Well known because of the Humphrey Bogart film of the same name, Casablanca is Morocco’s largest and most modern city. Before the French began to develop it as the country’s economic capital in 1912, Casablanca was only a small trading post. Its subsequent rapid growth has wiped away most of its romantic image. Now basically a big commercial and industrial city, it is home to most of Morocco’s major corporations and banks. However, its traditional markets pale in comparison with those of Fez or Marrakech.

Although Casablanca has a medina and boasts several landmark 1920s and 1930s buildings with art-nouveau, art-deco and traditional Moroccan accents, the most impressive sight by far is the Hassan II Mosque. It was completed in 1993 and is one of the largest mosques in the world. It is also one of only a few mosques in Morocco that non-Muslims can visit. Guided tours allow you to see the wonderful craftsmanship and furnishings: beautiful mosaic tile work, sculpted plasterwork, marble-clad walls and arches, thick carpets, and enormous Venetian glass chandeliers. The wooden ceiling above the immense prayer hall can retract to open the mosque to the sky.

When to travel to Casablanca

Whilst year round Morocco is warm and sunny, the best time to visit is from mid February to June and from September to December. Coastal Morocco is cooled by breezes off the Mediterranean and Atlantic. The peaks of the Atlas Mountains are snow capped for most of the year