Arranged along the shore of north-western Morocco, the locale of Grand Casablanca, with a populace of almost 4 million, is the most populated district of Morocco.
The capital city of the area is the prominent holiday destination – Casablanca.
It is the region premier capital tourism spot.
Casablanca gloats of energizing attractions and world-class convenience.
Additionally, in the district of Grand Casablanca is where you can find the coastline resort city called the Mohammedia.
There is so many things to do for one day in Casablanca for example you can walk around Old Medina and visit so many interesting Mosques.
All in all, nonetheless, the area has much to offer and guests ought to without a doubt incorporate various destinations in Grand Casablanca on their travel schedules when in Morocco.
Best time to visit Grand Casablanca ?
The Grand Casablanca Region is an ideal destination that can be toured all year round; however certain months are more agreeable than others.
The mid year months in the middle of July and September are by and large the most sweltering season of the year, amid which time every day high temperatures will habitually move into the 80’s.
The atmosphere however is bone-dry, so stickiness is not an issue.
The nighttimes and evenings amid these late spring months will chill sufficiently off and open to dozing temperatures.
This is the ideal time to visit this region.
The coolest time is amid the winter months of December through February, amid which time the day by day high temperatures will venture into the 50’s.
Amid these months, the night temperatures will drop down to the upper 30’s and the low of 40’s.
The rainiest months of the year are November, December, until January.
Amid these months, it will just rain one out of five days overall.
The driest months of the year are June, July and August, amid which time it will seldom, if at any point will it have occasional rains.
Best things to do in Grand Casablanca
These are my favorite things to do and beautiful places to visit on your next holiday to Grand Casablanca .
Hassan II Mosque (Casablanca)
The Hassan II Mosque is a modern looking religious structure, but it was built in the late ‘900s.
It’s location on the sea, its majesty, the white stone and gold details or colored, make it still more interesting than you might imagine.
Of course you can see that the stone is intricately carved and did not use any precious building materials, but the set is still nice, with a search of aesthetic taste.
In summary, you are not only in front a majestic monument (the third largest mosque in the world) but it’s a sacred sanctuary that has its own identity and a well-defined taste.
If you are in Casablanca, it is worth a visit.
The majesty of this mosque makes it the most important work of religion in Morocco.
Built in part on the sea and partly on the mainland just seems out of the sea like the throne of God (from a verse of the Koran).
It can contain more than 25,000 worshipers inside, while outside it can be 80,000.
Its minaret stands 210 meters high at the apex and has a laser beam that when lit indicates the direction of Mecca.
But things are more important and interesting in it, and especially in the vast prayer hall where you can see a huge marble, great Murano chandeliers, balconies for women made entirely of precious woods and finally beautiful decorations with tiled and stucco moldings.
Under the prayer hall are the fountains for the purification and hammam where the faithful must go for ablutions before prayer.
This immense work is a must visit even for non-Muslims, but it can be done only at particular times that are far from the times of prayer of the faithful.
My favorite stuff to do in Grand Casablanca
Old Medina of Casablanca
If you are in Casablanca, a walk along the Old Medina of Casablanca is worth it just to understand a little more about the city and its history.
It is very plain and certainly not anything special, especially when compared to other similar places in North Africa.
The inland areas also appear a bit dangerous, especially at dusk.
Close to exterior doors are markets of fruits and vegetables that are quite characteristic.
You can buy everything you need, but you should be accompanied by a resident, in order to avoid disappointment.
It has great saffron pistils with great prices.
It’s just a big market full of items with fake brands.
Pretty dirty and it’s easy to get lost.
It is very characteristic and quite disturbing to find are the shops of food especially butchers with exposed animal heads hanging (even camels) and no forethought toilet, as well as there are stalls full of live chickens that are slaughtered in front of the customer.
There are fine shops that sell olives, there are a thousand varieties and are shown artistically that looks quite choreographic and nice to photograph.
It offers a first taste of Morocco for those arriving by plane to Casablanca.
Usual recommendations for those interested to do some shopping do not give up in front of the first indication of price, learn to haggle!
And if you pretend to go away if the price is too high, it will fall magically.
As for the characteristic views, there are some, though not as plentiful as other Medina’s.
Fun things to do in Grand Casablanca
Notre Dame de Lourdes
The Notre Dame de Lourdes adds to the mystical charm and eclecticism of Morocco.
