2 Days in Casablanca

Start at this charming café inside an 18th-century fortified bastion near the old medina. The garden courtyard, filled with bougainvillea and jasmine, feels like a hidden oasis. Excellent msemen, eggs, fresh juice, and the best coffee in the neighbourhood.

The unmissable centrepiece of Casablanca. Africa's largest mosque rises on a promontory over the Atlantic, with the world's tallest minaret (210 m). The interior is breathtaking — 78 granite columns, a retractable roof, Italian marble, hand-carved zellige, and heated floors. The guided tour covers the main prayer hall, ablution rooms, and hammam.

Casa's compact old medina is nothing like Fes or Marrakech — it's small, manageable, and surprisingly calm. Walk from the mosque through Bab Marrakech into narrow lanes lined with spice shops, cafés, and fabric stores. The Clock Tower at the entrance and the 18th-century ramparts frame the quarter.

Built by the French in the 1930s as a "modern medina," the Habous Quarter combines French urban planning with Moroccan architecture. Browse the olive shops, pastry stalls, and the famous Patisserie Bennis for Moroccan sweets. The Mahkama du Pacha courthouse (if open) is architecturally stunning.

Head to the fishing port area for the freshest seafood in Casablanca. The row of restaurants beside the port serves grilled sardines, fried calamari, shrimp tagine, and the catch of the day. Simple, delicious, and incredibly fresh — you'll see the boats that caught your lunch.

Walk the Ain Diab Corniche — Casablanca's beachfront promenade stretching several kilometres along the Atlantic. Beach clubs, surf spots, and ocean pools line the coast. In summer, the beaches are packed with locals. In cooler months, the walk is peaceful with crashing waves.

Inspired by the 1942 film Casablanca, Rick's Café recreates the movie's atmosphere in a beautifully restored riad. The interior is pure 1940s — arched doorways, a piano bar, brass lamps, and a courtyard fountain. Come for cocktails and the atmosphere; the food is decent but secondary to the experience.

Return to Hassan II Mosque for sunset — the golden hour light on the white granite is extraordinary, and the Atlantic waves crashing below the esplanade add drama. Join the locals who gather here every evening for promenading, socialising, and watching the sun drop into the ocean.