Casablanca Transport
Casablanca is a large city and it can be a bit confusing at first, particularly if you arrive on a train that terminates at the main station, known as Gare des Voyageurs. Once you've moved on from here to the centre however, it is relatively easy to find your way around.
The city centre is focused on Place Mohammed V, which is a large public square, and most hotels, restaurants and sights are situated along the avenues branching off from here. You may want to take note that many of the old French street names are used by older people including petit taxi drivers, even though the street signs bear the newer Moroccan names.
The best way to get around the city is to use the petit taxis, which are easy to find along all the main avenues. They are all metered, but you should make sure the meter is switched on before starting on your trip. A 20 per cent surcharge applies at night.
It is unlikely that you will use the city’s bus service, other than possibly from the airport or the main train station (Gare des Voyageurs). Buses can be very crowded and it is quite difficult to figure out which of the many stations and companies will get you to your desired destination.
As you’ll soon see, traffic is a nightmare in the city. If you have a hired car, the larger hotels at Ain Diab are a better choice of accommodation for you, as you can avoid the traffic in the centre and the parking at these hotels offers better security than the parking at hotels in the city centre.
By bus
Using the bus system in Casablanca is not likely to be your main choice of transportation, as although buses can be a good means of getting around, it isn’t always easy to figure out how to get to your desired destination. You’ll find a number of companies, lots of routes, many types of vehicles and a wide range of ticket prices. There are also quite a few bus stations in Casablanca, some used by single companies and some by more than one.
There is a main station in the centre of the city. For transport to destinations on the coast (such as Azemmour, el-Jadida and Safi Essaouira), there are several bus lines departing from the main station in the centre. You can normally plan that it will take around 30 minutes to reach the outskirts of the city and then about 1 hour for every 30 miles travelled afterwards.
Taxis
Within the city limits of Casablanca your main choice of transportation will likely be the petit taxis, easily identified by the vehicle’s red colour and the signs around the luggage racks. These vehicles are registered and are normally small four-door Fiats, providing metered service within the central metropolitan area. Service is also provided by vehicles called grand taxis, which are white in colour and are generally older Mercedes-Benz sedans, offering shared minibus-type service in the city on pre-established routes. These larger taxis can also be hired privately by the hour or day.
Shared taxis are also an option for inter-city travel in Morocco. Usually, these taxis are large black sedans holding up to six passengers. They are not, however, permitted to work within city limits.
Tourist services
At the airport, there is one tourist information desk in Arrivals and another in Departures. In the centre, Casablanca's tourist information office is located at 98 boulevard Mohammed V. This is a good place to get started when arriving in Casablanca, as they can provide you with brochures and maps, and will suggest itineraries for sightseeing in the city and the area surrounding Casablanca.