Casablanca CMN: Morocco's Gateway Rewards the Stopover
Casablanca isn't the medina-and-souks Morocco of the travel posters — that's Marrakech. Casablanca is a working port city with Art Deco French colonial architecture, excellent seafood, and the largest mosque in Africa. Mohammed V International Airport is 30 minutes from the center. Americans enter visa-free.
Visa
US passport holders enter Morocco visa-free for up to 90 days. No application, no fee. Immigration at CMN is efficient — processing usually takes 10-15 minutes.
Getting in
The Train Al Haouz runs from the airport to Casa Port station in the city center in about 45 minutes for 45 MAD ($4.50 USD). It runs every 30 minutes. Taxis cost 250-350 MAD ($25-35 USD) and take 30-40 minutes. The train is the correct choice — reliable, air-conditioned, and deposits you in the center of the city.
Hassan II Mosque
The Hassan II Mosque stands on a promontory over the Atlantic and holds 105,000 worshippers. It is one of the largest mosques in the world. Non-Muslims can visit on guided tours ($15, runs several times daily). The architecture — hand-carved plaster, cedar wood, Italian marble — is extraordinary. This is the reason to leave the airport.
The old medina and food
Casablanca's old medina is smaller and less chaotic than Fez or Marrakech — good for a short layover. Seafood bistilla (pastilla with fish, almonds, and spices) is the dish to order. Restaurant Al Mounia in the Maarif neighborhood is consistent and not tourist-priced. A full meal with mint tea runs 150-200 MAD ($15-20 USD).