10 Best Things to Do in Casablanca (2026 Travel Guide)

Casablanca is Morocco's largest city, its economic capital, and the country's window onto the Atlantic. Travelers used to skip it for Marrakech or Fez — but the White City has quietly become one of North Africa's most rewarding short-break destinations. This 2026 guide rounds up the 10 best things to do in Casablanca, from the legendary Hassan II Mosque to jet ski on Ain Diab, with every recommended activity bookable directly on MaJourneys.

1. Visit the Hassan II Mosque

The Hassan II Mosque is Casablanca's defining landmark. Completed in 1993 and designed by French architect Michel Pinseau, it sits on a rocky platform jutting into the Atlantic. Its minaret rises to 210 metres — the second-tallest religious structure in the world — and the prayer hall holds up to 25,000 worshippers under a retractable cedar-wood roof. It is one of the few mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslim visitors, through guided tours that run several times a day.

Tip: arrive 30 minutes early; the marble esplanade outside is free to walk and is the best spot in the city to watch the sun set over the ocean.

2. Wander the Old Medina and the Habous Quarter

For history and crafts, walk the Old Medina of Casablanca, an 18th-century walled core that survived the 1755 Lisbon earthquake and the colonial reshaping of the city. A short taxi away, the Habous Quarter (the "New Medina") was built by the French in the 1920s and 1930s in a Mauresque style — neat arcades, traditional bakeries, olives and date shops, and the famous Pâtisserie Bennis Habous for cornes-de-gazelle.

3. Have dinner at Rick's Café

Yes, the film Casablanca was shot on a Burbank lot — but in 2004 former US diplomat Kathy Kriger opened Rick's Café in a restored 1930s riad facing the port, recreating the look of the movie down to the piano. It is unapologetically touristic and that is the charm: arched doorways, brass lanterns, live piano in the evenings, and a menu that lands somewhere between Moroccan and French bistro.

4. Walk the Ain Diab Corniche at sunset

The Ain Diab Corniche is the city's seaside artery — a 3-kilometre promenade lined with cafés, ice-cream shops, beach clubs and rooftop bars. Locals come for the evening walk between the Hassan II Mosque and the lighthouse at El Hank. It is also the staging point for most of Casablanca's water activities.

5. Ride a jet ski on Plage Tamaris

The Casablanca coast south of Anfa opens up at Plage Tamaris into long stretches of ocean perfect for water sports. Our Jet Ski in Casablanca experience is the easiest way to get out on the Atlantic — sessions are short, instructor-led, and suitable for first-timers. Pay on arrival, no online deposit required.

6. Go quad biking along the coast

For something on dry land, Quad Biking in Casablanca takes you through the sandy trails behind Tamaris — a mix of beach, dunes and pine. Ideal for groups, bachelor parties and team building. Helmets and a short safety briefing are included.

7. Try a sunset horse ride on the beach

If you prefer the slower kind of adventure, book a horse ride in Casablanca. Our partner stables work with calm, well-trained horses on the beach south of the city — beginner-friendly, with the option of a longer ride along the dunes for experienced riders.

8. Race the dunes on a buggy

A step up from the quad in terms of comfort and speed, the Buggy Ride in Casablanca is built for two: one drives, one holds on. Same trail network as the quads but with a bigger engine and a roll cage. Best at golden hour.

9. See Casablanca from the sky

One of the city's best-kept secrets: you can fly a light aircraft over the Hassan II Mosque and the Corniche with a certified pilot. Book the Flight Experience in Casablanca — a 20 to 40 minute scenic flight from Tit Mellil aerodrome, with the option to take the controls under instruction. The view of the mosque from above the Atlantic is the photo nobody else on your trip will have.

10. Have dinner with a view

End the day above the city. Sky 28 sits on the 28th floor of the Anfa Place tower and serves a Mediterranean menu with a 360-degree panorama over Casablanca. For something at sea level, Le Cabestan is the city's longest-running fine-dining institution — built into the cliffs next to the El Hank lighthouse, in business since the 1920s.

Bonus: unwind at a Casablanca spa

If your trip is more than 48 hours, build in a hammam afternoon. The Royal Mansour Spa and the Four Seasons Spa are the two benchmarks for traditional Moroccan hammam paired with international treatments.

How to plan your Casablanca trip

Two to three days is enough to cover the highlights. We recommend pairing one heritage half-day (Hassan II Mosque + Habous Quarter), one activity half-day (jet ski or quad), and one long evening on the Corniche. All activities listed above are bookable through MaJourneys with pay-on-arrival — you reserve online and pay the provider directly on the day.

Frequently asked questions

Is Casablanca worth visiting?

Yes — for the Hassan II Mosque alone, but also for the Art-Deco architecture downtown, the seafood, and the easy access to the Atlantic. Two days is the sweet spot.

What is Casablanca famous for?

The Hassan II Mosque, the 1942 film Casablanca, its Art Deco and Moorish-Mauresque architecture, and being Morocco's economic capital and largest city.

How many days do you need in Casablanca?

Two full days covers the headline sights and one activity. Three days lets you add a spa afternoon or a day trip to Rabat (90 km north).

What are the best free things to do in Casablanca?

Walk the Hassan II Mosque esplanade, stroll the Ain Diab Corniche, explore the Old Medina, and people-watch on Mohammed V Square.

Is Casablanca safe for tourists?

Yes. Casablanca is broadly safe; standard urban precautions apply — keep valuables out of sight in crowded medina alleys and stick to licensed taxis at night.

Ready to plan? Browse all Casablanca activities on MaJourneys and book your favourite — confirmation is by WhatsApp and you pay on arrival.