How to Spend One Perfect Day In Casablanca

Casablanca has long had something of an all-business, no-play reputation. That’s finally changing, says Amine Hannaoui, vice president of the arts nonprofit Alouane Bladi. “Ten years ago, we had no tourism, but now the city has a story,” he said, while showing me several dozen of the city’s dynamic street murals. 

With a pleasant climate year-round, a growing arts and culture scene, ever-alluring shopping, and an over-the-top new hotel, the Moroccan city has never been more deserving of a longer stopover on your way to Marrakesh or Tangier. Here’s how to spend a perfect day in “Casa,” as the locals call it.

9 a.m. Have Breakfast at a Market

Start your day with a selection of sweets from Patisserie Bennis, a family-run bakery in the Habous neighborhood where locals buy sweet and savory treats by the kilo. Then walk over to Habous Olive Market. Situated around what’s possibly the most fragrant courtyard in the city, this government-regulated marché has a rainbow of olive options, plus spices, harissa, argan oil, soaps, and body scrubs. 

11 a.m. Visit an Oceanside Icon

Open to non-Muslims every day but Friday, the monumental, unmissable Hassan II Mosque—which has a magnificent design that extends out into the Atlantic Ocean—was completed in 1993 at a rumored cost of $1 billion.

Related: Here’s How to Spend 3 Perfect Days in Marrakesh—from Rooftop Cafes to Opulent Palaces and Labyrinthian Souks

1 p.m. Enjoy a Leisurely Lunch

Consider Cabestan, a sceney oceanside restaurant known for seafood and people-watching, or make your way to Le Marly, an international brunch spot in the upscale Anfa district.

3 p.m. Take an Art Break

Get a look at Casablanca’s impressive street-art scene at Arab League Park, a leafy escape with a skate park and two of the city’s best-regarded murals. Or pop in to the nearby Institut Français, which has several murals on permanent view and also hosts talks and other events. 

Or, catch a screening at Cinema Rif, a classic movie house that puts on other cultural programming, often in French. You could also visit Al Makane, a refurbished riad in the medina that’s been transformed into a start-up incubator and is also a venue for concerts and talks, with a café that serves classic mint tea and espresso drinks.

7 p.m. Dine at the City’s Hottest Hotel

Housed in a former 1950s hotel, Royal Mansour Casablanca reopened last year after a gut renovation and quickly became the city’s most glamorous place to stay. It has 149 spacious rooms and suites, including a $35,000-a-night Royal Suite that spans three floors. There are also four excellent restaurants—Moroccan, French, Japanese, and a rooftop Mediterranean spot. It’s all anchored by a gracious, can-do staff who coordinate seamless tours around town, whether you’re looking for history, shopping, or even surfing.

A version of this story first appeared in the June 2025 issue of Travel + Leisure under the headline “Here’s Looking At You, Casablanca.”