Morocco🇲🇦 | citiesCasablancaMosque over the ocean, 1930s Art Deco blocks, calm old medina, corniche beach clubs | things to do and best time to go

The Old Medina, Habous and Centre Ville are each easy to walk, but the city is spread out, and walking stops making sense once you head for the Corniche or the Hassan II Mosque. Traffic is heavy at rush hour and drivers are impatient, so cross roads carefully. The tram is reliable, and taxis fill the gaps.

• Walking: Free and the best way to see Centre Ville, the medina and Habous, which are all within a 20 to 30 minute stroll of each other. Beyond that, distances are too long and the pavements too broken to bother.
• Tram: Two main lines cross the center, with fares around US$0.70 to 1 per ride. It is quick, clean and safe, and it beats any taxi at rush hour. Running from about 6 am to 10:30 pm, it is the best value for a backpacker, though it does not reach the Corniche or mosque directly.
• Petit

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The Old Medina, Habous and Centre Ville are each easy to walk, but the city is spread out, and walking stops making sense once you head for the Corniche or the Hassan II Mosque. Traffic is heavy at rush hour and drivers are impatient, so cross roads carefully. The tram is reliable, and taxis fill the gaps.

• Walking: Free and the best way to see Centre Ville, the medina and Habous, which are all within a 20 to 30 minute stroll of each other. Beyond that, distances are too long and the pavements too broken to bother.
• Tram: Two main lines cross the center, with fares around US$0.70 to 1 per ride. It is quick, clean and safe, and it beats any taxi at rush hour. Running from about 6 am to 10:30 pm, it is the best value for a backpacker, though it does not reach the Corniche or mosque directly.
• Petit taxi: Red city cabs, metered, with most rides costing US$1.50 to 4. They are the fastest way to reach the mosque or Corniche, and cheap if split between two. Insist on the meter, since drivers sometimes claim it is broken, and expect a surcharge after about 8 pm.
• Bus: Cheap at under US$0.60, but crowded and confusing, with no useful map. Skip it unless the tram and taxis cannot get you there.
• Train to the airport: A direct line runs from Casa Voyageurs station to Mohammed V airport in about 35 minutes for roughly US$5 to 6. It is far cheaper than a grand taxi at US$30 to 40 and the best choice with a backpack.

Casablanca works well as a base for day trips because trains from Casa Voyageurs and Casa Port reach Rabat, and the road network covers the Atlantic coast, so you can sleep in one bed all week.Rabat: The capital is the easiest and best-value outing: trains run every 30 to 60 minutes and take about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, with second-class fares around US$5 to 7 each way. Walk the Kasbah of the Udayas with its blue-and-white lanes, then the Hassan Tower and the mausoleum of Mohammed V, which is free to enter. Go in spring or autumn when the walking is comfortable. First-timers often get off at Rabat Agdal instead of Rabat Ville, which leaves a long taxi ride into town. Budget about US$20 to 30 with lunch.👉 Explore RabatEl Jadida: This walled Portuguese port sits about 1.5 to 2 hours south, … read more 👉

Casablanca works well as a base for day trips because trains from Casa Voyageurs and Casa Port reach Rabat, and the road network covers the Atlantic coast, so you can sleep in one bed all week.Rabat: The capital is the easiest and best-value outing: trains run every 30 to 60 minutes and take about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, with second-class fares around US$5 to 7 each way. Walk the Kasbah of the Udayas with its blue-and-white lanes, then the Hassan Tower and the mausoleum of Mohammed V, which is free to enter. Go in spring or autumn when the walking is comfortable. First-timers often get off at Rabat Agdal instead of Rabat Ville, which leaves a long taxi ride into town. Budget about US$20 to 30 with lunch.👉 Explore RabatEl Jadida: This walled Portuguese port sits about 1.5 to 2 hours south, reached by CTM or Supratours bus (US$4 to 6 each way) or by shared taxi from the Ouled Ziane area. The main draw is the underground Portuguese Cistern, a vaulted chamber with a shallow mirror of water (about US$2 entry), plus ramparts you can walk at sunset. Visit May to October, though August is crowded with Moroccan holidaymakers. Many people try to squeeze in nearby Oualidia, which is too far for one day. Plan roughly US$20 to 30.👉 Explore El JadidaMohammedia: A short 30 to 40 minute train ride (US$1.50 to 3) puts you in a relaxed beach town with a long city beach, a working fishing port and grilled sardines at harbor-side stalls. It suits a lazy half day, and June to September gives the warmest water, although the Atlantic stays cold. Avoid weekends in July and August, when the sand fills up. A full day here costs only US$10 to 15.

Azemmour: This old medina above the Oum Er-Rbia River is quiet and low-key, about 1 hour away by local bus or shared taxi (US$1.50 to 3). You get whitewashed Portuguese-era walls, artists’ studios and river views with almost no hawkers. Come in the morning in spring, when the light is soft. The common mistake is expecting restaurants and services; bring water and cash, and leave by late afternoon. Budget US$10 to 15.