Explora Journeys in Casablanca

Casablanca is Morocco's commercial capital, a big Atlantic port city whose case for the day rests almost entirely on one building: the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest in the world, with a minaret rising over the ocean and part of the structure built out over the water. Beyond the mosque the city is more lived-in than scenic, with Art Deco bones, a café culture, and a compact Old Medina. It also functions as the gateway to Rabat, reachable by train.

What to do on a day in Casablanca

• Hassan II Mosque, the standout, with hand-carved marble and cedar, vast zellige tilework, and a retractable roof; non-Muslims enter only on the roughly 45-minute guided tours (Saturday to Thursday at set morning slots and 3pm, Fridays after prayers)
• The Old Medina near the port, a small walled quarter of narrow lanes and Moorish detail, good for an hour on foot
• The Habous quarter (New Medina), a 1900s French-built take on a Moroccan medina, with the Royal Palace facade and an olive and produce market
• Mohammed V Square and the surrounding Art Deco and Mauresque civic buildings in the center
• The Corniche waterfront promenade west of the mosque, for Atlantic air and a string of cafes
• Rabat by train, about 75 minutes each way and running roughly hourly, for the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and the Kasbah of the Udayas

Getting ashore

Since November 2025 ships use a new terminal roughly 1 to 1.25 km from the center, but the walk runs through an industrial zone, so take the port shuttle or a petit taxi rather than going on foot. One day is enough for Casablanca's highlights, and the mosque plus medina leaves time to add Rabat by train; Marrakesh, at 250 km, is too far for a port day.

When to book the ship's excursion vs your own →

Weather and when to visit

• October (early autumn calls). Bright and warm, with highs around 25C, mild nights near 18C, and sea still pleasant around 22C. Low rain risk.
• November (autumn calls). Pleasant and a touch cooler, highs near 22C and nights around 14C, with the first Atlantic fronts bringing moderate rain (about 60mm across the month). Fewer crowds.
• March to May (spring calls). Mild and sunny with a mix of sun and occasional showers, a comfortable, less crowded window.