Casablanca, from the New Medina to the ocean

• Heritage
• Coastal
• Architecture
• Religious

This self-guided tour tells the story of Casablanca through all of its places open to visitors, from its medinas to its seafront. The Habous district, the "New Medina" with its arcades and craft shops, is home to the Mahkama du Pacha, a major example of neo-Moroccan style. Dar Al Ala is devoted to Arab-Andalusian music, and the Royal Palace is seen from outside. Between the port and the center, the old medina and the Sqala bastion recall the city before its 20th-century urban boom. The modern center unfolds from United Nations Square to Mohammed V Square and Boulevard Mohammed V, where Art Deco, modernism and neo-Moroccan references meet. The Sacred Heart Cathedral, a white 1930s silhouette, now hosts cultural events; Notre-Dame de Lourdes Church surprises with its modern architecture. The museums complete the picture: Villa Carl Ficke, now the Casablanca Memory Museum (closed on Tuesdays), the Abderrahman Slaoui Foundation Museum and the Museum of Moroccan Judaism. Facing the ocean, the Hassan II Mosque raises its minaret above the Atlantic: the interior can only be visited on a guided tour, at the times announced on site. The Ain Diab corniche is ideal at sunset. The duration shown adds up visits and travel: spread the tour over several days. Take a petit taxi between the more distant stops. Some places do not publish official opening hours: known hours are shown in the app, so check them before you set off.