Admiring the Local Seacoast of Casablanca, Morocco

Hidden Travel Gems of Casablanca City Morocco

From Casablanca to the Sahara: A Unique Morocco Vacation.

By Taylor Fuller | Published on December 1, 2021

The streets are bustling. The call to prayer echoes through the city. Your gaze shifts from one tall, beautiful Moorish-style building to another. People are bargaining in the souks. The smell of spices permeates your whole body. Welcome to Casablanca, Morocco.

While many people often give Casablanca city a miss, instead choosing to head straight to Marrakesh or Fez, this Moroccan city is a hidden gem. It's more modern than other popular tourist cities in Morocco, but that doesn't mean it's without any charm. In fact, this bustling city is the industrial epicenter of the country. It has the largest international airport and is the hub of trade, making it a place that can't be missed. Plus, it was the backdrop that inspired Humphrey Bogart's "Casablanca," so "Here's looking at you, kid ... " and let's get exploring.

Where to Start your Vacation in Casablanca, Morocco?

Travel to see the Historic Architecture of Casablanca City

The great thing about taking a Morocco vacation is that it will spark all of your senses. Morocco is the kind of place you remember because of the vivid colors, smells, and sounds. And in Casablanca, your senses will be on full alert. But where do you start?.

You simply can't walk through Casablanca without admiring the historic art deco wonders. You'll feel as if you've stepped back in time with each street you pass. Take a stroll down Boulevard Mohammed V, which will lead you to Place des Nations Unies, a bustling square filled with restaurants and shops.

The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco

From there it's time to wander toward the Sacré-Coeur Cathedral, which is no longer a functioning church but instead a culture center. It was built by the French architect Paul Tournon in the 1930s and now houses exhibitions. If stunning architecture and history are your things, then you should begin at the Hassan II Mosque. It's the most obvious choice because you literally can't miss it — it stands tall, looming over the Medina along the coastline. It's the second-largest mosque in Africa and has the world's tallest miranet. Thousands of people visit the mosque to pray every day, and it can fit 25,000 worshipers inside and an additional 80,000 in the courtyard. If you're not Muslim, you can still visit on a guided tour. The tours happen several times a day giving you the opportunity to explore this gorgeous piece of architecture with its intricately designed facade.

Haggle in the Souks’ Markets of Morocco

Visit the Souks Market in Morocco near Casablanca City

As you stroll through the souks, inhaling the blend of tangy spices and fresh mint, the earthy smell of dried fruits and olives, and the perfume of fresh flowers, you'll find the old Medina is Casablanca at its most authentic. The art of haggling is practiced here, and the Maarif Market is a great place to learn a thing or two from watching the locals shop. Trying your hand at haggling can be overwhelming at first, but just be confident, kind, and humorous, as Moroccans enjoy the game of bargaining — soon you'll have a rapport with the vendors.

Outside of the medina, the Soco de Moina is a large flea market you could lose hours in sifting through secondhand goods for the perfect unique souvenir to take home with you. And if you're looking for a more traditional souvenir, you can visit the Exposition Nationale d'Artisanat. It's not really a market but it's a great place to find leather goods, handmade rugs, textiles, tea sets and more.

Recreate Casablanca the Movie at Rick's Cafe

A trip to Casablanca would not be complete without a visit to Rick's Cafe. The fictional cafe from the movie "Casablanca" was recreated in 2004 by super fans of the movie. The recreated cafe is not quite a smoke-filled gin joint — instead, you'll find an upscale restaurant with a long seafood menu. Filled with palm trees, chandeliers, and even a baby grand piano, it will make you feel as if you've stepped into the silver screen. You may just expect Sam to start playing a tune.

Seafood Pastilla Served as a Popular Dish in Morocco

Sampling the Local Moroccan Foods & Restaurants

The amazing thing about Casablanca is that it is truly a melting pot of culture. And that means one thing: good food. With a mix of Spanish-inspired dishes, Moroccan classics like tagine, and fresh seafood, you're spoiled for choice.

Couscous is a traditional North African dish, and here you'll have the best couscous you've ever tasted, made with at least seven vegetables and seasoned with Moroccan spices. If you want to take advantage of being on the coast, you'll enjoy seafood pastilla, which is made with nuts, spices, shrimp, white fish and calamari; a favorite for many at the restaurant Le Foundouk. Locals would have the pastilla paired with vermicelli noodles that have been cooked in garlic, tomato sauce, and cheese, before wrapping it in a pastry called warka with the finish being to bake to a crisp.

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As you wander the iconic streets of Casablanca, you can't miss the snail soup sold by street vendors. Each stall sells a slightly different variation of the dish, but don't ask for their secret, as each vendor guards their recipe with their lives. You might be puzzled by why you're given a toothpick with a bowl of soup so here's an insider tip: Use the toothpick to pluck the meat from the shells, then sip on the broth — the real star of this.

Pop into a local shop to finish off your foodie fix with some dessert: a Moroccan delicacy called zaazaas. Similar to a parfait, zaazaa is a layered dessert with banana, raib (yogurt), chopped nuts, avocados, dates, sugar, and milk.

Preparing for the Sahara Desert while on Vacation

Visiting the Sahara Desert near Casablanca City, Morocco

A lot of people immediately think of the Sahara when planning a Morocco vacation, but if your trip begins and ends in Casablanca, it may be tough to visit the desert. However, if you're planning a longer trip, you can definitely add a stop in the desert as you make your way through the country. The beauty of visiting Morocco is you can have a truly unique experience in every part of the country.

Taking a Camel Ride to Trek through the Sahara Desert, Morocco

The best way to hit all of the major cities like Fez, Rabat, Chefchaouen, and Marrakesh is to take an organized tour over several days. You'll journey through the Atlas Mountains and visit the small village of Merzouga on the way to the Sahara. Getting to the ancient Sahara desert may take some planning, and you definitely do not want to go in the summer months, but once there, you'll find luxury campground resorts and spa offerings to wind down, and camel rides and sand surfing lessons for a bit of adventure. At night, the sky puts on a magical show as it lights up with stars. As you look up at the stars, you'll realize there's truly no other place on earth like Morocco.

Take a Sahara Desert Night Tour while in Morocco

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