Best Things to Do in Casablanca: 15 Attractions & Entry Fees

Casablanca rewards travelers who look beyond the airport and business districts. The city combines Atlantic waterfronts, Art Deco streets, historic neighborhoods, religious landmarks, markets, gardens and contemporary urban life in a way that feels very different from Marrakech or Fes. For a first visit, the best things to do in Casablanca include Hassan II Mosque, the Old Medina, Habous, Mohammed V Square, Central Market and the Ain Diab Corniche, with museums and modern architecture adding depth if you have more time.

Tours Marrakech Desert can help travelers organize a Casablanca city visit, suitable transport and onward journeys through Morocco. The priority here, however, is practical planning: which places are worth your time, what is free, where access is restricted and where you should check current admission before going.

What Are the Best Things to Do in Casablanca?

If you have only one day, prioritize Hassan II Mosque, the Old Medina and Sqala area, Mohammed V Square, Habous and the Atlantic waterfront. With two days, add Central Market, the former Sacré-Cœur church, Villa des Arts, the Museum of Moroccan Judaism, Notre-Dame de Lourdes and modern Casablanca around the Twin Center or Morocco Mall.

Casablanca is not a city where every attraction requires a ticket. Several important experiences are public streets, squares, markets, promenades and neighborhoods. Paid visits are concentrated around specific monuments, museums, dining venues and entertainment.

Casablanca's 15 Main Attractions at a Glance

15 things to do in Casablanca: approximate visit durations and entrance information

Attraction	Type	Suggested visit time	Entry information
Hassan II Mosque	Religious landmark	1–1.5 hours	Exterior viewing free; official guided interior visit 140 MAD for foreign adults
Old Medina & Sqala	Historic district	1–2 hours	Public streets free; individual venues may charge
Rick's Café	Restaurant / cultural reference	1.5–2 hours	No attraction ticket; paid dining or drinks
Ain Diab Corniche	Seafront promenade	1–2 hours	Public promenade free; cafés and activities extra
Mohammed V Square	Public square	30 minutes	Free public access
Quartier Habous	Historic-inspired New Medina	1–1.5 hours	Public streets free; shopping extra
Central Market	Market / food	About 1 hour	Market entry free; purchases and meals extra
Former Sacré-Cœur Church	Art Deco heritage / cultural venue	30–45 minutes	Adult visitor ticket 50 MAD; access can change during events
Morocco Mall	Shopping / entertainment	2–3 hours	Mall entry free; paid attractions and purchases extra
Mahkama du Pacha	Architecture / heritage	30–45 minutes	Exterior free; interior access restricted and not guaranteed
Arab League Park	Public gardens	30–60 minutes	Free public access
Villa des Arts	Art / exhibitions	45–60 minutes	Check current exhibition access and admission
Museum of Moroccan Judaism	Cultural museum	45–60 minutes	Check current opening days and ticket arrangements
Notre-Dame de Lourdes	Religious architecture	20–30 minutes	Typically free subject to church access and services
Twin Center	Modern architecture	15–30 minutes	Exterior free; shops, hotel and rooftop venues have separate spending

Historic and Cultural Highlights in Casablanca

1. Hassan II Mosque

The Hassan II Mosque Casablanca Morocco is the city's landmark most worth planning around. It stands directly beside the Atlantic, creating a scale and setting that are difficult to appreciate from photographs alone.

There is an important distinction between walking around the exterior esplanade and entering the mosque. Exterior viewing is free. For non-Muslim visitors who want to see the prayer hall and interior craftsmanship, the Hassan II Mosque Foundation runs official guided visits. The official information checked for this guide lists the standard foreign-adult guided visit at 140 MAD.

Visit schedules vary by season and around religious periods, so check the Foundation's current timetable before going. Visitors should dress respectfully, covering shoulders, torso and below the knees, and follow the mosque's rules regarding shoes and behavior inside.

Allow around 1 to 1.5 hours if taking the guided interior visit, plus extra time outside if you enjoy architecture and coastal photography.

2. Old Medina of Casablanca and Sqala

The Old Medina of Casablanca is smaller and less monumental than the medinas of Fes or Marrakech, but that is part of its value. It gives you a more local sense of Casablanca's historic core, with narrow streets, shops, residential life and links to the old port area.

Walking through the public streets is free. The nearby Sqala bastion is an important historic reference connected to Casablanca's eighteenth-century defenses. Individual cafés, restaurants or private establishments around the area may have their own spending requirements.

Allow one to two hours if combining the medina with the Sqala area and the exterior of Rick's Café. Wear comfortable shoes and keep normal city awareness in crowded lanes.

3. Mohammed V Square

Mohammed V Square is one of the best places to understand Casablanca's civic architecture. Buildings around the square combine twentieth-century administrative design, Art Deco influences and Moroccan decorative references.

