Casablanca is Morocco's biggest and most business-like city: less postcard exotica than Marrakech, but it has the ocean, the Hassan II Mosque built out over the water, an old medina and a whole Art Deco centre. Five of these places are from my saved list, each with a short note of mine, and those notes appear below in my own words. I added three more — the mosque, the Abderrahman Slaoui museum and the park — recommended by 34travel, Fodor's and other city guides, and checked each on Google: open, rated 4.2 or higher, more than a hundred reviews. Later I added the Villa des Arts gallery in an Art Deco villa too. Descriptions of the added places are compiled from Google Maps reviews.
Prices are Google's average spend per person, tickets are from reviews; valid as of 7 October 2026. Rate: 1 MAD ≈ $0.10.
In short
- The one must-see: the Hassan II Mosque on the ocean — inside only on a guided tour at set times, but the plaza around it is open to everyone and best at sunset.
- Free: the stained glass of Notre-Dame de Lourdes, the Arab League Park, shows at the Villa des Arts and a wander through the market at Bab Marrakech.
- Art Deco: the closed Rialto cinema from outside, and the private Abderrahman Slaoui museum in a villa, open Tuesday to Saturday.
- By the ocean: Morocco Mall in Aïn Diab with its seafront promenade, and the صخرة أمرير rocks.
The medina and Hassan II
Hassan II Mosque
seafront · mosque · tour about 140 MAD (≈$14), plaza free · inside only at tour times (schedule on the website)
Google Maps · website · Bd Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah
According to Google Maps reviews (4.7 from 31,000+): a vast mosque from 1993, built right out over the ocean, with a 210-metre minaret. Non-Muslims go inside only on a tour at set times, led by mosque staff in several languages; reviews put the ticket at about 140 MAD, museum included. The marble floors, giant chandeliers and carving impress nearly everyone. At sunset you can walk onto the plaza without a ticket: locals stroll, the call to prayer sounds, and then the lights all come on at once. 34travel recommends it too (article).
Bab Marrakech Flea market
Ancienne Médina · market · daily 9:30–21:00, Sun 9:00–20:30
Google Maps · by the Bab Marrakech gate
A genuinely local market area. According to Google Maps reviews (4.2 from 1,200+): a market by the old Bab Marrakech gate near Place des Nations Unies — sportswear, leather, clothes, spices and plenty of cheap fakes, with little cafés between the stalls. Haggle, and take your time; reviewers say the sellers aren't pushy.
The centre: Art Deco, stained glass and a park
Church of Notre Dame of Lourdes
Les Hôpitaux · Catholic church · free · daily 8:30–19:00
Google Maps · website · H9MM+4P8
A modernist church. According to Google Maps reviews (4.4 from 1,700+): built in 1954, plain on the outside, but inside the walls are modern stained glass that many call the best they've seen, especially when the sun shines through. Entry is free, donations optional; people pray here, so keep quiet.
Cinema Rialto
city centre · Art Deco cinema (closed) · see from outside
Google Maps · near Casa Port station
An Art Deco cinema. According to Google Maps reviews (3.9 from 200+): a handsome building in the centre, an easy walk from Casa Port station, but the cinema closed during the pandemic and Google lists it as permanently closed — something guidebooks often leave out. Today it's a stop on an Art Deco walk, not a film night.
Abderrahman Slaoui Foundation Museum
city centre · private museum in an Art Deco villa · Tue–Sat 10:00–18:00, closed Sun and Mon
Google Maps · website · 12 Rue du Parc
According to Google Maps reviews (4.3 from 330+): a private collection in an Art Deco house — Moroccan jewellery, vintage travel and colonial posters, costumes, glassware and drawings, with temporary shows upstairs. Quiet and intimate; many call it their favourite museum in Casablanca. Downside: the audio guide doesn't always make clear which object it's describing. Fodor's recommends it too (review).
Villa des Arts
centre, near the Arab League Park · contemporary art gallery in an Art Deco villa · free · Tue–Sun 9:30–19:00, closed Mon
Google Maps · Bd Brahim Roudani 30
According to Google Maps reviews (4.2 from 760+): a cultural centre in a 1934 Art Deco villa with a garden: a small permanent collection, temporary shows by Moroccan artists, and events. Entry is free, and many think the house and garden are the best part. Downsides: few captions, not everyone likes the shows, and between exhibitions it can close for a couple of weeks without notice online.
Arab League Park
city centre · city park · free · daily 8:30–19:00
Google Maps · Bd Moulay Youssef
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 5,700+): a large, well-kept park in the very centre — palms, avenues, fountains, lawns for a picnic, a playground and plenty of cats. People run, work out or just lie on the grass; a street splits the park into two halves.
By the ocean
Morocco Mall
Aïn Diab · shopping mall · Mon–Thu and Sun 10:00–21:00, Fri–Sat to 22:00
Google Maps · website · 1 Bd de l'Océan
A big mall with international brands on the edge of the city. It sits in an upscale area with a nice promenade along the ocean. According to Google Maps reviews (4.1 from 23,000+): luxury labels, restaurants, an IMAX cinema and a large aquarium; downsides — it can be stuffy on hot days, some escalators and toilets are out of order, and some visitors preferred the nearby Marina Mall.
صخرة أمرير
cliffs · free
Google Maps
Picturesque cliffs. There are no Google reviews or address for this spot — the map link shows where it is.
One last thing
Casablanca is spread out: the medina and the Hassan II Mosque are close together, the Art Deco centre and the park are a little further but still walkable, while Morocco Mall lies along the ocean to the west — take a taxi there. A day fits together nicely like this: a morning tour of Hassan II, the medina and the centre after that, then sunset on the Corniche.
More on Casablanca: where to eat and drink.