Say the name “Casablanca,” and, for most people, it will conjure to mind all the romance and swagger of the 1942 classic movie. Hollywood may know glamor, but the allure of Morocco’s largest city is not fixed in its history. Instead, it is the epicenter of Morocco’s 21st century economy. The Casablanca (see our Casablanca city guide on our Morocco blog and travel guide) of today isn’t the sleepy expat town of film fame (which was actually shot entirely on a studio lot in Los Angeles), and travelers should expect the bustle one would associate with North Africa’s largest port and an industrialized city of 3 million people.
It is home to two international airports, so many travelers will find that Casablanca is their first taste of Morocco. Explore the can’t-miss sites of the city, such as the impressive Hassan II mosque and the art deco architecture of New Town, and then consider visiting some other nearby attractions that make for an easy day trip from Casablanca. The Roman ruins of Volubilis, the medieval Portugese fort at El Jadida and the capital city of Rabat are all within an easy train ride, and the cities of Marrakesh, Fez and Tangiers are accessible within a day’s travel from Casablanca. Even if your time in Morocco is limited to only a few days, Casablanca makes an excellent modern hub for day trippers looking to whet their appetite for traditional Moroccan culture.
One-hundred kilometers to the southwest of Casablanca—about an hour and a half by train—is the coastal town of El Jadida. Formally known under Portuguese occupation as Mazagan, it is a relaxing antidote to the urbanity of Casablanca. It is most renowned for its beaches and the historic Portuguese fortifications, which date back to 1514 and are the oldest in Europe. After spending a morning wandering this UNESCO World Heritage Site and an afternoon strolling along the picturesque bay, indulge in some of El Jadida’s excellent seafood. Try the shad, a delicately-flavored local fish specialty.
Rabat has been the political capital of Morocco since 1956, and though it is as cosmopolitan as Casablanca, there is a noticeable difference in pace from its larger neighbor. The city has a long and varied history, from Romans to pirates to French invasion. Its archaeological museum is the largest in Morocco, and the collection of artifacts dates back to Paleolithic times. Another notable difference from many of Morocco’s other large cities is the atmosphere of the souk. More organized and easier to navigate, it is a good introduction to Morocco’s wares and bargaining practices.
If El Jadida’s medieval architecture and Rabat’s prehistoric treasures haven’t satiated your appetite for history, continue further north up the coast from Rabat to Volubilis. Called Oualili in Arabic and Berber, this is a testament to the Roman influence in Morocco’s heritage. While most of the artifacts are housed at the museum in Rabat, it is not hard to conjure up images of the ancient daily life in this once bustling port city, which offers a unique perspective on the transformations Morocco’s port cities have undergone through the centuries.
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Written by Erin Tolman.
Photo by _Pixelmaniac_
Hello,
I am travelling from Calcutta, India and will be in Morocco between the 12th and 18th of November, for a conference. I will be staying in Marrakech between the 12th and the 16th and will thereafter reach Casablanca on the 16th afternoon. I am looking for day trips from casablanca on the 17th and the 18th.
I would like to know if it is possible to have a full day excursion to Meknes, Volubilis and Fes form Casablanca and if so what the prices would be like?
Also would it be possible to do Rabat from casablanca and again what the prices would be like?
An early reply to my queries is earnestly solicited.
Kind Regards,
Dr. Pahari Ghosh.
We only have two (2) days left to plan on our vacation in May 2012 ( 5-13 & 5-14 ).
Only place we would like to see is Volubilis Morocco. Can I hire a taxi to drive us to
Volubilis and how much will cost us? If we can not fly on Easyjet, what other airline
can we take.
Thank you
Richard
Hi Richard, Thanks for your comments here. Feel free to email us directly. But, in the mean time, you can easily hire a taxi to take you to Volubilis. This is best done from Fez or Meknes. From Meknes, the trip is literally no more than 30 minutes. While you are at Volubilis, go ahead and make a stop in the small town of Moulay Idriss. It is quite worthwhile. You should be able to get a taxi, round trip, from 500dhs or so ($60). If you use the taxi all day, then it may be around 800dhs ($90). If you arrange it through your hotel or guesthouse, the price may be cheaper since they have some connections with local drivers. In and out of Fez, you can find flights with RyanAir.com EasyJet only does Casablanca and Marrakesh. Royal Air Maroc has flights, but they do not come highly recommended : )
We have a conference in Marrakech from April 7 th to April 13th this year. We will arrive in Cascablance on april 4th and leave on April 16th. We would like to visit Rabat, Fez. We haven’t booked hotel yet, but Riad sounds wonderful to us. Please advise .
Thanks,
Kim schaffer
Hi, We are Family of four people (maybe eight) that will arrive to Casablanca port on January 4th at 7.00AM with the MSC Divina, and will have to be back by 8.00PM, at this time we would like to have a one day Tour preferable in Spanish around Casablanca and Rabat, with a Typical lunch included, now, according to you experience as TripAdvisor recommend you, I would like to ask you a very beautiful itinerary around your precious Country,.
Our family consists of: 4 people…
Hi Enzo, I’ve emailed you directly and taken your contact info off of here. This keeps things a bit more private. We’ll see if we can help you put this together. Thanks!
I’ll be in Morocco this May for a third time, but just a quick visit (2 days in Casablanca over a cruise). I’ve been to Casa, and I don’t want to stray two far as I just have about 36 hours. Given that information, which would you recommend of the two: El Jadida or Rabat?
Hi Camels and Chocolate, Thanks for your post! Well, for a quick visit to Casablanca, I’d suggest hopping on the train to Rabat. There, you have the Chellah Gardens, Oudayas Kasbah, a very chill medina, and the Hassan Towers. You can grab some good food too before heading back. El Jadida is pretty cool too, but the city doesn’t offer as much as Rabat might. We should have a guide up for Rabat shortly – I have a writer putting that together now : ) Also, we may be able to set this trip up for you with a driver and even guide. Let me know!
We will be in Casablanca on dec 26 – arriving by cruise ship Rotterdam at 10m, and departing at 8pm.
We would like a tour of Casablanca / Rabat.
I would appreciate any and all suggestions with details and costs included.
We would need to beack to ship no later than 6pm.
Thanks
Janice
Hi, I will be in Casablanca on 23rd of December 2013, with my husband for 5 days, we would like to know is there any tour agency that you can recommend for us? since we also want to go to Marrakesh and Rabat or fez only if it possible to do it and also want to know how much the price for those trips.
Thank you very much for your time and i appreciate it.
Hi Arta – Actually for this season, we are completely filled up. For this time of year, it seems that we are filling up about 3-6 months ahead of time. It’s very busy. Best of luck on your trip!