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Photo Guide
10 Best Instagram Spots in Casablanca
The most photogenic places in Casablanca — the world's third-largest mosque, Art Deco architecture, Atlantic sunsets, and urban energy.
Photography Tips for Casablanca
Best light: Sunset (mosque & Corniche), morning (Art Deco & medina)
Interior access: Hassan II Mosque tours at 9am, 10am, 11am, 2pm
Etiquette: Photography allowed inside the mosque on guided tours
Gear: Wide-angle essential for the mosque\'s scale; telephoto for Art Deco details
1
Hassan II Mosque Exterior
MonumentFree (exterior) Sunset Boulevard Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah, oceanfront
The Hassan II Mosque — the world's third-largest mosque and the tallest religious structure in the world (210m minaret) — is built on a platform extending into the Atlantic Ocean. The exterior is photogenic from every angle: the massive facade of intricate carved stonework, the soaring minaret visible from across the city, the vast esplanade (capacity 80,000 worshippers), and the dramatic setting with Atlantic waves crashing against the ocean-side walls. The scale is overwhelming — the minaret is taller than the Great Pyramid of Giza. Classic compositions: the full mosque from the esplanade with the ocean behind; the minaret from below (dramatic perspective); the waves crashing against the mosque platform at high tide; and sunset shots with the mosque silhouetted against the Atlantic sky. The exterior and esplanade are free to visit at any time. Sunset is extraordinary — the mosque's pale stone turns gold, then pink, against the deepening sky and dark ocean.
Photo tip: Walk to the ocean-side esplanade and shoot the mosque with waves crashing against the platform — the combination of Islamic architecture and Atlantic power is unforgettable
2
Hassan II Mosque Interior
Architecture130 MAD (tour) Tour times (9am, 10am, 11am, 2pm) Hassan II Mosque
The interior of the Hassan II Mosque is one of the most breathtaking spaces in the world — and the only mosque in Morocco that non-Muslims can enter (on guided tours). The prayer hall accommodates 25,000 worshippers under a retractable roof that opens to the sky. The interior features: enormous granite columns, walls of hand-carved zellige tilework in intricate geometric patterns, a cedarwood ceiling with painted and gilded muqarnas, and a glass floor revealing the Atlantic waves below. When the retractable roof is open, natural light floods the vast interior, creating a luminous, ethereal atmosphere. The photography: the grand perspective down the central aisle toward the mihrab; the ceiling detail (shoot directly upward); the zellige walls; and the glass floor with the ocean beneath. Guided tours depart at fixed times and cost 130 MAD. Photography is permitted inside the mosque.
Photo tip: Shoot down the central aisle toward the mihrab — the converging columns, the carved ceiling above, and the vast scale create one of the most impressive interior photographs in Morocco
3
Art Deco Downtown
ArchitectureFree 8–10am or late afternoon Centre Ville, around Place Mohammed V
Casablanca has the finest collection of Art Deco architecture in the Arab world — and arguably outside Europe. The downtown area (built 1920s–1940s during the French Protectorate) features hundreds of buildings with geometric facades, ornate balconies, colourful tilework, carved reliefs, and grand entrance portals. Key buildings to photograph: the Wilaya (Prefecture) on Place Mohammed V (a magnificent Neo-Moorish building with a tall clock tower); the Central Post Office (pure Art Deco with geometric window patterns); the Cinema Rialto (a geometric masterpiece); and the Marché Central building (curved facades and ironwork). Place Mohammed V itself is the centrepiece — a grand square surrounded by the finest buildings. The variety of styles is remarkable — pure French Art Deco, Moorish-Art Deco fusion (a unique Casablanca hybrid), and Spanish Colonial. Early morning or late afternoon provides the best light on the facades. Look up — the best details are on the upper floors.
Photo tip: Look up at the upper facades — the best Art Deco reliefs, geometric patterns, and ornate balconies are above street level and are missed by most visitors
4
Corniche Oceanfront at Sunset
WaterfrontFree Sunset Ain Diab to Hassan II Mosque
The Corniche — Casablanca's oceanfront promenade stretching from the Hassan II Mosque to the beach clubs of Ain Diab — is the city's social hub and sunset photography hotspot. The wide walkway is lined with palm trees, and the ocean side features rocky outcrops where Atlantic waves crash dramatically. At sunset, the Corniche transforms: silhouettes of walkers, joggers, and couples against the golden sky and ocean; the Hassan II Mosque visible in the distance lit by the last light; and the dramatic rock formations with waves creating long-exposure blur. The beach clubs and restaurants along the Corniche have terraces perfect for elevated sunset compositions. The rock pool area (El Hank) at the western end has natural tidal pools where the waves and sunset create spectacular reflections. The Corniche is free and accessible at all times. The wide, flat promenade is ideal for panoramic shots.