It is interesting to see a Catholic church in a Muslim country.
It has an impressive stained glass windows and the opportunity to attend Masses (weekdays up to 7:00 pm and Sundays at 11:00 am).
You will be amazed to discover this little “Lourdes” in Casablanca.
The church is very beautiful, with stunning frescoes, and the statue outside of Lourdes, with cave and all the rest.
You will find that Morocco is so fascinating; it has so many cultures, religions, and official languages that coexist in one huge city.
Popular Grand Casablanca tourist attractions
Musee Abderrahman Slaoui
The Musee Abderrahman Slaoui is an eclectic museum with several themes, beautiful antiques, and special exhibitions every 3 months.
It is located in the Art Deco district casa; the walk around the museum is also very nice.
It is an important place that is not to be missed while in Casablanca.
The museum takes you to a trip to the art and tradition of Morocco, and it is simply breathtaking.
It is a modern museum with Moroccan art pieces, with few tourists, but quite charming even if it has a very small collection.
For those who want to know the local culture, it is worth the visit.
What else to do in Grand Casablanca ?
New Medina of Casablanca
The New Medina of Casablanca was built around 1923 in the modern area of the city, characterized by typical craft shops of Moroccan souk.
Habous is a district of Casablanca, called the new medina.
It’s an area full of craft shops and more, café, which offers interesting glimpses of local life.
Then if you push on until Rue Abbasids you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in a local market full of interesting people.
A tip: if your hotel is in the central area (near Place des Nations Unies) for the section from / to take a petit taxi, but be careful not to pay more than 30 DHM.
Is Grand Casablanca worth visiting?
The answer is Yes.
Grand Casablanca is worth visiting.
This is because it is such a magical place
full of beauty and adventours.
Make sure you visit the following stunning place:
Playas Ain Diab y La Corniche
The Playas Ain Diab y La Corniche is the best place to have a good breath of fresh air, or make a run at the nearby Megarama Morocco Mall.
The walk is very pleasant and you can take the opportunity to walk along the promenade.
It has a very long beautiful corniche overlooking the majestic city; you can also do some jogging in the morning or have a little breakfast.
The beach of Ain Diab is a true institution for Casablanca.
Whether for a romantic stroll, sunbathe in summer, playing soccer with friends or just to relax your mind facing the ocean, all the inhabitants of the city find a way to walk along this long beach of fine sand.
It is accessible from anywhere with the tram line, the various bus lines, taxi or even with your own car (fairly easy parking even in summer); it is always a good time to go to Ain Diab.
Tip: the best time to go is in the morning during the mid-week winter season.
What else to see in Grand Casablanca ?
Museum of Moroccan Judaism
The Museum of Moroccan Judaism tells the life of the Jews and the awareness of Judaism in Morocco.
The museum consists of few rooms with items collected in any significant way, but not by a representative idea of the rich (culturally) vanished world.
It is touching to be able to visit this beautiful museum in a country where most of the population is Muslim, housing and opening up to the spirit of Judaism.
In fact, it is moving to see this peaceful co-existence in Morocco in general, and should reign between neighbors all around the world.
Popular places to visit in Grand Casablanca Morocco Mall
A huge and great shopping complex in the city of Casablanca, Morocco.
It is located along the ocean’s edge, on the famous Boulevard de la Corniche.
It’s a bit off center, but worth the trip, it has lots of great designer shops (not found in the city center).
Virtually all European designers are sitting in this mall, which has even a branch of the famous Galeries Lafayette, Paris.
It has a branch of Maison Ladurée too.
The mall also features a huge aquarium and an IMAX cinema, which are extra attractions.
The surface train does not reach the mall.
To access this place, you can go to the final station and from there take a taxi (10 Dirhams is the most you should pay for running) or go direct to taxi from the hotel.
It is a good option, even for the few attractions.
It has many sophisticated shops that carry international and signature brand at a price that is not so reasonable, yet with many well regard when compared to big cities.
It has a gigantic aquarium with more than 3,000 fish, an impressive and beautiful glass structure in a mall that is worth visiting.
Things to do in Grand Casablanca with kids
Square of Mohammed V
The Square of Mohammed V is located in the very beautiful region of Casablanca.
The people here are dressed in national costumes and offer a charge if you photograph them.
One has to be careful to avoid disappointment.
