Casablanca Travel Guide

Introduction

The city may conjure up images of a romantic and exotic paradise, especially after the success of the film with the same name starring Humphrey Bogart; however, the reality is somewhat disappointing as Casablanca lacks the culture found in other Moroccan cities.

Casablanca still has several attractions that are worth seeing and some interesting architecture and mosques. It is a lively city and the young population are fashion conscious and less restrained than in other parts of Morocco. There are some beaches in the nearby area, albeit unspectacular, and the nightlife is fun and varied. The downside of the urban development in recent years is the increase in crime and prostitution. It is still however, an atmospheric place and worthy of a visit.

A trip through the city centre will reveal Casablanca’s colonial past and, although some of the buildings have fallen into disrepair, there are some interesting sights such as the Church of Notre-Dame de Lourdes and the Cathedral of Sacre Coeur. Place Mohamed V has a number of examples of French colonial architecture, and the old medina is also worth exploring.

Casablanca makes a good base from which to explore other nearby areas such as Azemmour, located to the south of the city. The coastal town sits on the banks of the Oum er-Rbia, Morocco's largest river, and doesn't receive many visitors. If you continue farther south, you arrive at El Jadida, with its impressive fortifications and beautiful beaches.

The country has a reasonable train network and there are regular services to Marrakech and El Jadida in the south, and to Rabat, Tangier, Meknes, Fez and Oujda. Several companies operate buses to destinations throughout Morocco, the most comfortable being CTM, the national bus company. A ferry service runs from Spain to Morocco, with the principal crossing being Algeciras to Tangier.