Discovering...
Budget Guide
Casablanca on a Budget
How to experience Morocco\'s largest city — Hassan II Mosque, Art Deco architecture, seafood, and the Corniche — for under 400 MAD per day.
Daily Budget Breakdown
Accommodation: 100–300 MAD (hostel/budget hotel)
Food: 60–120 MAD (market seafood + local restaurants)
Transport: 7–25 MAD (tram + walking)
Activities: 0–130 MAD (mosque tour is the main cost)
Total: 167–575 MAD/day (17–58 USD)
1
Stay Near Casa-Port or the Old Medina
Accommodation100–300 MAD/nightSave 300+ MAD/night Near Casa-Port station, old medina, Rue Allal Ben Abdallah
Casablanca accommodation is pricier than other Moroccan cities because it caters to business travellers. Hostels like HI Casablanca and Youth Hostel Casablanca offer dorms from 100–150 MAD/night. Budget hotels near Casa-Port train station and the old medina offer private rooms from 200–350 MAD/night. The area around Rue Allal Ben Abdallah and near the Central Market is well-located and has the most budget options. Avoid the luxury business hotels along the Corniche — they're 1,000–3,000 MAD/night. Airbnb apartments can offer good value (300–500 MAD/night for a full apartment) if you're staying 2+ nights. The old medina itself has a few guesthouses starting at 200 MAD/night. Book near a tram stop or within walking distance of the centre to minimise transport costs.
Tip: Hotels near Casa-Port station are the best value — you're within walking distance of the old medina, the mosque, and the train to the airport
2
Eat at the Central Market and Local Spots
Food20–50 MAD per mealSave 100+ MAD/day Marché Central, old medina, Habous Quarter
The Marché Central (Central Market) is the best food experience in Casablanca — and surprisingly affordable. The fish stalls sell fresh catches that the surrounding restaurants will grill for you for 40–60 MAD (choose your fish, they cook it). Inside the market, the seafood restaurants serve grilled sardines (20–30 MAD), fish tajine (40–60 MAD), and fried calamari (30–40 MAD). Away from the market, the old medina has local restaurants serving tajines for 30–45 MAD and sandwiches for 12–20 MAD. The Habous Quarter (new medina) has excellent budget food — pastries at the famous Patisserie Bennis (5–15 MAD each), street food stalls, and local restaurants. For breakfast, the cafés on Boulevard Mohammed V serve coffee and pastries for 15–25 MAD. Avoid the Corniche restaurants — they charge 2–3x more for the beachfront location.
Tip: At the Central Market, choose your own fish from the stalls and have the restaurant next door grill it — fresher and 50% cheaper than ordering from the menu
3
Free Art Deco Walking Tour
Free ActivityFreeSave 200+ MAD Boulevard Mohammed V, Place Mohammed V, surrounding streets
Casablanca has the richest collection of Art Deco, Art Nouveau, and Modernist architecture in Africa — and walking among it is completely free. The French colonial period (1912–1956) produced hundreds of stunning buildings that rival Paris in ambition. Start at Place Mohammed V (the grand administrative square with its fountain and government buildings), walk along Boulevard Mohammed V past the Central Market, continue to the Sacré-Cœur Cathedral (a decommissioned French church, free to enter), and explore the side streets where every building has decorative facades, wrought-iron balconies, and ornamental tiles. The Quartier Art Deco (the grid of streets around Boulevard Mohammed V and Rue Abdelmoumen) is the densest concentration. Key buildings to spot: Cinema Rialto, Immeuble Bessonneau, Villa des Arts (free gallery), and the Glaoui Palace. No guide needed — just look up as you walk.
Tip: Download the "Casamémoire" heritage trail map (free online) — it marks 60+ Art Deco buildings with descriptions
4
Visit Hassan II Mosque Smartly
Culture130 MAD guided tourSmartest spend Boulevard de la Corniche, oceanfront
The Hassan II Mosque — the largest mosque in Africa, built on a promontory over the Atlantic Ocean — is Casablanca's must-see attraction. The guided tour costs 130 MAD and is the only way non-Muslims can enter (one of the few mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslims). Tours run Saturday to Thursday at 10am, 11am, 2pm, and 3pm (shorter schedule on Fridays). The interior is breathtaking: a retractable roof, hand-carved granite columns, zellige tilework, and space for 25,000 worshippers. The tour lasts about 1 hour. If 130 MAD is too much for your budget, the mosque exterior is equally spectacular — and free. Walk around the esplanade, admire the 210-metre minaret (the tallest in the world), and watch the waves crash against the seawall below. The sunset view from the mosque esplanade is one of Casablanca's best free experiences.
