Morocco's largest city CASABLANCA
Thanks to Casablanca’s climate, the city is the perfect destination for a holiday all year round. It is a city of contrast and a must on any itinerary for Morocco, and being the economic capital of the country, visiting Casablanca is a truly enriching experience. Visitors can stroll through the Old Medina (old city) and move on to the Mohammed V square which is a majestically built complex around a fountain, and where the strong influence of French and Moorish architecture come together.
Holidaymakers will equally be wowed by the Royal Palace and the famous Hassan II mosque, the second largest in the world after Mecca which features stunning architecture and craftsmanship. For the more tranquil experience, there are sandy beaches and open green spaces lined with palm trees, as well as arcades, pergolas and cafes where tourists can unwind and watch the world go by. For the more active, there is a whole host of activities, whether its golf, horse riding or sailing. Transportation links are also good for those wishing to explore other areas of Morocco including Fes, Rabat and Marrakesh. Casablanca is a real gem of North Africa and a city which offers the perfect blend of culture and relaxation.
Holidaymakers will equally be wowed by the Royal Palace and the famous Hassan II mosque, the second largest in the world after Mecca which features stunning architecture and craftsmanship. For the more tranquil experience, there are sandy beaches and open green spaces lined with palm trees, as well as arcades, pergolas and cafes where tourists can unwind and watch the world go by. For the more active, there is a whole host of activities, whether its golf, horse riding or sailing. Transportation links are also good for those wishing to explore other areas of Morocco including Fes, Rabat and Marrakesh. Casablanca is a real gem of North Africa and a city which offers the perfect blend of culture and relaxation.
Geography of Casablanca, Morocco
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, North Africa and is located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. It is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port, whilst also being the sixth biggest city in the entire continent of Africa.
Casablanca has a mild Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers, and mild, rainy winters, which is strongly influenced by the cool currents of the Atlantic Ocean. This tends to moderate temperature swings and produce a remarkably mild climate with little seasonal temperature variation and a lack of extreme heat and cold weather.
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Population of Casablanca, Morocco
The city itself boasts a surface area of 324 square kilometers (125.1 square miles) and hosts a population of over 3.5 million people in the city itself and 6.5 million including the surrounding areas.
History of Casablanca, Morocco
The area where Casablanca stands today was first populated by Berbers in around the 7th century. A small independent kingdom, in the area then named Anfa, emerged as a result of Arab Muslim rule, and continued until it was conquered by the Almoravids in 1068. During the 14th century, thanks to the Merinids, Anfa rose in importance as a port, and in the early 15th century, it became an independent state once again, and emerged as a safe harbour for pirates and privateers, leading to it being targeted by the Portuguese, who destroyed the town in 1468.
The Portuguese used the ruins of Anfa to build a military fortress in 1515, and the town which was created around it was named "Casa Branca", meaning "White House" in Portuguese. From 1580 to 1640, Casa Blanca was part of Spain, but was later regained by Portugal. The European Colonists eventually abandoned the area completely in 1755 following an earthquake which destroyed most of the town. It was later rebuilt by sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah who named the town ad-DÄ
Main Facts
Geographical
Location
Location
Casablanca is located 95 kilometres (59 miles) southwest of the Morrocan capital, Rabat.
Land/Sea Boundaries
Casablanca is situated on Morocco's northern Atlantic coast.
Languages
Arabic is the principal language spoken in Casablanca.
Currency
The only currency used in Casablanca is the Dirham (DH) divided into 100 centimes.
Main Sights in Casablanca, Morocco
Thanks to the Casablanca’s rich heritage and spectacular architecture, there is plenty to do in the city, and there is also little chance of visitors being stuck for something to do.
The Hassan II Mosque
The Hassan II mosque is a must see attraction during any visit to Casablanca, and is the largest building of its kind outside Mecca thanks to its surface area of 9 hectares (22 acres). Standing right next to the Atlantic, construction started in 1980 and was opened to worshippers in 1993, and has enough space to house 2,500 people inside the mosque and another 80,000 in its courtyard. The minaret is the world’s tallest, standing 200m (656ft) high while two laser beams stretch 30 kilometres (18.5 miles) towards Mecca. Admission is free of charge and there are hour-long guided tours of the mosque throughout the day for male non-Muslim visitors which cost around 100 DH.
Old Medina (Ancienne Medina)
The old city of Casablanca (Old Medina or Ancienne Medina) is located between Boulevard des Almohades and place Mohammed V. Two of the gates of the old town walls still survive in the Old Medina, whose attractions include an 18th-century fortress, a jewellery market and the tomb of Sidi Allal el-Kairouani, who became the city’s patron saint in 1350.
New Medina (Nouvelle Medina)
This new medina was built according to the traditional model and is in the south of the city in the Habous
neighbourhood. You will have a pleasant time admiring its little squares, arcades and numerous craft shops. The
mahkama (courthouse) of the Pasha is to be seen here too. This Hispano-Moorish style building, built entirely of marble
and wood, has 60 rooms and was used as a courtroom and as a reception room by the ancient Pasha of Casablanca.
Place Mohammed V (formerly Place des Nations Allies)
Known as Place de France in 1920, then renamed as Place des Nations Allies following the second war, and later called Place Mohammed V, this imposing square is at the heart of Casablanca. Its arcades are lined with bustling cafés and souvenir shops, and are well worth the visit for any visitor.