The square is public and free. Around 30 minutes is enough for most visitors, though architecture enthusiasts may spend longer looking at façades and nearby central streets. It works especially well as part of a walking route connecting downtown architecture, Arab League Park and the former Sacré-Cœur church.

4. Quartier Habous

Habous is often called Casablanca's New Medina. It was developed in the twentieth century using a planned urban layout that incorporated Moroccan architectural forms, arcades and market streets.

It feels more orderly than the Old Medina and is particularly good for travelers interested in crafts, leather goods, ceramics, clothing, pastries and traditional shopping. Public street access is free; your spending depends on what you buy or eat.

Allow roughly 1 to 1.5 hours. Habous is also the most logical area to combine with Mahkama du Pacha.

5. Mahkama du Pacha

Mahkama du Pacha is one of Casablanca's most impressive examples of Moorish-inspired twentieth-century craftsmanship, with carved wood, stucco, zellij and decorated courtyards.

The practical issue is access. It remains an administrative building rather than a conventional museum, so interior entry is not guaranteed. The exterior can be viewed freely, but do not build an itinerary around an assumed interior visit unless access has been confirmed.

If the interior is unavailable, the building is still worth a short stop while exploring Habous.

Food, Markets and Casablanca's Waterfront

6. Rick's Café

Rick's Café is a real Casablanca restaurant inspired by the fictional café in the 1942 film Casablanca; it was not the original film set. Its appeal comes from the carefully designed atmosphere, architecture, dining and live music rather than from being a historic filming location.

There is no attraction admission ticket: you pay for food or drinks. The official restaurant currently lists lunch from 12:00 to 15:00 and dinner from 18:30, with later live-jazz seating. Reservations are useful for dining, especially in the evening. The current menu shows prices varying substantially by dish, so use the restaurant's official menu rather than relying on a fixed “entry fee.”

Allow around 1.5 to 2 hours for a meal. Smart-casual dress is requested for dinner.

7. Central Market

Casablanca's Central Market combines food shopping, everyday city life and early-twentieth-century architecture. You will find produce, flowers, fish and other food products, with places nearby or inside the market area where travelers often stop for seafood.

Entry to the public market is free; food and purchases are separate. The Casablanca regional tourism site currently lists hours around 08:30 to 16:30, but market activity can vary by day, so earlier visits are usually more useful than arriving near closing time.

An hour is enough for most travelers unless you stop to eat.

8. Ain Diab Corniche

The Ain Diab Corniche gives Casablanca a completely different rhythm from the downtown area. It follows the Atlantic waterfront with walking spaces, restaurants, cafés and beach-oriented venues.

Walking the public promenade is free. Paid beach clubs, cafés, restaurants and activities are separate. Late afternoon is particularly pleasant if you want ocean views and softer light, but traffic can become heavier around popular evening periods.

Allow one to two hours for a relaxed walk and café stop.

Architecture, Museums and Modern Attractions

9. Former Sacré-Cœur Church

The former Sacré-Cœur church is now presented as a cultural and architectural heritage space rather than an active cathedral. Its white exterior and Art Deco character make it one of central Casablanca's strongest architectural stops.

The venue's official site currently lists an adult visitor ticket of 50 MAD, with opening generally from 08:00 to 18:30 and a warning that access may be restricted during events. Because programming can affect access, check the current calendar before your visit.

Allow 30 to 45 minutes and combine it with Arab League Park and downtown architecture.

10. Morocco Mall

Morocco Mall is useful if shopping, indoor entertainment or a modern commercial environment interests you. General access to the mall is free; shopping, restaurants and entertainment cost extra.

Do not assume older online prices for aquarium or entertainment experiences are still current. Check Morocco Mall's current information on the day if a specific attraction is important to you.

Allow two to three hours only if you genuinely want shopping or indoor entertainment; otherwise it is not essential for a short first visit.

11. Arab League Park

Arab League Park is one of the best breaks between architecture-heavy stops in central Casablanca. It offers broad lawns, palm-lined paths, gardens and family-friendly open space.

Public access is free. The regional tourism site currently lists opening from 07:00 to 21:00. Thirty minutes is enough for a short walk, while families or travelers wanting a rest can stay longer.

12. Villa des Arts

Villa des Arts is a good choice for travelers interested in contemporary art and cultural programming. The Casablanca venue hosts changing exhibitions and cultural events rather than functioning only as a static permanent museum.

Because exhibitions and visitor arrangements can change, check the current program and admission before going. Allow around 45 to 60 minutes for a typical visit.

13. Museum of Moroccan Judaism

The Museum of Moroccan Judaism gives important context to Morocco's Jewish heritage, religious traditions, community history and material culture. It offers a perspective that many first-time Morocco itineraries otherwise miss.

Opening days, security procedures and admission arrangements can change, so verify current visitor information before traveling across the city specifically for the museum. Around 45 to 60 minutes is a reasonable planning window.

