Casablanca Day Trip from Marrakech

Casablanca is Morocco’s biggest city and its business capital, and it is a very different place from Marrakech: wide boulevards, Art Deco buildings from the early twentieth century, a long Atlantic seafront and one of the largest mosques in the world. A private day trip from Marrakech suits travellers who are curious about modern Morocco, who are travelling to or from Casablanca’s airport anyway, or who want the mosque without staying a night. It is a long day, and it is worth saying so before you book. For the wider picture of the city, see our Casablanca guide.

The Hassan II Mosque

This is the reason most visitors come. The mosque stands on the edge of the ocean and is finished in carved plaster, zellige tile and cedar wood. It was built between 1986 and 1993, and its minaret is commonly given as 210 metres high, which is among the tallest in the world. Non-Muslim visitors can enter only on a guided visit, which runs outside prayer times and lasts about 45 to 60 minutes. Schedules and ticket prices change, so we check them with the mosque for your date rather than quoting a number here. Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, and expect to take your shoes off.

The rest of the day

After the mosque, the Corniche at Ain Diab is the long seafront promenade, where you can walk, have lunch with a sea view or simply watch the Atlantic. In the centre, the Habous quarter, the ‘new medina’ built in the 1930s, is calmer than the old medinas, with arcaded streets, shops selling crafts and bakeries. Downtown Casablanca is best seen from the car and on short walks, with its Art Deco and Mauresque façades. If there is something specific you want, such as a gallery, a market or a particular restaurant, tell us when you request the quote.

The drive and the timing

Casablanca is about 240 to 250 km from Marrakech by the A7 toll motorway, which takes about two and a half to three hours each way. Leaving Marrakech can add up to half an hour in traffic, and so can entering Casablanca. We recommend an early start so that the mosque visit and a relaxed lunch fit before the afternoon traffic, and the return can be timed to the hour you choose. Motorway tolls are not part of the price on this page; the quote tells you whether they are included.

Is it the right trip for you?

If you want ancient streets, souks and a smaller scale, you will probably prefer a day in Essaouira, which is similar in driving time and much quieter. If you want Casablanca as part of a longer route, our Casablanca page and the Morocco tour packages show how it fits into a trip across the country, and the customised trips page is the place to ask for a different plan.

Private, so the plan is yours

You choose the pick-up time, the order of the stops and how long to spend at each. A licensed guide can be added for the city if you want one; say so when you request the quote.