Planning a trip to Morocco’s west coast for the vacations? Find out now where to stay in Casablanca!
The largest city in the Maghreb by population, Casablanca – ad-Dār al-Bayḍā in Arabic – is home to 3,359,818 inhabitants and is located in west-central Morocco, on its Atlantic flank. The economic capital of the country, the city boasts a rich historical, cultural and architectural heritage, including the Hassan II Mosque, one of the world’s largest mosques. With its Mediterranean climate with oceanic influences, Casablanca boasts an ideal climate and attracts millions of visitors: 10.332 million tourists actually visited Morocco in 2016. Casablanca offers a wide range of accommodation, from top-of-the-range hotels and riads to more modest villas. In recent years, however, rents have soared, so accommodation in Casablanca can be expensive, depending on the area.
The first traces of human occupation in Casablanca date back to Paleolithic times, making Morocco a world-class archaeological site. Casablanca, « the white one », is a sprawling city with many different neighborhoods. Here’s where to stay in Casablanca.
The center
Photo credit: Flickr – Axel Drainville
There are several « centers » in Casablanca. Maârif, Gauthier, Racine and Palmiers can each be considered the city center. Maârif is the favorite hangout of young Casablancans, and you’ll mainly find luxury residences here where you can sleep in Casablanca. Maârif is located behind the Twins Center and offers a unique mix of high-end buildings, chic restaurants and cafés, and countless stores and department stores.
In the Gauthier district, there’s a plethora of bars and restaurants serving Moroccan and international cuisine, between Place de la Fraternité and Rond-Point Mermoz. In Gauthier, you’re not far from the old Medina and Sour Jdid, where you can see the famous Hassan II Mosque overlooking the ocean. A very central area for exploring the city, an ideal choice for accommodation in Casablanca.
Find a hotel in Maârif
Find a hotel in Maârif
Find a hotel in Gauthier
Anfa
Photo credit: Flickr – Panegyrics of Granovetter
Anfa is the ancient name of the town, literally meaning « hill », which is said to have been founded by the Romans, although this Roman foundation is not universally accepted by historians and archaeologists. Anfa lies close to the corniche, and is criss-crossed by Boulevard Driss Slaoui, Boulevard de l’Océan Pacifique, Boulevard du Lido, Boulevard Kennedy and Avenue de Nice: bustling, busy areas. This is Casablanca’s most exclusive district, where you’ll find the city’s golden youth, numerous luxurious palaces, hotels, pubs and discotheques – ideal for meeting young people – as far as the eye can see, right down to the beach. It’s one of the most pleasant areas in Casablanca to stay.
Aïn Diab
Photo credit: Flickr – Kent MacElwee
Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the Aïn Diab district is adjacent to Anfa and overlooks the Corniche. It’s a very touristy area, attracting more and more visitors. Here you’ll find a host of cafés, restaurants, bars, shops and villas with swimming pools, as well as Africa’s second-largest shopping center: the Morocco Mall, with its million-liter aquarium and 200,000 m² of shop windows. Via Avenue de Nice, you can reach the Bourgogne and Racine districts: a central location for accommodation in Casablanca.
Map of hotels and accommodation – Casablanca,ma