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Photography Guide
10 Best Viewpoints in Casablanca
Hassan II Mosque panoramas, Art Deco walking tours, Atlantic skylines, and rooftop bars: the most photogenic spots in Morocco's modern metropolis.
Casablanca Photography Tips
Top viewpoint: Hassan II Mosque esplanade — day and night
Hidden gem: Boulevard Mohammed V Art Deco walk
Best light: Morning for Art Deco facades; sunset for the mosque
Night: The mosque lit up and Twin Center skyline views
1
Hassan II Mosque Esplanade
Monument PanoramaFree (exterior) / 130 MAD tour (interior) Boulevard Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah Best: Sunset or night (when lit)
The most dramatic viewpoint in Casablanca — the vast esplanade in front of the Hassan II Mosque. The mosque rises from the Atlantic on a platform built over the sea. The 210-meter minaret — the tallest religious structure in the world — dominates the skyline. The esplanade is enormous: you need distance to appreciate the mosque's scale, and the open space provides it. At sunset, the white marble and green tilework glow orange. At night, the mosque is illuminated and the minaret's laser beam points toward Mecca. The ocean behind the mosque adds drama — waves crash against the platform's base. Interior tours (one of the few mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslims) reveal extraordinary craftsmanship: carved plaster, painted cedar, zellige, and a retractable roof.
Tip: Night photography when the mosque is fully lit is extraordinary — the minaret laser is visible for miles
2
Corniche Promenade
Waterfront WalkFree Corniche, Ain Diab district Best: Late afternoon
The Atlantic-facing promenade stretching from the Hassan II Mosque toward Ain Diab — offering views of the mosque from increasing distances. The Corniche is Casablanca's social promenade: families walk, joggers run, and the ocean pools and beach clubs add life. The view of the Hassan II Mosque from 500–800 meters along the Corniche is the classic wide-angle composition — the full mosque reflected in the calm Atlantic (on windless days). The Corniche also has views over the surf break (Casablanca has a small but active surf scene) and the Ain Diab beach. The promenade has been recently renovated with modern lighting and cafe terraces.
Tip: Walk 800m from the mosque for the classic wide-angle composition — include the ocean foreground
3
Boulevard Mohammed V Art Deco Walk
Architectural PhotographyFree Boulevard Mohammed V, downtown Best: Morning (best light on facades)
The most photogenic street in Casablanca — a 2 km boulevard lined with Art Deco and Mauresque buildings from the 1920s–1940s. The facades are extraordinary: geometric ironwork balconies, ornate cornices, curved corners, ceramic tile details, and the distinctive Casa-Deco blend of French Art Deco with Moroccan decorative motifs. Key buildings to photograph: the Cinema Rialto (streamline moderne), the Marché Central (now renovated), the Palais de Justice, and dozens of apartment buildings with intact original facades. The morning light enters from the east and illuminates the west-facing facades. The boulevard is a UNESCO tentative World Heritage site.
Tip: Look up — the upper floors of Art Deco buildings have the most ornate details, often missed at eye level
4
Place Mohammed V
Civic SquareFree Place Mohammed V, downtown Best: Late afternoon
The administrative heart of Casablanca — a grand civic square surrounded by monumental Art Deco buildings. The Prefecture (city hall), the Palais de Justice (courthouse), the Bank al-Maghrib (central bank), and the French Consulate create an ensemble of 1930s civic architecture. The square has a large fountain (illuminated at night) and palm-lined gardens. The scale is grand: the buildings are designed to impress, with symmetrical facades, clock towers, and geometric details. The square captures Casablanca's dual identity — a Moroccan city built in a French colonial style that has become uniquely its own. The afternoon light creates long shadows on the white facades.
Tip: The fountain at night is beautifully lit — the surrounding Art Deco buildings glow in the warm lighting
5
Twin Center Observation
Skyline ViewFree (lobby) / with drink at Sky 28 bar Twin Center, Maarif district Best: Sunset or night
The Twin Center towers — Casablanca's tallest buildings (115m) — offer elevated views over the modern city. The Sky 28 bar on the upper floors provides panoramic views: the Hassan II Mosque to the north, the Habous quarter and Royal Palace to the southeast, and the urban sprawl of Africa's sixth-largest city in every direction. The towers themselves are a modern architectural landmark: sleek glass and steel contrasting with the Art Deco downtown nearby. The view at night reveals Casablanca's enormous scale — the city lights stretch to the horizon. The bar serves cocktails and the dress code is smart casual. Non-hotel guests welcome.