14. Notre-Dame de Lourdes Church

Notre-Dame de Lourdes is known for its modernist architecture and extensive stained glass. Unlike the former Sacré-Cœur, it remains a religious building, so visitors should behave as they would in any active place of worship.

Visitor entry is typically free when the church is open, but access can be affected by services and religious activity. Dress respectfully, keep noise low and avoid interrupting worship. Around 20 to 30 minutes is enough for most visitors.

15. Twin Center

The Twin Center is part of Casablanca's modern skyline and works best as an architectural reference rather than a conventional ticketed attraction. The complex includes commercial space, offices and a hotel.

Exterior viewing is free. Entering shops, restaurants or hotel venues is a separate commercial experience. If you want a panoramic venue in the complex, check current access and spending conditions rather than assuming the towers themselves have a general observation ticket.

How to Spend One Day in Casablanca

A realistic first day should avoid crossing the city repeatedly. Start around Hassan II Mosque, then continue toward the Old Medina and Sqala area. From there, move into central Casablanca for Mohammed V Square, Central Market and the former Sacré-Cœur church or Arab League Park. Finish at Habous or the Ain Diab Corniche depending on whether you prefer shopping and architecture or an Atlantic sunset.

If you want the day organized with local context and transport between separated areas, the Casablanca City Tour is the most relevant sightseeing option on our site.

Two Days in Casablanca: A More Relaxed Itinerary

On Day 1, focus on Hassan II Mosque, the Old Medina, downtown architecture, Central Market and the Corniche. On Day 2, spend more time in Habous and around Mahkama du Pacha, then choose between Villa des Arts, the Museum of Moroccan Judaism, Notre-Dame de Lourdes, Morocco Mall or the Twin Center according to your interests.

Two days also give you enough margin to reserve Rick's Café without forcing the rest of your sightseeing around a restaurant booking.

How Much Does It Cost to Visit Casablanca?

Casablanca can be explored without a large attraction budget because many important places are free public spaces: the Old Medina streets, Mohammed V Square, Habous, Ain Diab Corniche, Arab League Park and exterior views of several landmarks.

The main confirmed ticket in this guide is the Hassan II Mosque guided interior visit at 140 MAD for foreign adults. The former Sacré-Cœur cultural space currently lists 50 MAD for adult visitors. Other museums and entertainment venues should be checked for current admission rather than relying on outdated figures.

Restaurant spending is not an entrance fee. Rick's Café, Central Market meals, Corniche cafés and shopping can vary widely according to what you order or buy.

Getting Around Casablanca

Casablanca is large, so walking alone is not practical for the entire list. Downtown sights can be combined on foot, while Hassan II Mosque, Habous, Ain Diab and Morocco Mall may require taxis, tram connections or arranged transport depending on your starting point.

Use official or metered taxis where appropriate, confirm your destination clearly, and allow extra time during traffic peaks. If you are planning several separated stops in one day, organized transport can reduce time lost between neighborhoods.

Best Time to Visit Casablanca

Casablanca's Atlantic location generally gives it a milder coastal feel than inland destinations such as Marrakech. For sightseeing, prioritize comfortable walking conditions rather than chasing a specific month.

Morning works well for markets and major monuments; late afternoon suits the Corniche. During Ramadan, religious holidays or special events, attraction hours can change, especially at religious and cultural venues. Check current schedules shortly before your visit.

Explore Casablanca with Tours Marrakech Desert

Travelers who prefer a structured overview can use our Casablanca sightseeing tour to connect key districts with suitable transport and local guidance where included.

If your Casablanca stay is only the beginning of a larger trip, browse our tours from Casablanca for multi-day options.

Continue Your Journey Beyond Casablanca

Casablanca is a practical starting point for longer Morocco itineraries. A compact option is the 4-day Morocco tour from Casablanca to Marrakech, while travelers wanting more time for northern Morocco can consider the 5-day private tour from Casablanca.

If you want to adapt the duration, accommodation level or destinations, use Customize Your Tour to discuss a route based on your available time.

Practical Tips for First-Time Visitors

• Check Hassan II Mosque guided-tour times before building your day around it.
• Do not assume interior access at Mahkama du Pacha.
• Reserve Rick's Café if dinner there is important to you.
• Visit Central Market before late afternoon.
• Wear respectful clothing for mosques and churches.
• Group attractions by neighborhood to avoid wasting time in traffic.
• Keep some cash for taxis, markets and smaller purchases.
• Check museum and cultural-space opening information shortly before visiting.

Final Thoughts

The best Casablanca itinerary mixes one major monument, one historic neighborhood, one central-city architecture stop and time beside the Atlantic. Hassan II Mosque is the essential first-time landmark, while Habous, the Old Medina, Central Market and the Corniche reveal very different sides of the city.

If you want help planning a Casablanca visit or an onward Morocco itinerary, Have Questions? Ask Us!