Photo tip: Find the rock pools at El Hank — the tidal pools create perfect reflections of the sunset sky, and the waves crashing beyond add drama to the composition
5
Old Medina
HistoricFree 9–11am Ancienne Médina, near the port
Casablanca's old medina — a compact, walled quarter near the port — is often overlooked but is genuinely photogenic. Unlike the vast medinas of Fes or Marrakech, Casablanca's medina is small, manageable, and authentically working-class. The narrow lanes are lined with traditional houses, small shops, and artisan workshops, with colourful goods (clothing, spices, household items) spilling out onto the streets. The gateway to the medina — the ornate Bab Marrakech — is the classic shot: a decorative archway in a white wall with the bustling medina visible through the arch. Inside, the photography is atmospheric: narrow lanes with dappled light, piles of colourful merchandise, and the daily life of a Moroccan neighbourhood. The medina is genuinely local — few tourists visit, so the content feels authentic. Morning (9–11am) is the most active time, with shops opening and market activity at its peak.
Photo tip: Frame your shot through Bab Marrakech — the ornate archway with the bustling medina street visible beyond creates a classic entrance composition
6
Central Market (Marché Central)
MarketFree 8–11am Boulevard Mohammed V, centre ville
The Marché Central — Casablanca's main fresh market — is a sensory and photographic feast. The Art Deco market building houses rows of fish stalls (with spectacular displays of Atlantic seafood — red mullet, sea bream, lobsters, prawns), fruit and vegetable vendors with geometric pyramids of produce, flower sellers with cascading blooms, and spice merchants with colourful mounds. The photography: the fish displays with their ice, colour, and drama; the geometric arrangements of fruit (oranges, pomegranates, dates); the flower stalls (natural still-life compositions); and the Art Deco architecture of the building itself. The market is authentic and bustling — vendors shout, porters carry enormous baskets, and the colours and textures overwhelm. Early morning (8–11am) is best — the displays are freshest and the activity most intense. Be respectful of vendors — ask before photographing individuals, and buy something if you spend time at a stall.
Photo tip: The fish stalls with their dramatic displays of gleaming seafood on ice — shoot from above for the graphic pattern of fish arranged in geometric rows
7
Morocco Mall Aquarium and Ocean Views
ModernFree (mall) Any time Ain Diab, Corniche
Morocco Mall — one of Africa's largest shopping centres — has two features that make it uniquely photogenic: a massive cylindrical aquarium in the centre of the mall (with sharks, rays, and tropical fish visible from multiple levels), and floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the Atlantic Ocean on the western side. The aquarium provides underwater-world shots without getting wet — the blue light, the movement of fish, and the cylindrical shape create dramatic compositions. The ocean-view areas provide an unusual perspective — the juxtaposition of luxury retail and the wild Atlantic. The rooftop area has a panoramic view of the ocean and the coastline. The mall's modern architecture — soaring atria, curved glass, and geometric structures — is also photogenic in its own right. This spot provides a completely different Casablanca aesthetic — modern, cosmopolitan, and aspirational — that contrasts with the traditional medina and Art Deco quarters.
Photo tip: Photograph the aquarium from the level above — looking down through the water at the sharks and rays with the mall atrium reflected creates a surreal, layered composition
8
Habous Quarter (Nouvelle Médina)
ArchitectureFree 10am–4pm Habous/Nouvelle Médina district
The Habous Quarter — built in the 1930s as a "new medina" blending French urban planning with traditional Moroccan architecture — is one of Casablanca's hidden gems. The quarter features arcaded streets with shops and cafés, a traditional bakery quarter, olive merchants with enormous barrels, and the finest patisseries in Casablanca. The architecture is a fascinating hybrid: French-designed streets with Moroccan arches, zellige tilework, and carved woodwork. The photography: the arcaded streets with their repeating arches (shoot down the corridor for the perspective); the pastry shops with geometric displays of Moroccan sweets; the olive merchants with their wooden barrels of olives in every colour; and the Mahkama du Pacha (a monumental courthouse with stunning Moorish interior). The Habous is less touristy than the old medina and more architecturally coherent — every building matches, creating a uniform, photogenic aesthetic.