Local Travel Info
Internal flights and major international airports for Casablanca
Casablanca Mohammed V Airport is located 30 kilometres (19 miles) south of Casablanca’s city centre. The airport serves both internal flights to other Morrocan cities including Marrakech, Agadir, Essaouira, Ouarzazate, Fez and Oujda, and also receives flights from a large range of international destinations. The airport was visited by over 6,212,226 passengers in 2008 and houses three main terminals. Transport links to the city of Casablanca are very good and there is both a long and short-term car park with 1,600 spaces outside departures and a long and short-term car park with 880 spaces outside of the arrivals area.
Getting to and from the airport for Casablanca
Travel costs
Holidaymakers have a choice of transport to get to Casablanca’s city centre. A shuttle train service operates between 06:50 until 22:50 every day from the airport’s arrival hall to Casablanca’s port and city centre which takes around 45 minutes. Visitors can change at Aïn Sebaa for connections to the four main railway stations. The train station is located on level – 1, in the arrivals area.
There is also the option of taking a shuttle bus which runs between the airport and the CTM (coach) terminal. The journey time is around one hour and there are 12 buses a day between 07:30 and 00:30.
For those wishing to take a taxi into town, with a journey time of around 30 minutes, visitors have the option of a standard taxi or can travel in one of the grands taxis (which takes up to six passengers on a pre-planned route) and is a cheaper alternative to a regular cab which costs between 200 to 250 DH. It is recommended that visitors agree the fare with the driver before setting off.
Car Hire in Casablanca
Hiring a car in Casablanca offers maximum freedom when seeing what the city of Casablanca and the surrounding has to offer. On arrival to the airport, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, National, Sixt and Thrifty are all represented, as well as several local operators, and is therefore worth shopping around before making a reservation. See our Cheap Car hire section for bargain deals and special offers on car rental in Casablanca.Air conditioning is a must due to the hot climate in Casablanca.
It is worth taking into consideration that accident rates are high and driving in town can be manic but in the open country, the roads are generally well surfaced, well engineered and tend to be more empty than city roads. An off-road (4WD) vehicle is recommended for driving on unpaved, tracks that access remote mountains and desert areas. It is recommended that visitors keep their fuel tanks as full as possible, as petrol stations outside of Casablanca can be few and far between.
Speed traps are plentiful and are also well hidden. They are located on all major highways and inside large cities, and visitors should therefore adhere to the correct speed limits at all times.
Drivers licenses requirements?
The minimum age for driving in Morocco, including Casablanca, is 21, and a valid driving licence and passport must be carried at all times when in the vehicle. An International Drivers Permit is not required.
Rules
Visitors should drive on the right hand side of the road at all times. The speed limit on motorways outside of towns is 100 km/h (62 mph). The speed limit in urban areas is only 50 km/h. When driving, the use of seatbelts is compulsory for all drivers and all passengers, either in front or at the back.
Vehicle lights should be on when driving, even during the day. It is only acceptable to turn them off when driving at a speed of 20 km/h. In hours of darkness, lights should be turned on at all times, even if driving at very slow speeds. Holidaymakers should never drink and drive.
Casablanca by bus
Casablanca has an extensive network of inexpensive bus routes but rush hour services are usually overcrowded and chaotic. Tickets are purchased on board and it is advised that visitors carry some small change. As bus signage is in Arabic only, things can get confusing, and therefore it is worth asking a native to write destinations on a piece of paper in Arabic.
For more long distance coach journeys, part of the international Eurolines network, the formerly state-owned national operator CTM and a number of private companies offer services linking Casablanca with destinations throughout the country.
Casablanca by taxi
Registered taxis in Casablanca are blue in colour, and are known as petits taxis (small taxis). Those which are white in colour are known as grands taxis (big taxis). As is standard Moroccan practice, petits taxis, typically small-four door Fiat Uno or similar cars, provide a metered cab service in central metropolitan areas. Grands taxis, generally older Mercedes-Benz saloon cars, provide a shared mini-bus like service within the city or for pre-defined routes. Grands Taxis may also be hired for private service by the hour or day, although typically it is only foreign visitors which may choose to do so. Expect to pay around 1.83 DH per kilometre (0.62 miles), and it is recommended that holidaymakers agree the fare with the driver before setting off. A 50% surcharge is added to the fare for hours of darkness.
Casablanca by train
The city of Casablanca has two train stations which are operated by the national rail service or the ONCF. The main long haul station is Casa-Voyageurs, from which trains run south to Marrakech or El Jadida and north to Rabat, and then on either to Tangier or Meknes, Fes, Taza and Oujda. The shuttle from Mohammed V International Airport also stops at this station.
Casa-Port, the second railway station, is primarily for the commuter trains running along the Casablanca to Kenitra corridor, with some connecting trains to Gare de Casa-Voyageurs.
Hitchhiking in Casablanca
Hitchhiking in Morocco is allowed and provides the opportunity to experience the country’s cultural richness and diversity in a way unavailable to tourists who travel by more conventional means. Many people will not want payment, but it can be hard to avoid the interest of grand taxis (who will definitely want payment). Some Moroccans stick out their index finger instead of their thumb like in other countries which indicates that a person is willing to pay for the ride. It is recommended that those wanting to try this form of transport should carry a big bottle of water, and wear a hat due to the hot temperatures.
