Stamped!

The White City

Casablanca architecture

Casablanca is Morocco's largest city and economic capital, but it is perhaps best known internationally through the 1942 Humphrey Bogart film — though the movie was shot entirely in Hollywood. The Hassan II Mosque, completed in 1993, is the largest mosque in Africa and the seventh largest in the world, with a minaret that stands 210 meters tall and a laser that points toward Mecca. The mosque is built partly over the Atlantic Ocean.

  • 5Landmarks
  • 1750Oldest · Old Medina of Casablanca
  • 210 mTallest · Hassan II Mosque
  • 5Architects

Before you go

  • Fly intoMohammed V International Airport (CMN)

    Mohammed V International Airport, named after Morocco's revered post-independence king, is the country's busiest airport and North Africa's primary aviation hub. It connects Morocco to over 90 destinations worldwide. A direct rail link (Al Boraq high-speed and regular train) connects the airport to Casablanca city center and continues north to Rabat and Tangier.

  • CurrencyMoroccan Dirham (د.م.)
  • LanguageArabic & French

    Morocco's official languages are Arabic and Amazigh (Berber). In Casablanca, Darija — the Moroccan Arabic dialect — is the everyday spoken language, which differs significantly from Modern Standard Arabic. French is the primary language of business, higher education, and government administration, a legacy of the French Protectorate. Spanish is also spoken in the north. Many Casablancans code-switch fluidly between all three.

  • Getting aroundTramway & Taxis

    Casablanca's modern tramway system (Tramway de Casablanca) has two lines that cross the city center and connect major neighborhoods, making it one of North Africa's most modern urban transit networks. Red petit taxis serve short trips within the city, while larger beige grand taxis run fixed routes between neighborhoods. The train line connecting the airport to the city center takes around 45 minutes.

5 landmarks in Casablanca

  1. Hassan II Mosque

    Boulevard de la Corniche, Casablanca 20250, Morocco

    The largest mosque in Africa and the 7th largest in the world, with the world's tallest minaret at 210 metres, built partly over the Atlantic Ocean.

    Built
    1993
    Architect
    Michel Pinseau
    Style
    Moroccan / Islamic
    Height
    210 m (689 ft)
    Stories
    4
    Today
    Mosque (active)
  2. Mohammed V Square (Casablanca)
    Photo: Rigelus, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Mohammed V Square (Casablanca)

    Place Mohammed V, Casablanca, Morocco

    Casablanca's grandest public square surrounded by French Protectorate-era Mauresque architecture, the symbolic heart of the modern city.

    Built
    1930
    Architect
    Various French colonial architects
    Style
    Mauresque (Art Deco + Islamic)
    Stories
    1
    Today
    Public square

  3. Old Medina of Casablanca

    Ancienne Médina, Casablanca, Morocco

    The original walled city of Casablanca, a compact labyrinth of whitewashed lanes, souks, and mosques predating the French colonial era.

    Built
    1750
    Architect
    Traditional Moroccan
    Style
    Traditional Moroccan medina
    Stories
    2
    Today
    Historic district / market

  4. Villa des Arts de Casablanca

    316 Bd Brahim Roudani, Casablanca 20100, Morocco

    A stunning Art Deco villa from 1934 converted into a contemporary art centre, one of Morocco's finest exhibition spaces.

    Built
    1934
    Architect
    Unknown (Art Deco period)
    Style
    Art Deco
    Height
    8 m (26 ft)
    Stories
    2
    Today
    Contemporary art museum
  5. Ain Diab
    Photo: Eric Salard, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Ain Diab

    Corniche Ain Diab, Casablanca, Morocco

    Casablanca's beachfront district along the Atlantic coast, lined with restaurants, beach clubs, and cafés — the city's leisure and nightlife hub.

    Built
    1950
    Architect
    N/A (urban beachfront)
    Style
    Various contemporary
    Stories
    2
    Today
    Restaurant / entertainment strip

More cities in Africa

Stamp all 5 in Stamped!

Fly through Casablanca in photoreal 3D, take its 10-question quiz, plan your days and earn a passport stamp at every landmark. Free on iPhone and iPad.

Download on theApp Store