How hard is it to get into Casablanca for the day?

Question

I have a 12 hour layover in Casablanca, Morocco in a few weeks. Do I need a visa to enter the city? How close is the airport to the city? Is it worth the trouble of getting there to spend my 12 hours exploring? I am studying arabic and plan to study abroad in Morocco, so I am extremely interested in visiting the area. Has anyone tried this?

Answer 1

It is very easy to visit the city of Casablanca and would be cheaper to take the train to Casa port and then a taxi.  A train ticket is around 30dh(about $5) and a taxi is about 20 dh(about $3).  You should visit the Hassan II Mosque.  It is very beautiful and if you get there at the right time you'll be able to enter and get a better look at the beautiful architecture.  I've heard there is a restaurant that resembles Rick's Cafe in the movie Casablanca.  It is also named Rick's and from the pics I've seen on the website it is very beautiful, but can be expensive.  There are numerous coffee shops where you can sit and people watch.  Casablanca really isn't the place to visit, but it would be better than sitting in the airport for 12 hours.  Enjoy your vacation.

Answer 2

Where are you from? do you need a visa to enter Morocco? if you can enter Morocco without a visa you wont need one for Casa.

As Zelo said its a must to visit the Hassan II Mosque, however its very expensive by taxi - around £18 (250Dh) I did it last July, its far cheaper to take a train, and faster - 20 minutes, get off at Casa Port (there are 4 Casablanca stations). You may also want to visit Ricks cafe - the famous cafe 'used' by Humphrey Bogart and whoever she was in the film Casablanca. They are the only two things worth visiting - oh and for a meal, not far from the train station is a fish restaurant called the ''Dauphin'' wonderful inexpensive and and large meals. Just ask when you exit the station, everyone knows it.

Answer 3

You didn't say where you were from so that doesn't help a lot about a visa. For most countries all you need is a passport.

If you have 12 hours and want to see Casablanca (not the city to see if you are in Morocco by the way... Rabat, Marrakech, Tangier, Agadir all better spots to see) but again if you only have 12 hours go to the Hassan II mosque. It is absolutely STUNNING and is the only mosque in Morocco open to the public. You can take a taxi (petit or grand) to get there and have plenty of time to get back for your flight.

Thanks

Zelo

http://www.bestmorocco.com