Photo tip: The arcaded streets with their repeating Moorish arches create a beautiful geometric perspective — shoot from one end looking down the entire length of the covered walkway
9
Twin Center Towers at Night
ModernFree Blue hour (8–9pm) Maarif district
The Twin Center — Casablanca's iconic twin towers (115m tall, completed 1999) — dominate the modern skyline and are the symbol of contemporary Casablanca. The towers are most photogenic at night, when they're illuminated against the dark sky. The best photography angle is from the Place Zallaka park area — the towers reflected in the fountain pool at night create a symmetrical, luminous composition. Blue hour (the 30 minutes after sunset) is the optimal time — the sky is deep blue (not black), the tower lights are on, and the contrast between warm tower light and cool sky is dramatic. The towers also work as a framing device — shooting through the gap between the towers with the street below creates a dramatic urban canyon. For a different perspective, the rooftop bars of nearby hotels offer elevated views of the illuminated towers against the city lights. The Twin Center represents the modern, cosmopolitan Casablanca that most tourists miss.
Photo tip: Find the fountain pool near Place Zallaka — the towers reflected in the still water with the deep blue sky behind create a symmetrical, luminous night composition
10
Rick's Café
Cultural100 MAD+ (dinner/drinks) 6–9pm Boulevard Sour Jdid, old medina
Rick's Café — a real restaurant recreating the fictional bar from the 1942 film Casablanca — is a pilgrimage site for film lovers and a photogenic destination in its own right. The interior is beautifully designed: a restored riad with a central courtyard, arched galleries, a piano (yes, they play "As Time Goes By"), old movie posters, ceiling fans, and period-appropriate furniture. The atmosphere is pure 1940s noir — low lighting, rattan furniture, and the feeling of stepping into a film set. The photography: the piano in the courtyard (the classic shot); the archways and galleries; the movie poster wall; and the atmospheric candlelit tables. Rick's Café is a restaurant and bar, not a museum — you need to eat or drink to enter. A cocktail or mint tea at the bar (60–100 MAD) is sufficient for photography access. Evening (6–9pm) is the most atmospheric — the candlelight, the music, and the ambience create the best mood for photography.
Photo tip: Photograph the piano in the courtyard with the arched galleries above — "Play it, Sam" with the atmospheric riad setting creates the most evocative image
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most Instagrammable spot in Casablanca?
The Hassan II Mosque is overwhelmingly the most Instagrammable spot in Casablanca — and one of the most photogenic buildings in the world. The world's third-largest mosque, built on a platform extending into the Atlantic, offers epic compositions: the 210-metre minaret against the sky, the vast prayer hall with its retractable roof, the waves crashing against the mosque's ocean platform, and the stunning interior with carved zellige, cedarwood, and marble. The exterior is photogenic from every angle at every time of day.
What is the best time of day for photos in Casablanca?
Sunset (6:30–8pm) is the best time for Casablanca photography — the Hassan II Mosque glows golden against the Atlantic, the Corniche catches the full sunset, and the Art Deco downtown is bathed in warm light. Early morning (7–9am) offers empty streets and soft light for the Art Deco quarter and old medina. The Hassan II Mosque interior is best photographed during the guided tours (available at fixed times), when the natural light through the retractable roof creates stunning interiors. The Corniche at golden hour is spectacular for silhouettes and ocean views.
Is Casablanca photogenic despite being modern?
Casablanca is photogenic precisely because it's modern — but not in the way most people expect. The city has the finest collection of Art Deco architecture outside Europe, a stunning oceanfront mosque, dramatic Atlantic coastline, a colourful old medina, and a buzzing contemporary energy. Casablanca's photographic appeal is different from Marrakech or Fes — it's urban, architectural, and cosmopolitan. The juxtaposition of Art Deco grandeur, traditional medina life, the monumental mosque, and modern Moroccan street culture creates a diverse and unexpected visual portfolio.