How to Spend 3 Days in Casablanca: Best Places to Visit and Eat❤️
Casablanca is often the first city travelers see when they arrive in Morocco — and sometimes the first they leave. That is a mistake I have watched many visitors make. Spending 3 days in Casablanca gives you the chance to understand modern Morocco, beyond postcard images and touristic expectations.
This guide is written as I would plan the city for travelers I personally accompany: balanced days, realistic distances, meaningful encounters, and honest advice. Casablanca does not reveal itself instantly. It unfolds when you slow down and let it be what it is.
Before You Start: Practical Advice for Casablanca
When to Visit
The best time to enjoy Casablanca is spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). The weather is mild, the Atlantic breeze keeps days comfortable, and walking feels pleasant. Summer can be humid, while winter is mild but sometimes windy.
How to Move Around
- Tramway: The most reliable way to move between major neighborhoods
- Petit taxis: Red taxis for short trips; always ask for the meter
- Walking: Ideal in central areas during the day
Casablanca is large. What looks close on a map may not feel close on foot.
What to Expect
Casablanca is busy, loud, and unapologetically real. It is not designed for tourists — and that is its strength. Come with curiosity, not comparison.
Day 1: Casablanca’s Icons and the Ocean
Morning: Hassan II Mosque
Begin your first morning at the Hassan II Mosque. Even for seasoned travelers, its scale and location are overwhelming. Built partly over the Atlantic Ocean, it represents Casablanca’s spiritual and architectural identity.
Visit in the morning when the light is soft. Guided tours help you understand the craftsmanship, symbolism, and religious meaning without rushing.
Late Morning: Walk the Corniche
After the mosque, head toward the Corniche. This is where the city relaxes. Locals walk, jog, sit, and fish. The Atlantic defines Casablanca’s mood — calmer than inland cities, more open, more direct.
Stop for a coffee with an ocean view. Do not rush.
Lunch: Ocean-Inspired Dining
Your first meal should introduce you to the city’s relationship with the sea. Simple seafood places near the coast often serve the freshest dishes.
This is also a good moment to start learning where to eat in Casablanca: follow locals, not signs.
Afternoon: City Center and Art Deco
Spend your afternoon walking through Casablanca’s city center. Look up. Art Deco façades, balconies, and entrances reveal a layered history shaped by Moroccan, European, and global influences.
Many buildings show age — that is part of their story.
Evening: Café Culture
End your day in a traditional café. Order mint tea or coffee and observe. Casablanca cafés are social spaces, not attractions. Conversations, pauses, and gestures tell you more than any guidebook.
Day 2: Local Life and Hidden Neighborhoods
Morning: Central Market
Start early at the Central Market. Fishmongers shout prices, herbs perfume the air, and locals negotiate with ease.
Do not rush. Watch first. Casablanca teaches through observation.
Midday: Habous Quarter
Habous Quarter offers a calmer rhythm. Built in the 1930s, it blends traditional Moroccan design with French urban planning.
Bookshops, bakeries, and artisans line its streets. This is one of the best places to buy small souvenirs without pressure.
Lunch: Traditional Moroccan Food
Habous is an excellent area for a classic Moroccan lunch. Simple restaurants serve tagines, grilled meats, and fresh bread.
Lunch is a social moment in Morocco. Meals take time.
Afternoon: Residential Walks
After lunch, walk through nearby residential streets. Laundry hangs from balconies, children play, neighbors greet each other.
These moments define Casablanca more than monuments.
Evening: Maarif or Gauthier
Spend your evening in Maarif or Gauthier, neighborhoods where locals dine and gather. This is where you truly understand where to eat in Casablanca beyond tourist recommendations.
Day 3: Slowing Down and Understanding the City
Morning: Old Medina
Casablanca’s old medina is modest and functional. It has not been curated for visitors.
Visit during the day, walk confidently, and stay aware. This is everyday life, not a museum.
Late Morning: Hammam or Spa
After busy streets, allow yourself a moment of restoration. A traditional hammam offers authenticity, while modern spas provide comfort with Moroccan-inspired rituals.
Ask your hotel which option fits your comfort level.
Lunch: Casual and Local
Your final lunch should be simple. Sandwiches, grilled meat, or a small neighborhood restaurant allow you to eat as locals do.
This is often when travelers realize how much they have adjusted.
Afternoon: Free Time
Leave your final afternoon open. Revisit a café, walk the Corniche again, or sit somewhere without purpose.
Casablanca reveals itself most clearly when you stop searching.
Evening: Farewell to the Atlantic
End your third evening by the ocean. Watch the light fade, listen to waves, and reflect.
This is the moment many travelers finally understand the city.
Cultural Tips Foreigners Should Know
- Greetings matter — always say hello first
- Dress modestly away from the beach
- Friday afternoons are quieter due to prayer
Respect is quickly returned in Casablanca.
Do’s and Don’ts in Casablanca
Do
- Carry small change for taxis
- Observe before interacting
- Ask permission before taking photos of people
Don’t
- Rush your experience
- Expect a traditional tourist city
- Compare Casablanca constantly to Marrakech
Is 3 Days Enough?
Yes — if you approach it correctly. 3 days in Casablanca allow you to see landmarks, understand daily life, and adjust to Moroccan rhythm before exploring other cities.
Casablanca prepares you for Morocco.
Final Thoughts
Casablanca is not a city that performs. It lives. It works. It challenges expectations.
In conclusion, spending 3 days in Casablanca offers more than sightseeing. It offers understanding — of Morocco today, of its people, and of a city that refuses to be simplified.
If you give Casablanca your time and attention, it gives you perspective. And that stays with you long after you leave.
