Years of traveling in North Africa, have resulted in many a long layover in Casablanca. On my way to a tour in Mauritania or Algeria, I’ve come to look forward to a Royal Air Maroc ticket with a 10-hour Casa stop, and I have my favorite spots I always visit. Here is my guide for how to spend your transit time in Casablanca.
Note: I’ve broken this into suggestions for a 6-8 hour layover and an 8+ hour layover. If you have a 5-6 hour layover, it is possible to leave the airport, but you should plan to take taxis to avoid waiting for the train, and choose 1 or 2 things to explore that are close to each other. Read on to see my tips for timing.
Is There Luggage Storage at the Airport?
Unfortunately, there is currently nowhere to store luggage at Casablanca Mohammad V International Airport. If you have bags that are not checked through to your final destination and you don’t want to lug them around, my advice would be to check out a luggage storage app like Bounce (we are not affiliated in any way) and find a location in the city to drop off your bags. You can also store them at a CTM bus station.
How to get from the airport to city center
There are two options for getting from Casablanca Mohammad V International Airport to the city center. Which one you choose will depend on the amount of time you have, your budget, and your destination.
The first option is to take the train directly from the airport to Casa Port. The train runs approximately once per hour, and the ticket cost is between 14-35 dirhams. The ride itself is 46 minutes, but because the trains only run once per hour, you can end up waiting for a while. There is a small basic café in the airport near the train entrance where you can grab a coffee while you wait.
If you are planning to take the train back to the airport as well, be sure to check the train departure schedule when you arrive at Casa Port so you don’t miss your train! Times listed online can be unreliable (as I’ve had the misfortune of learning firsthand), so the best information will be from the departures board or a ticket agent.
The second option for transit to the city is a taxi. A taxi to most places in Casablanca should cost between 250-350 dirhams (around $25-$35 USD or EUR) and will take around 30-45 minutes. There are ATMs as well as a money exchange in the airport (the rate is not the best, but it’s not a terrible spread). As with any city you’re arriving in- agree on the price before you hop into the cab! There is also a taxi stand outside of the airport where you can pay the fare and get a receipt before you get in the cab.
Once you’re in the city, if you need to get around, you can use a ride share app- Careem is the most popular. Note that with ride share apps in Casablanca, you need to sit in the front with the driver, instead of the backseat.
6-8 Hour Layover
If you have a 6-7 Hour layover, I would suggest taking the train to Casa Port and keeping your exploration around that area. There is a lot to see over here, including the winding streets of the old town, the famous Rick’s Café from the movie Casablanca , and the Hassan II Mosque, which is the 2 nd largest mosque in Africa.
If you’ve arrived on a morning flight and are looking to eat some breakfast, I absolutely recommend getting breakfast at La Sqala (a 10 min walk from the train station). I’ve managed to stop here every time I’ve visited Casablanca (even with some layovers only being a week apart!). The food is incredible, the atmosphere and décor are beautiful, and the service is friendly and fast. The Breakfast Sqala includes eggs with Khlii (preserved meat), a variety of breads and pastries, a selection of spreads like local jams, honey, and tapenade, as well as fresh juice and homemade almond milk- and all of this for less than $10 USD! However, this restaurant has gotten increasingly popular in the years since I started going, so be prepared for a wait, even on a weekday. (At this point, I should say this is not a sponsored post- I just really love this restaurant!)
After breakfast, head towards the mosque, but take the long way, winding through the streets of the formerly fortified old city. The streets will start to turn into a market. For being in a very central area, the market is surprisingly local, and can get very busy in some areas. Be sure to plot out the route you want to take and download an offline map, if possible, as I’ve found phones can have low accuracy when it comes to pinpointing your location in the old city. After you’ve gotten your fill of the market, head to the mosque. For non-Muslims visiting the mosque, you will need to purchase a ticket for a tour and can only visit outside of prayer times (be sure to have your shoulders and knees covered). The ticket cost is 130 dirhams.
After this, you should head back to the airport, taking a taxi or train. There is a security checkpoint at the entrance of the airport that can have a line, as well as immigration to clear and another security checkpoint. This airport can get crowded and a little unorderly, but assuming you have no need to go to the ticket counter or recheck your bags, you should most likely be fine with arriving 2 hours before your flight (though things can get much more hectic around Hajj, so keep this in mind).
7 Hours or More
If you have a longer layover (or just want to explore outside of the Casa Port area), here are some additional things you might want to check out! After a long flight, I love to visit a classic Moroccan hammam to feel refreshed. For first timers and for time limits, a place like Oxygene is a good option as you can reserve a slot ahead of time and you are the only one in the room. More seasoned hammam-goers might want to check out a more traditional spot, where everyone is in one room (split by gender). You will rinse off, steam, rub yourself with black soap, then head to one of the slabs to get a layer or two of skin scrubbed off.
For souvenir shoppers or architecture lovers, a visit to the Habous neighborhood is not to be missed. Its streets are beautiful and peaceful, and have a bit of a French feel being that the neighborhood was created during the French colonization period. The Habous Market is also where you can find some of the best souvenirs in Casablanca, such as rugs, poufs, leather goods, tea kettles, spices, and ceramics. As with most Moroccan markets, bargaining is commonplace, so be prepared to negotiate! After shopping, stop into a café to get some delicious Moroccan tea with mint.
For those looking to relax in a green space after being trapped on a plane, the recently restored Arab League Park is very nice. This 30 acre park is calm and you’ll see lots of people lounging and picnicking. I’ve even taken a short nap in this park after a particularly long flight, and no one disturbed me or my things.
Wanting to explore more of North Africa? Check out our North Africa tours here . Enjoy your layover!
