8 Best Day Trips from Casablanca

Morocco's capital and one of the four imperial cities — a refined contrast to Casablanca's commercial energy. The ONCF express train runs every 30 minutes from Casa Voyageurs station, making this the easiest day trip. In Rabat, the must-sees: the Kasbah of the Udayas — a 12th-century fortress at the mouth of the Bou Regreg river, with a whitewashed Andalusian garden (Jardin des Oudaïas) offering views across to Salé. The Hassan Tower is an unfinished 12th-century minaret that would have been the world's largest — the forest of ruined columns around it marks the planned mosque's footprint. The adjacent Mausoleum of Mohammed V is a masterpiece of modern Moroccan architecture: white marble, zellige tilework, muqarnas ceilings, and royal guards in traditional dress. The Chellah necropolis (entry 70 MAD) is a Roman-then-medieval site overtaken by storks, gardens, and wild cats — atmospheric and photogenic. The medina is compact and manageable: Rue des Consuls is the main shopping street with fixed-price cooperatives. Cross the river to Salé for its grittier, more authentic medina (see Salé Medina in our Rabat guide). The full Rabat circuit takes 5–6 hours. Trains from Casa run until 9:30pm. Best on weekdays when sites are quieter.

A UNESCO World Heritage fortress on the Atlantic coast — one of the best-preserved examples of Portuguese colonial architecture in the world. The Cité Portugaise was built as Mazagan in the early 16th century and held by Portugal for 250 years. The fortified walls are intact and walkable — a 20-minute circuit with cannon emplacements, bastions, and sweeping ocean views. The star attraction is the Portuguese Cistern — a vast underground hall with Gothic vaulting reflected in a shallow pool of water, used for a famous scene in Orson Welles' Othello. The cistern was lost for centuries and rediscovered only in 1916 when a shopkeeper noticed his storeroom had unusually resonant acoustics. Inside the fortress walls: the Church of the Assumption (Gothic-Manueline architecture), a small synagogue, and quiet residential streets that feel frozen in time. Outside: a wide sandy beach (popular but clean), a seafood-heavy promenade, and the modern town. The fish market is lively and photogenic. CTM buses from Casablanca run hourly (45 MAD, 1.5 hours). By car: take the A1 motorway south. Allow 2 hours for the fortress, 1 hour for lunch, and 1 hour for the beach. The Oualidia lagoon (80 km further south) extends the trip for oyster lovers but requires a car.

A journey into Morocco's inland plains — the agricultural heartland between Casablanca and Marrakech. Settat is the capital of Chaouia province: a working market town with a large weekly souk (Saturday), a colonial-era downtown, and a modern university campus. The town itself is unremarkable but authentic — a window into everyday Moroccan life away from tourist circuits. The real draw is Boulaouane Kasbah (30 km west of Settat), a dramatic 18th-century fortress perched on a cliff above the Oum er-Rbia river. Built by Sultan Moulay Ismail, the kasbah is massive and atmospheric — crumbling walls, a monumental gateway, and views across the river valley. It's virtually unvisited. The surrounding Doukkala plains are Morocco's wine country: the Boulaouane appellation produces some of Morocco's best reds and rosés (Les Celliers de Meknès, Thalvin). Vineyards stretch along the river valley — some estates accept visitors with advance notice. The drive from Casablanca passes through flat agricultural plains planted with wheat, sunflowers, and olives. By car: 1.5 hours via the A7 motorway to Settat, then local roads to Boulaouane. Public transport reaches Settat (CTM bus 35 MAD, 1.5 hours) but a car is needed for Boulaouane. Best combined as a circuit: Casablanca → Boulaouane Kasbah → Settat souk (Saturday) → return.