Casablanca Travel Guide

The Hassan II Mosque is a grand, magnificent seaside mosque in Casablanca, with one of the world's tallest minarets, overlooking the Atlantic - the city's number-one sight. Built in the late 20th century, it is Morocco's grandest, largest mosque and among the world's largest. Its most striking feature is the roughly 200 m minaret - among the world's tallest - with a laser at night pointing to Mecca. Uniquely, part of it is built over the Atlantic, so worshippers pray above the sea. Its decoration - cedar carving, mosaic tilework, stucco and a retractable roof - is exquisite. One of the few Moroccan mosques open to non-Muslim visitors (with a guided tour at set times). Dress modestly and respect the faith.

La Corniche de Casablanca is the seaside promenade of Morocco's largest city. Stretching from the Hassan II Mosque to the Anfa district along the Atlantic, with open sea views on one side, luxury hotels and beach clubs on the other, and a spectacular sunset into the Atlantic, it is the most popular place for walking, jogging and socializing — the best spot to experience the modern, leisurely side of this white Moroccan metropolis. The promenade extends along Casablanca's northwest coast — from near the Hassan II Mosque north to Anfa, with Atlantic views and beach on one side, luxury hotels, beach clubs, restaurants and cafes on the other. It is the city's leisure core — morning joggers, evening families, night couples, each time with its own charm. At dusk, the sun sinks into the Atlantic with the Hassan II Mosque silhouetted against the golden sea — the promenade's most beautiful moment. Moroccan hammams, seawater pools and beach clubs are adjacent. Visiting to feel the leisure and sunset grandeur of a white metropolis on the Atlantic is a relaxed, pleasant seaside experience.

Place Mohammed V sits in the administrative heart of Casablanca and is one of the city's most iconic public squares. It is ringed by government buildings that blend French colonial and Moorish architecture, with a central fountain and flocks of pigeons — a popular spot for locals to relax and for visitors to take photos.

Casablanca's Ancienne Medina sits by the port, the oldest fabric of this modern metropolis. Souks, fish markets and alleys beside the mosque keep the Atlantic fishing-town flavour alive among the skyscrapers — the start to read Casablanca's past and present. At dawn the fish market buzzes; returning boats and calls bring the Atlantic's freshness right before your eyes.

Mohammed V Square is a grand, ornate central square in Casablanca, ringed by colonial-era buildings with a pretty fountain - grand and ornate, a vivid sight. At the city center, it is one of Casablanca's grandest, most open and important squares. Around it stand grand, ornate historic buildings - especially early-20th-century French colonial buildings blending European (French) Art Deco with Moroccan-Islamic (Moorish) decoration: elegant facades, arches and Moroccan patterns. At its center a large fountain (with musical fountain shows at night). Grand buildings, pretty fountain and open square make a grand, ornate urban scene, with flocks of pigeons.

Ain Diab Beach lies in the western part of Casablanca, Morocco's biggest city, running parallel to the Atlantic corniche (oceanfront promenade). It is Casablanca's liveliest seaside resort: a broad stretch of fine sand lined with beach clubs, seafood restaurants, cafés and nightlife, and a social hotspot where locals and tourists swim, stroll and watch the sunset. Note that the Atlantic currents can be strong and the shore is rocky in places, so swimming in a beach-club pool is the safer option.