Tip: The night view from Sky 28 reveals Casablanca's true scale — city lights stretching to the horizon
6
Old Medina Rooftop
Heritage QuarterFree (cafe terraces from 15 MAD) Old Medina, near Bab Marrakech Best: Morning
The old medina of Casablanca — small and compact compared to Fes or Marrakech, but atmospheric and often overlooked. The rooftop terraces of the medina's small cafes offer views over the whitewashed buildings, narrow lanes, and the port beyond. The contrast between the old medina and the modern skyscrapers visible above the walls is uniquely Casablancan — nowhere else in Morocco do medieval walls frame a modern metropolis. The medina is being restored and several new cafes and restaurants have opened with rooftop access. The market streets inside are colourful and busy. The port and harbour are visible from the northern walls.
Tip: The contrast between medina rooftops and modern skyline behind is a uniquely Casablanca composition
7
Habous Quarter
Architectural PhotographyFree Quartier Habous, southeast Casablanca Best: Mid-morning
The Habous quarter — the 1930s "new medina" built by the French to relieve overcrowding in the old medina. The quarter blends French urban planning with Moroccan architectural elements: colonnaded streets, arched doorways, tiled fountains, and geometric decoration. The result is one of the most harmonious architectural neighborhoods in Morocco — orderly and photogenic, with consistent scale and decoration. Key views: the olive market (Souk des Olives), the Pasha's Mahkama (a stunning 1940s administrative building with zellige and carved plaster), and the Royal Palace walls. The morning light enters the colonnaded streets and creates beautiful patterns.
Tip: The Pasha's Mahkama interior is one of Morocco's architectural secrets — ask if tours are available
8
Ain Diab Beach (Mosque Distant View)
Beach PanoramaFree Ain Diab beach, west Casablanca Best: Late afternoon
The Ain Diab beach area south of the Corniche — offering distant views of the Hassan II Mosque with the Atlantic in the foreground. The mosque's minaret is visible from several kilometers away, and the beach provides a spacious foreground with surf, sand, and sky. The beach clubs along Ain Diab add colour (blue umbrellas, white buildings). The surf break near the mosque creates dynamic wave action. The afternoon light illuminates the mosque from the west, creating warm tones against the blue ocean. This is the landscape photographer's composition — wide, spacious, and dramatic in scale. The beach is popular with locals for weekend swimming and surfing.
Tip: The surf break near the mosque adds dynamic foreground — time your shot with the wave action
9
Rick's Café Terrace
Heritage BarWith dinner or drink (from 80 MAD) Boulevard Sour Jdid, old medina edge Best: Evening
A recreation of the fictional bar from the 1942 film Casablanca — Rick's Café is a heritage destination with a terrace overlooking the old medina and port. The interior is film-set perfect: curved arches, brass fixtures, mosaic floors, and a piano player performing "As Time Goes By." The terrace offers views over the medina rooftops and the port cranes. While not a panoramic viewpoint, the atmospheric value is unmatched — you're drinking cocktails in a place that exists because of a movie set in a city the filmmakers never visited. The irony is part of the charm. The restaurant serves good Moroccan-French cuisine. Reservations recommended for dinner.
Tip: The piano starts at 7pm — arrive early for a terrace table and the full atmospheric experience
10
Anfa Lighthouse Area
Coastal LookoutFree Anfa coastline, south of Corniche Best: Sunset
The rocky coastline near the Anfa lighthouse — south of the Corniche, where the Atlantic crashes against the rocks. The view is wild and oceanic: no beaches here, just volcanic rock formations, sea spray, and the vast Atlantic stretching to the horizon. The lighthouse itself (not open to visitors) provides a focal point. The rocky coast creates dramatic wave action, especially in winter storms. The sunset from this area is spectacular — the sun drops directly into the ocean. The neighbourhood is upscale Anfa — wide streets, villa gardens, and a quiet contrast to the busy downtown. Few tourists find this viewpoint — it's a local sunset spot.
Tip: Winter storms create the most dramatic wave action — the spray against the rocks is extraordinary
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best viewpoint for the Hassan II Mosque?
The best external viewpoints of the Hassan II Mosque are from the Corniche promenade (where the mosque is framed against the Atlantic), from the esplanade in front of the mosque (for the full facade), and from the Ain Diab beach area (for a distant view with the ocean foreground). The mosque's 210-meter minaret — the tallest religious structure in the world — is visible from most elevated points in the city. For interior photography, join a guided tour (one of the few mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslims). The esplanade at sunset, when the mosque is lit against a darkening sky, is particularly spectacular.
Is Casablanca photogenic?
Yes — Casablanca is more photogenic than its reputation suggests. The city has three distinct visual identities: the Art Deco downtown (one of the world's largest Art Deco districts, rivaling Miami and Mumbai), the Hassan II Mosque (one of the most spectacular modern religious buildings anywhere), and the atmospheric old medina. The Art Deco buildings along Boulevard Mohammed V are a photographer's paradise: ornate facades, geometric ironwork, and 1930s architectural details. The contrast between Art Deco elegance, modern skyscrapers, and traditional medina architecture makes Casablanca visually rich and surprising.