Casablanca: The Most Visited Movie in the World

Casablanca is a beautiful coastal city in Northwestern Morocco that has a bit of a western feel to it without fully shaking off its cultural roots.  It’s the largest city in Morocco, and in the Maghreb region.  This is a must-see city with its beautiful architecture, beaches, the Hassan II Mosque, and the New Medina of Casablanca.

To get to Casablanca from Ifrane, Morocco it’s cheapest to take the bus.  The CTM Bus System, originally a French system, is the cleanest and quickest way to get to Casablanca.  It’s about a five hour bus trip and will cost around 125 MAD one way, which is equivalent to about $16 USD.  There are other bus systems that you can take out of Ifrane that are cheaper but don’t go straight to Casablanca.  These bus systems go to Fez first, and from there you have to find a bus or train to Casablanca.

El Hotel Central

There are no hostels in Morocco; however, most the hotels are very cheap in comparison to hotels in the United States.  They range between $20 and $45 USD for nice accommodations with bathrooms and central heating and even breakfast brought to your room if you’re willing to pay the extra amount.  As long as you book in advance, you should have no troubles finding accommodations in Morocco’s most vibrant and bustling city.

If on a budget, street food is the best option in Casablanca, especially around the Old Medina.  Outside the walls of the Old Medina are countless carts to grab food from; most of the food available isn’t most than 10MAD.  There are also several restaurants throughout the city that cater to a small budget at well including La Corrida, La Cocina, and Al Mounia, whch is famed with the best couscous in all of Morocco. 

When it comes to things to do in Casablanca, visiting the Hassan II Mosque is an absolute must.  It’s the third largest mosque in the world with the tallest minuret in the world.  It’s also only one of two mosques that is open to non-

Muslims in Morocco.  It costs about 120 MAD to enter the mosque or 60MAD if you are a student with your International Student ID Card (ISIC).  It’s a beautiful place with a roof that opens to the sky and has a beautiful interior.  The New Medina is also a fun place to visit while in Casablanca.  It’s a good place to try out your bartering skills.  Just remember to never buy anything at the asking price!  The

Mahkama du Pacha is yet another beautiful site within Casablanca.  If you enjoy Spanish and Moorish architecture, this is a must-see.  It’s free to enter, but impossible to get in unless you have a guide.  If you can find one, it’s worth going inside.

Getting around Casablanca is easy enough.  There is a tram that runs throughout the city.  A one-way ticket costs around 6MAD, but a re-fillable ticket that allows you on the tram ten times throughout the day only costs 1MAD.  When traveling in Morocco in general, especially women, it is best to look as inconspicuous as possible.  Dress modestly and don’t go out and walk around the streets alone at night.  It is also advisable to stay in the northern part of the city when traveling alone because that’s where most of the population is located. 

For weekend travel, it’s best to plan in advance, especially since the CTM doesn’t travel to Casablanca from Ifrane except once per day.  You might be better have taking a cheaper bus to Fez and then finding your way to Casablanca from there.  To do as much as possible, it would be best to leave as early as you can on Friday, and stay in Casablanca for two nights and come back on Sunday.  It all depends on the bus system/train system if you prefer the train.  Just remember, there is no train system in Ifrane, so you’d have to take it from Fez.