Borj Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah fort. Today, the modern city has grown out in all directions but the historic quarter remains, still surrounded by the remnants of its city walls and 18th century fort.

Today, the maze of narrow alleyways that trace the Old Medina are home to a sprawling souk,  selling everything from linens, brass-work and leather goods to traditional handicrafts, jewelry, food and spices. In stark contrast to the elegant squares and grandiose architecture of the modern town, strolling around the Old Medina is like stepping back in time, where you can rummage for goods among the ramshackle stalls and haggle for bargains while sipping sweet mint tea with the friendly merchants.

In the southeastern part of the city, Casablanca’s New Medina or Habous Quarter (Quartier Habous) was laid out in the 1920s by the French and remains one of the most atmospheric districts. Characterized by its small tree-lined squares, neat alleyways and elegant arcades, strolling around the Habous unveils a curious mix of French colonial buildings and traditional Maghrebi architecture, dotted with small souks selling Moroccan handicrafts and leather goods.

A key destination for those undertaking a walking tour of the city, the Habous Quarter is bordered by the Boulevard Victor Hugo and includes highlights like the elaborate Royal Palace of Casablanca and the Mahakma of the Pasha (the courthouse of the Pasha), which dates back to the 1950s and is renowned for its Hispano-Moorish design. Other noteworthy buildings include the Mohammed V Mosque and Moulay Youssef Mosque.

A masterpiece of Islamic architecture, surrounded by picturesque orange groves and elaborate water features, the Royal Palace of Casablanca is a suitably grand royal abode. Located in the Habous district of the city’s New Medina, this is the King’s principal Casablancan residence and host to a number of important events and royal receptions.

The palace grounds, as with most Moroccan royal residences, are closed to the public, but that doesn’t stop it from being a popular attraction on city tours. If you’re lucky enough to peek through the ornate gates, you might catch a glimpse of the spectacular façade, flanked by a team of uniformed royal guards.

With its scenic promenade bordering the western seafront of Casablanca and a cluster of stylish hotels and beach resorts, the Ain Diab Corniche is one of the city’s most fashionable districts. The coastal suburb is traversed by the 3km-long Corniche Boulevard, which stretches from the magnificent Hassan II mosque in the east to the landmark El-Hank Lighthouse in the west, offering expansive views along the Atlantic. At the western tip of the Corniche, the mausoleum and shrine of Sidi Aberrahman is one of the area’s principal attractions, an important place of Muslim pilgrimage, perched on a cliff-top and only accessible at low tide.

On summer days, locals flock to the beaches of the Ain Diab Resort, which is lined with beach clubs and swimming pools, but the real draw comes after dark, when the nightclubs and restaurants open up along the boardwalk and the Corniche becomes a central hub of Casablanca’s nightlife.

Stretching along the high Jebel Zerhoun plateau in northern Morocco and blooming with wildflowers throughout the summer months, the Roman ruins of Volubilis are a striking sight. Renowned as the best-preserved ruins in Northern Africa, the archaeological site offers a unique glimpse into ancient Morocco and makes a popular day trip from nearby Meknes or Fez.

Initially founded as a Carthaginian settlement in the 3rd century B.C., Volubilis became an important Roman town from around 25 BC and later, the administrative center of the province of Mauretania Tingitana, producing and exporting commodities like grain and olive oil to Rome. Today, the ruins are conserved as a UNESCO World Heritage site and feature the ruins of a series of houses, temples, olive mills and public buildings, surrounded by the remnants of the city defense walls. The most notable highlights include the beautifully preserved Triumphal Arch of Caracalla, built to commemorate the death of the Roman Emperor in 217 AD and a series of exquisite mosaics preserved in situ.

With its regal cliff-top perch overlooking the ocean and a soaring 210-meter high minaret (the world’s highest) that shines a beam toward Mecca during the evening hours, everything about the Hassan II Mosque is grandiose. The magnificent mosque is among the largest in the world, with space for up to 100,000 worshippers.

 

No visit to Casablanca is complete without a stop at the Hassan II Mosque. It’s also a popular part of sightseeing tours and shore excursions, often alongside other Casablanca attractions such as the Royal Palace, Central Market, and Ain Diab Corniche. Many full-day tours from Casablanca or Marrakech combine a city tour with a visit to the Moroccan capital of Rabat. The mosque grounds and prayer halls are open to non-Muslims by guided tour only.

 

 

The Hassan II Mosque is located along the seafront Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah Boulevard, about 10 minutes via taxi from the city center. 

 

The mosque’s seafront location makes it a stunning photo opportunity, and the best light can be found at sunrise and sunset. A nighttime visit is equally impressive, when the mosque is dramatically floodlit. It’s best to avoid visiting during prayer times, when the mosque can be crowded with worshippers, but multiple tours are held daily, with fewer tours available on Friday.

Built to commemorate the 60th birthday of Moroccan King Hassan II, the mosque was designed by French architect Michel Pinseau and was completed in 1993. Hand-carved ceilings, elaborate tilework, marble floors, and Venetian stained-glass windows are complemented by high-tech conveniences like heated floors and a retractable roof. Inspired by a Quranic verse about God's throne being built upon water, the seafront mosque features a glass-floored terrace that reveals the sea washing over rocks below.

Along with the neighboring United Nations Square to the north, the Mohammed V Square forms the central hub of Casablanca’s new town and is home to some of the city’s most striking architecture. Laid out in the early 20th century and named in honor of the former Sultan, the large square centers around a monumental fountain, dramatically lit up in the evening hours, and is buzzing with activity day and night.

Many of Casablanca’s most important administrative buildings can be found on Mohammed V square, reflecting the Mauresque and Art Deco style architecture popularized during the French colonial period. Architect Henri Prost is the brains behind many of the most outstanding buildings, with highlights including the French Consulate, the Bank of Morocco, the Court of Justice, and the Post Office.

These massive dunes formed by golden wind-blown sand offer visitors an iconic taste of the Sahara’s constantly changing landscape. Spanning more than 50 kilometers near the border of Algeria, these towering shape shifters prove a destination for locals and tourists alike. While nearby Merzouga is considered the tourist center of this area, it’s the overnight journeys—either by foot, camel or 4x4—into the desert that provide visitors to Erg Chebbi with the quintessential Moroccan escape.

A winding strip of blacktop known by locals as the “Road of a Thousand Kasbahs” leads to the famous Dadès Gorge in the beautiful countryside of Morocco. This scenic drive is lined with hundreds of Islamic cities, fortresses, palm trees and desert sands, which make it one of the most epic roads in the country, but traveler say it’s the rolling red hills of the Dadès Gorge that are truly worth the trip. 

After navigating switchbacks by car, visitors can wander the quiet trails of this scenic destination on foot and enjoy a steaming cup of Moroccan mint tea at the top of the gorge. Breathtaking vistas and uninterrupted views of rolling read rocks make for a memorable resting place and quiet escape before embarking on a return trip to the city.