Tip: The 10am tour is the least crowded — arrive 15 minutes early and the interior light is beautiful in the morning
5
Walk the Old Medina (Free)
Free ActivityFreeSave 100+ MAD Old medina near the port, Habous Quarter in the south
Casablanca's old medina — smaller and less famous than those of Marrakech and Fes — is a genuine local neighbourhood that costs nothing to explore. The medina is bounded by the port on one side and the modern city on the other, with narrow lanes, small mosques, local shops, and daily life unfolding without tourist fanfare. The contrast between the Art Deco modernity outside and the medieval atmosphere inside is striking. The Clock Tower (built during the French period in a Neo-Moorish style) marks one entrance. Inside, you'll find spice stalls, tailors, metalworkers, and neighbourhood cafés serving mint tea for 5–8 MAD. The medina is safe during the day but quieter than the famous medinas — which is part of its charm. From the medina, it's a pleasant 20-minute walk along the seafront to the Hassan II Mosque. The Habous Quarter (new medina, built in the 1930s) is a separate area with a planned Moroccan architecture and good pastry shops.
Tip: Walk from the old medina along the seafront road to the Hassan II Mosque — the 20-minute coastal walk is scenic and free
6
Take the Tram and Walk
Transport7 MAD per rideSave 80+ MAD/day Tram lines through central Casablanca
Casablanca's tramway costs 7 MAD per ride and connects Casa-Port station, the old medina area, the Habous Quarter, and the eastern suburbs. The tram doesn't cover everything (it misses the Hassan II Mosque and the Corniche), but it's useful for longer distances. Most of central Casablanca is walkable — the old medina, Art Deco quarter, Central Market, and Place Mohammed V are all within a 15-minute walk of each other. Petit taxis are metered: most in-city rides cost 15–25 MAD. For the airport, take the train from Casa-Voyageurs station (43 MAD, 1 hour) instead of a taxi (250–300 MAD). The train to Rabat costs 50–80 MAD and takes 50 minutes — making Rabat an easy day trip. Walking is the best way to appreciate the Art Deco architecture — you'll miss it from a taxi.
Tip: Take the train to the airport instead of a taxi — 43 MAD vs 250+ MAD, and Casa-Voyageurs station is connected by tram to the centre
7
Free Corniche and Beach Walk
Free ActivityFreeSave 100+ MAD Corniche from Hassan II Mosque to Ain Diab
The Corniche — Casablanca's seafront boulevard stretching from the Hassan II Mosque west to the Ain Diab beach district — is a free walk with Atlantic views, public beaches, and people-watching. The public beaches (Plage Ain Diab and surrounding areas) are free to access, though the beach clubs charge 50–150 MAD for sun loungers and pools. Walking the full Corniche from the mosque to Ain Diab takes about 45 minutes and passes cafés, restaurants, and the El Hank Lighthouse (free to view from outside). The walk is best in the late afternoon when the heat eases and the sunset colours begin. On weekends, the Corniche is lively with local families, joggers, and football players on the beach. The Morocco Mall (at the western end of the Corniche) has an aquarium and ice rink if you want indoor entertainment — but the window-shopping and people-watching are free.
Tip: Walk the Corniche from the Hassan II Mosque at 5pm — you'll arrive at Ain Diab in time for sunset over the Atlantic
8
Explore the Habous Quarter
Free ActivityFree (shopping extra)Save 50+ MAD Habous Quarter, southeast of the city centre
The Habous Quarter (Quartier des Habous or "New Medina") — built in the 1930s by the French as a planned Moroccan-style neighbourhood — offers free exploration and the best pastries in Casablanca. The architecture blends traditional Moroccan elements (arched doorways, zellige tilework) with colonial planning (wide streets, organised souks). The Pâtisserie Bennis is legendary — Moroccan pastries (cornes de gazelle, chebakia, briouates) cost 5–15 MAD each and are among the best in the country. The olive market has dozens of varieties at wholesale prices (10–30 MAD per kilo). The Royal Palace (exterior only — no entry) is nearby. The souks sell traditional items at fair prices: babouche slippers (50–80 MAD), djellabas, and leather goods. The Habous Quarter is cleaner and more relaxed than the old medina — a good introduction to Moroccan market culture without the intensity.
