You’re Going to Love Casablanca. Exploring the Area Casablanca is a wonderful place to spend a Moroccan vacation. The city may be famous for the 1942 film, but don’t expect dive bars and shoot-outs in modern Casablanca, although there’s plenty […]
You’re Going to Love Casablanca.
Exploring the Area
Casablanca is a wonderful place to spend a Moroccan vacation. The city may be famous for the 1942 film, but don’t expect dive bars and shoot-outs in modern Casablanca, although there’s plenty of glamor to be found in its restaurants, clubs, and cultural venues. Today’s Casablanca is Morocco’s largest city and a thriving industrial area. However, although it’s dazzlingly modern, there are plenty of ancient mosques and bazaars to explore as well. It’s the kind of city where you can laze around on Plage Ain Diab, visit one of the world’s largest mosques, before dining in style on the Corniche, watching the Atlantic waves crash into the rocks. Casablanca is a beautiful city, a beach destination, and a cultural hotspot all rolled into one.
When to Visit Casablanca
Temperatures in Casablanca tend to hit 70 degrees some time in early April, then stay warm until November, so any time in those months is ideal for beach lovers. However, mid-summer sees Ain Diab really filling up. Try April, when Jazzablanca lights up the cultural calendar and room rates should be comparatively low.
Where to Stay in Casablanca
Casablanca is full of high-quality luxury accommodation options. The main decision is whether you’d like to be near the beach or in the center of town. The Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche is a great option for those who need ocean views, while both the Novotel Casablanca City Center and the Hyatt Regency are reliable luxury hotels in the city center. Budget travelers might also want to look at the YHI Hostel, which offers reasonably priced dorm accommodation. Popular Neighborhoods in Casablanca: Ain Diab – Casablanca’s seafront neighborhood, Ain Diab stretches for miles along the Atlantic Coast. It’s the place to swim, play sports, snorkel, sunbathe, and surf, as well as a lively party destination, with many of the city’s best bars and clubs dotted along the Corniche. It’s also home to the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest in the world. The Old Medina – the heart of ancient and medieval Casablanca, the Old Medina is an area that is full of history. Inside the still extant city walls, you’ll discover craft markets, souvenir stores, street vendors selling delicious fried fish sandwiches, and much more. Racine – slightly south of the Corniche and the Medina, you’ll find Racine, probably Casablanca’s most upmarket neighborhood. This is where wealthy Moroccans come to see the latest creations at galleries like BURST, Galerie H, and So Art, and it’s also studded with luxury boutiques and restaurants.
Where to Eat in Casablanca
The choice of restaurants in Casablanca is dizzying, with a vast selection of different styles of food on offer. The first place to head is certainly Al-Mounia, with its beautifully tiled walls and selection of Moroccan favorites like tajine and couscous. Then, give La Bazenne a try, a slick modern French bistro. The stalls within the Marché Central are a great place to try small snacks and find a local dish that you adore. Expect restaurant meals to cost around Dhs 80 or less.
