What Travelers Say About Casablanca
Casablanca is Morocco’s largest city and economic powerhouse — a sprawling Atlantic port that feels far more modern and business-minded than the imperial cities of Fez or Marrakech. This is where Morocco does its banking, trading and dealmaking, and the skyline of glass towers, French-colonial Art Deco facades and the soaring Hassan II Mosque tells the story of a city built on commerce rather than tourism.
Most visitors pass through quickly, but Casablanca rewards those who linger. The Hassan II Mosque, the world’s third-largest, rises straight out of the ocean and is one of the few in Morocco open to non-Muslims on guided tours. The old medina is smaller and grittier than its famous cousins, while the seaside Corniche district offers a relaxed strip of cafes, beach clubs and seafood restaurants facing the Atlantic.
The city is generally safe and easy to navigate, with a modern tramway and plenty of petits taxis. It lacks the postcard charm of Morocco’s tourist hubs, but offers an honest, working-city look at how modern Moroccans actually live — and the food, from grilled sardines to French-Moroccan fusion, is excellent.