Rabat’s Kasbah of the Udayas is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with narrow, winding streets lined with blue and white houses. Against the backdrop of the blue and white sky, this is a sight you won’t easily forget. Once-in-a-lifetime detours like these are easy to add to your Daytrip itinerary, so don’t miss out!

Casablanca: Hollywood’s sweetheart

Morocco remains an underrated travel destination, but Casablanca entered the international zeitgeist during World War II. While under French colonization, Casablanca hosted meetings of top leaders of the Allied forces and fueled international interest in North Africa.

Popular films Casablanca (1942) and A Night in Casablanca (1946) captured the imaginations of the masses with a romanticized view of life in Morocco in the 1940s. These films portrayed Casablanca as an exotic and mysterious locale at a time when Hollywood was heavily involved in war propaganda. Your Moroccan vacation is the perfect opportunity to separate fact from fiction and see an authentic version of Casablanca.

If you hire a white taxi, it is private and only for you and your travel companions. Red taxis are more like ride-share cars and may pick up other passengers heading in the same direction.

Arrive early to the Casablanca airport

If you plan on flying out of the Casablanca Airport, allow yourself plenty of time to go through the airport security. This airport has extra security measures. Before even entering the building your bags and passport will be checked. They will be checked again in the standard security line after checking in for your flight.

This trip takes 3 hours and 40 minutes and gives you the flexibility to visit other Moroccan cities like Sale or Rabat. Your driver will pick you up from your address in Tangier and take you door-to-door to the sightseeing stops on your itinerary before arriving safely in Casablanca. This trip starts at $63 per seat, so book your transfer today!

Trains from Tangier to Casablanca

When traveling to and from Casablanca by train, do not be confused by the stations’ names. You will not find a “Casablanca” station, but instead, you will need to specify if you are traveling to the Casa Port Station or Casa Voyageurs Station. Casa Port is the smaller station and is not far from the port. Casa Voyageurs is the main train station.

ONCF has direct high-speed trains from Tangier to Casablanca that take 2 hours and 10 minutes. They leave Tanger Ville (Tangier’s main train station) 14 times per day and tickets cost $35 to $50 per passenger.

When accounting for the cost and time of this journey, account for taxi rides to and from the train stations if you are staying too far away to walk.

Buses from Tangier to Casablanca

Traveling by bus from Tangier to Casablanca takes between 5 and 6 hours. CTM operates three bus lines per day for this route and tickets cost $14.

Flights from Tangier to Casablanca

There are only occasional flights from the Tangier Airport (TNG) to the Casablanca Airport (CMN). While it is worth a quick search before planning your transfer, don’t rely on a direct flight being available for your travel dates.

In between prayer times, non-Muslims are welcome to tour the mosque, so long as they are dressed appropriately. Women are not required to cover their hair, however everyone needs to be covered from their knees to the elbows. Some sections of the mosque do not allow shoes, so wear easy-to-remove shoes and bring socks.

After touring the Hassan II Mosque, take a walk along the seaside promenade and admire it from a distance against the Atlantic Ocean.

Rick’s Cafe

Experience a taste of that Hollywood glamor at Rick’s Cafe, even if it’s all a facade! Casablanca became an instant classic when it was released in 1942, although it was filmed entirely in California. What could be more Hollywood than having a fun, instagram-able moment in this real cafe set up as a replica of the original film set?

Casablanca’s Old Medina and Jewish quarter

Amid the modern allure of Casablanca lies odes to the traditional Moroccan lifestyle. Wander the narrow streets and markets in Casablanca's Old Medina for traditional shops selling handmade gifts, spices, and fabric.

The Old Medina also has a historic Jewish Quarter, called the Mellah. Here, you can visit synagogues and discover traditional Jewish shops and cuisine.