Casablanca: The Pulse of Modern-Day Morocco
Casablanca, the largest city of Morocco, is one of the most happening cities in the region. Morocco’s commercial capital and largest city, Casablanca is also the largest port in the region. Spanning multiple time zones, Casablanca is an eclectic urban mix that has both the best and the worst of Morocco in equal proportions. Casablanca tourist attractions aren’t many and it is very unlikely that the whole city cannot be covered in a day. Simply put, though Casablanca may not be blessed with many tourist attractions or heritage sights, it nevertheless is the pulse of modern-day Morocco.
Places to Visit in Casablanca
Casablanca, being a commercial capital, is relatively bare of tourist attractions. Nevertheless, it would be incorrect to say that the ciy can keep one occupied for quite some time. Some of the more prominent Casablanca tourist sights include
- Hassan II Mosque
- French-period New Town
- Parc de la Ligue Arabe
- Old Medina
- Cathédrale Sacré-Coeur (Catholic Cathedral)
- City Hall
- Lycée Lyautey
- Corniche
- Shrine of Sidi Abderrahman
- The many Turkish baths and bazaars and mosques
Casablanca: Travel tips, languages spoken, cuisine
Casablanca is very safe for tourists; nevertheless, it is advisable that certain rather necessary precautions be taken including avoiding certain areas after dark, keeping valuables out of sight, etc. Off late, however, Casablanca has witnessed multiple terrorist attacks on tourists. Casablanca is beautiful and the city is full of hidden alleys and walkways that can rightfully be confused with time warps. Casablanca is one of the most developed metropolises in the region. The city is vibrant and has a very good nightlife as it is home to a multitude of restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, bars, discos, etc. Casablanca is also home to many casinos, and has a very active music and theatre scene.
English and French will get you by in most cases; French, however, is deemed more in and more sophisticated. The local currency is Moroccan dirham (MAD). The local cuisine is rich and has its own unique and distinct flavour. What’s more, it freely is available at very affordable prices. Casablanca has a large number of eateries catering to all types of cuisines and suited to all types of budgets; it is also home to some of the country’s best and most prolific restaurants. Simply put, though Casablanca may not be blessed with many tourist attractions or heritage sights, it nevertheless is the pulse of modern day Morocco.
Best time to visit Casablanca
The best time to visit Casablanca is from January to April and from June to August.
Best way to reach Casablanca
- By Air: Casablanca is one of the region’s most important travel hubs, and is connected to most major destinations in the world via regular flights.
- By Rail: Casablanca is one of the major railway stations on the Moroccan rail network, and being a major commuter town, is a designated halt for many express and inter-city trains in the country.
- By Road: Casablanca is well connected to all national and regional destinations and popular attractions. Further, Casablanca is also one of the centres of Morocco’s road transport system and as such offers comfortable transport options for almost all of the nearby Morocco attractions. The road network within the city is rather excellent; nevertheless, the traffic is quite chaotic.
Accommodation
The Casablanca accommodation scene is very active and wide enough to cater to all budgets and needs. Casablanca is home of some of the finest hotels in the continent. Further, many local and international tour operators offer Casablanca vacation package tours. These tours cover most of the Casablanca tourist destinations, but do not carry the element of risk and adventure that going solo does. One might even miss out on the many hidden attractions and surprises Casablanca may hold.