Travel to Casablanca

Travel to Casablanca

The Portuguese originally gave the name Casa Blanca to a small Berber village perched atop Anfa hill, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Modern Casablanca came into being in the early 20th century, when representatives of the French protectorate created an artificial port here.

Today, Casablanca is Morocco's economic capital and its largest city, having a population of over four million. Its fame, largely based on the Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman film, contributes to the city being North Africas most frequently visited destination. Although Marrakech is actually the country's cultural capital, Casablanca is Moroccos centre of style and wealth, and its port is one of the largest on the African continent.

Transportation to Casablanca

From destinations outside Africa, the major means of travel to Casablanca are by air and sea. Major cities around the world have either direct flights to Casablanca or connections via Paris, and ferries operate from Spain. For travellers who are already on the African continent, the city can be reached by train, bus or by car.

What to see

Casablanca is situated on the Atlantic coast and has a busy harbour area, home to one of the biggest ports in Africa. Perched at the edge of the ocean is the Hassan II Mosque, the worlds largest mosque, boasting one of tallest minarets ever constructed. Nearby are some of the areas loveliest beaches. In the centre of the city, youll find most of the main attractions including the old Arab town (Old Medina) and Place Mohamed V, featuring fine examples of French colonial architecture.

Daytrips

Going south from Casablanca, youll come to Azemmour, situated in a picturesque spot on the banks of the Oum er-Rbia. The violet-coloured bougainvillea and purple ramparts create a beautiful sight, and if you pay a small fee to the guardian of the ramparts, hell unlock the gate so you can walk along them. Continuing on in a southerly direction, youll find El Jadida, which boasts a notable Portuguese fortress and one of the Atlantic coasts most beautiful beaches. The Church of the Assumption is here, as is the Gate on the Sea and intact fortifications.

Activities and leisure

The beaches on the Atlantic coast, just outside the city, are some of the most beautiful in this part of the world. So, if sunbathing or water activities are what youre looking for, Casablanca is an excellent choice.

The city itself has a number of interesting sights and market areas which can all be seen quite easily and in a relatively short time, as they are not very far apart. Golf is quite popular with locals and visitors, with the popularity of the game being on the rise here. For spectator sports, football is the most popular, with two local teams competing for spectator loyalty.

If youre fortunate enough to be visiting in July, you can take in the annual Casablanca Festival, which is an extravaganza of music, dance and street theatre lasting for more than a week, and iaa great opportunity to mix with the locals. In the evening, the city offers many dining choices, with many restaurants set in lovely traditional settings.

Safety issues

In May of 2003, there was a series of terrorist attacks in Casablanca and since that time, visitors have been advised to be vigilant and avoid large gatherings, particularly in public places that are frequented by large numbers of foreigners.

In most cases, crime does not pose a significant risk for tourists in terms of their personal safety, but again, vigilance is advised. Most incidents that do occur are relatively minor and non-confrontational. Pick-pockets and purse-snatchers constitute the majority of petty criminals, and they generally operate in crowded city areas, medinas and pedestrianised streets.

Theft of items from vehicles when they are stationary at traffic lights or in heavy traffic appears to be on the rise and more disturbingly, there have been reports of victims being confronted with weapons. In some cases, the perpetrator will show a knife or other weapon to gain compliance from the victim. Many of these acts are random, but police have made arrests of organised groups that carry out crimes targeting individuals, private homes and businesses.