It is the central square or heart of the city, which concentrates great movement.
It’s a beautiful space to walk around and take pictures.
It is an impressive square with great attractions for children, many pigeons, and surrounded by colonial buildings.
The square is definitely worth a visit because it is right in the center of Casablanca.
The spaciousness of the beautiful square is a bit lost through heavy traffic that constantly demands your attention.
This place has changed several names in history; it is a place where all Moroccans enjoy getting together and walking with family or friends.
Things to do around Grand Casablanca
Phare d’el Hank
After a visit to the mosque (Hassan II Mosque) you can walk to the old lighthouse called the Phare d’el Hank .
The view is very nice on the sea and the city.
If you have the chance to go in February, it is a little cool, but very quiet.
It offers a great view from the house and the sea, it seems like a mystical place, the stairs are impressive, and once you reach the top, you will be moved by the sight of the mosque and the sea.
There is no fixed price for the entrance fee, but as a form of gratitude, you can give the caretaker a few Dirhams before you leave.
Must see places in Grand Casablanca
Mahkama du Pacha
The Mahkama du Pacha or the former Pasha Palace is now the district seat of the government.
You can wonderfully see different style or elements of oriental architecture; see the cedar woodwork in the ceiling area, the mosaics and the plaster ornaments.
There is also a beautifully decorated glass roof.
It is especially nice to look in all four directions from the courtyard of the building.
The interior of the Habous city palace, as the building is also called, already leads in what is commonly called the “oriental” connection of the city.
It has richly decorated ceilings, walls, romantic little courtyards with fountains and plants, and a relaxing place that promises coolness and rest in the summer.
It is a building with a unique architecture of Hispanic Moorish court; both the yards and the halls are richly decorated with stucco, tile, and wood; the visit is rather interesting for the beauty of the work of ornamentation and wealth of architecture to the point that it seems to look like a madrasah more than a palace whose use is also institutional as it is the district headquarters.
Although the tour is free, you can not enter freely; to visit it is necessary to go with a guide whose fees you must have to agree; finding a guide is no problem.
Mosquee Al Qods
The Mosquee Al Qods is located in the Boulevard of Zubayr Ibn Al Awan (long name for a simple street), just 3 km from the port of Casablanca.
It as first established as the Church of Sainte Marguerite des Roches Noires built by the French architect Eugène Lendrat in the early 1920s, during the early French Protectorate, and finished in just under 10 years.
The mosque was built entirely of stone carvings in late Gothic architecture and is a copy of the Church of Saint Martin de Pau, the birthplace of the architect; the name of the church takes in memory of his mother.
The uniqueness of this church is given by the fact of being it is one of the only three Christian churches in Morocco, converted into mosque during the years after the country’s independence.
In the mid-70s of the XX century this church ceased to serve the already cramped Christian community settled in the district and early 80s ownership became public;
Unlike other churches in the city such as the Spanish example of San Buenaventura in the old medina, this church was not converted into socio cultural space but was utterly emptied by removing all elements and Christians and burned symbols in order to “purify” or to turn it into a mosque.
It is the only one to occupy a building of unique architecture in Morocco.
At present, and following the guidelines prevailing in Morocco, the entrance to the Al Qods is allowed only to Muslims; However, despite having been stripped of every vestige of Christian worship and coated the elements of Muslim worship, but still carry a few remnants that it was once a church.
Free things to do in Grand Casablanca
Royal Palace of Casablanca
Surely worth the visit, the interior will be sumptuous and luxurious, but as all the various Royal palaces of Morocco it is not open, so you can not make a judgment.
It has a beautiful port of access but it remains closed and there are infinite guards along the wall.
The city of Casablanca has many other sights and attractions, but this one you can not visit.
Yet if you do an organized tour, it can be inserted between the highlights, when in reality you can only see the walls and the portal, beautiful for charity, but certainly not much of a visit.
The Grand Casablanca Region is a modern territory that is pretty much “crowded out”; the center is full of shops and a large percentage of the population live in this area.
The attractions of Casablanca and the tour of the imperial cities and visit are definitely worth the entire trip.
A tour of the medinas is one of the interesting highlight of a visit.
Clearly, shopkeepers will call you to visit their shops but that’s part of their culture to relate with tourists.
You can also have a grand time visiting its museums about culture, beautiful gardens, and the lush green areas of the Garand Casablanca Region.