Tip: Buy pastries at Pâtisserie Bennis — the cornes de gazelle (8–10 MAD each) are considered the best in Morocco
9
Budget Seafood at the Port
Food30–60 MAD per mealSave 100+ MAD/meal Port de Pêche, Central Market area
Casablanca is a port city with excellent fresh seafood — and you don't need to eat at expensive restaurants. The fishing port area (Port de Pêche) near the old medina has simple restaurants and stalls serving freshly caught fish at local prices: grilled sardines (15–25 MAD), fried calamari (25–40 MAD), mixed seafood plates (40–70 MAD). The Central Market fish restaurants (see tip #2) are another excellent option. For the cheapest seafood in the city, find the small stands near the port where fishermen's families sell grilled fish and fried shrimp for 20–35 MAD per plate. These places have no signage and no menus — just follow your nose and the queues. The quality is excellent — the fish was swimming hours ago. Eat at lunchtime for the freshest options.
Tip: The fish stalls closest to the port entrance serve the freshest catch — the fishermen sell directly to these vendors first
10
Budget Hammam Experience
Wellness15–20 MAD (public hammam)Save 250+ MAD Old medina, Habous Quarter, Maârif
Casablanca's tourist hammams and hotel spas charge 300–600 MAD. The neighbourhood public hammams charge 15–20 MAD — slightly more than smaller cities but still a fraction of spa prices. Casablanca being a modern city means its public hammams are generally clean and well-maintained. The hammams in the old medina, the Habous Quarter, and the residential areas of Maârif are all reliable. Bring your own savon noir (10 MAD), kessa glove (10 MAD), and towel. Separate sessions for men and women. For a gommage, add 50–70 MAD. The hammam is especially welcome after a day of walking Casablanca's concrete streets — the hot steam relaxes tired muscles and the scrub removes the city dust. Ask your hotel for the nearest neighbourhood hammam — even mid-range hotels are happy to recommend the local option.
Tip: The hammams in the Habous Quarter are the cleanest public option in Casablanca — well-maintained and welcoming to visitors
Plan it with a local expert
Travel Morocco with Serenity Morocco Tours
Crafting extraordinary journeys through Morocco's timeless landscapes. 100% private journeys, handcrafted around you.
ONMT Licensed 100% Private Tours 100% private tours since 2018
from $2,011 5 days Marrakech → Erg Chebbi
Sahara Desert Luxury Expedition
from $2,054 7 days Marrakech · Fes · Meknes · Rabat
Essential Morocco: Imperial Cities Circuit
from $5,978 14 days Full-country circuit
Sahara to Sea: Morocco Complete
More Casablanca Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Casablanca cost per day?
A budget traveller can visit Casablanca for 200–450 MAD (20–45 USD) per day. Casablanca is Morocco's most expensive city for accommodation (hostels from 100 MAD, budget hotels from 200 MAD), but food and transport are reasonably priced. Street food and local restaurants cost 60–120 MAD/day. The tram costs 7 MAD per ride. The Hassan II Mosque guided tour (130 MAD) is the main paid attraction — most other sights (Art Deco quarter, Central Market, Habous Quarter, Corniche walk) are free. Casablanca is a business city rather than a tourist city, so budget options are less abundant than in Marrakech or Fes.
Is Casablanca worth visiting?
Yes, if you know what to look for. Casablanca isn't a postcard-perfect medina city — it's Morocco's modern economic capital, with a gritty urban energy, stunning Art Deco architecture, one of the world's largest mosques, excellent food (especially seafood), and a cosmopolitan nightlife. Budget travellers should plan 1–2 days: the Hassan II Mosque (Morocco's most impressive building), the Art Deco quarter (free walking tour), the old medina, the Habous Quarter, and the Corniche seafront. The city is a major transport hub — trains to Rabat (50 minutes), Marrakech (3 hours), and Fes (4 hours) are frequent and cheap. Many travellers pass through Casablanca without stopping, which is a mistake.
How do you get around Casablanca cheaply?
Casablanca has a modern tramway (7 MAD per ride) connecting the main areas: Casa-Port station, the old medina, the Habous Quarter, and the eastern suburbs. The line doesn't reach the Hassan II Mosque or the Corniche — for these, walk (20–30 minutes from the centre) or take a petit taxi (15–25 MAD). Petit taxis are metered and relatively honest in Casablanca. Grand taxis to the airport cost about 250–300 MAD, but the train from Casa-Voyageurs station to Mohammed V Airport costs just 43 MAD (1 hour). Walking is feasible for the centre — the old medina, Art Deco quarter, Central Market, and Place Mohammed V are all within a compact area.