Activities in Casablanca

1. What to do in Casablanca

**The Hassan II Mosque.** The mosque stands on the Atlantic coast, north-west of the centre. Completed in 1993, it is known for its 210-metre minaret and for a prayer hall partly built over the ocean. It is one of the few mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslim visitors, and the interior can only be seen on an official guided tour, outside prayer times. The mosque is still an active place of worship: the outside esplanade is open to walk around, while interior visits follow the guided-tour schedule, which changes with the season and the religious calendar. Check times and ticket prices at the ticket office before going.

**The centre and its 1930s architecture.** Mohammed V Square, with its administrative buildings, central post office and law courts, shows the architecture of the centre built under the French protectorate, mixing Art Deco lines with Moroccan motifs. Boulevard Mohammed V and the streets around United Nations Square are walked on foot, looking up at facades, building entrances and old cinemas. The Sacred Heart Cathedral, built in 1930 by the architect Paul Tournon, stands west of Arab League Park. It is a former church, no longer used for worship since 1956; it is seen from the outside, from Arab League Park.

**The medina and the Habous quarter.** The old medina, near the port, is walked on foot through narrow lanes, with shops selling leather, spices and fresh produce. The Habous quarter, also called the new medina, was built in the 1920s and 1930s with arcades, wider streets and souks grouped by trade: leather, wood, ceramics, spices and olives. The Mahkama du Pacha, the quarter's administrative building, is seen from the outside. Habous pastry shops sell gazelle horns and other Moroccan pastries, and the cafés serve mint tea.

**The central market and food.** The Marché Central, in the centre, sells fresh fish, fruit, vegetables and olives, and several stalls cook fish on the spot. It is a market used by the people of Casablanca, not a market built for visitors. For eating, the centre and the Corniche offer grilled-fish restaurants, cafés and pastry shops, with no prices given here.

**The Corniche and Ain Diab.** The Corniche is the seafront promenade in the Ain Diab quarter, west of the centre, lined with beaches, beach clubs, cafés and restaurants. People walk and run there, and watch the sun set over the Atlantic. Ain Diab's beaches are sandy beaches where you can swim and learn to surf: several surf schools are based there, and the Atlantic swell is regular. The Atlantic water stays cool, even in summer, and currents can be strong: swim in supervised areas. South of the Corniche stands Morocco Mall, a large shopping centre.

**Museums.** The Villa des Arts, in a 1934 Art Deco villa near Arab League Park, shows temporary exhibitions by Moroccan and foreign artists, which change during the year. The Museum of Moroccan Judaism, in the Oasis quarter, opened in 1997 in a former children's home, traces the history of the Jews of Morocco through ritual objects, clothing, photographs and a reconstructed synagogue. Its sources present it as the only Jewish museum in the Arab world. The Abderrahmane Slaoui Museum, in a 1940s villa, shows a collection of old posters, jewellery and Moroccan decorative objects.

**A café inspired by a film.** Rick's Café, in an old house near the medina, is a café-restaurant recreated after the 1942 film "Casablanca", with a piano and 1930s decoration. The film itself was not shot in Casablanca: the café pays tribute to the film, it is not its original set.

2. Seasonal notes

Casablanca has a mild Atlantic climate. The guides consulted agree on this: spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons for walking in the city, visiting the medina and the centre, with mild temperatures and an ocean breeze that softens the heat. Summer is the beach season at Ain Diab: it is when the Corniche's beach clubs and restaurants are busiest, but the Atlantic water stays cool and a west wind often picks up in the afternoon. Winter is mild and wetter, with most of the rain falling between November and March: it is a good season for museums, covered markets and guided visits, and a poor season for swimming. The dates of Ramadan and religious holidays change every year with the Islamic calendar: during Ramadan, the hours of some places and restaurants change, and guided visits to the Hassan II Mosque are reduced.

3. Practical notes

• **Check before going.** Opening hours, ticket prices and opening days of museums, the mosque and exhibition venues change. Check with the place itself on the day of the visit, and do not rely on hours found in an old guide.
• **At the Hassan II Mosque.** The interior can only be seen on an official guided tour. Wear clothing that covers shoulders and knees, and respect prayer times, during which visits stop.
• **At the beach.** The Atlantic at Ain Diab has strong currents. Swim in supervised areas, and ask about sea conditions before a surf lesson or a paddleboard outing.
• **On foot and around the city.** The centre, the medina and Habous are visited on foot, in comfortable shoes. The Corniche is long: plan the way back, on foot or by taxi, before heading south.
• **Bargaining and paying.** In the souks of the medina and Habous, prices are discussed. In museums and centre shops, prices are marked. This page gives no prices, because prices change and the sources consulted disagree on several tariffs.
• **This page is general information.** It is not a listing, and it checks no seller, organiser or place in particular.