تحياتي من الدار البيضاء! (Greetings from Casablanca!)

This was the fourth stop on our train tour of Morocco. It wasn’t my favorite. Maybe that’s because it’s been over romanticized by the movie, or maybe it’s because I stubbed my toe on a manhole and had to limp my way through the city. Regardless, you can do Casablanca in a day and that’s all you’ll need.

Highlights

Arab League Park | Beautiful gardens and flora. A nice respite from the hot, dusty, chaotic city

Sacred Heart Cathedral | Nestled just next to the park, she’s worth a look, but we didn’t enter. After Sagrada Familia it’s hard for the interior of other religious buildings to pique my interest

Rick’s Cafe | We haven’t been. We tried twice, once it was closed and once the weather worked against us getting there. Anyways, I’ve heard that, despite being quite touristy, it’s a decent place for lunch.

Corniche | A short walk from Rick’s and then you can walk off lunch as you stroll along the ocean.

Hassan II Mosque | Beautifully placed at the edge of the water, she’s definitely worth a visit. Now some Wikipedia-esque facts for you: one of the largest mosques in the world, second-largest mosque in Africa, and its minaret is among the tallest in the world. Plus it’s along the corniche so you’ll probably walk right by it.

THE LOGISTICS

Travel Date | April 2023

Lodging | We stayed at La Doge. It’s the Moroccan equivalent of staying at your old Italian grandmother’s house. Solid, well-located, but nothing to rave about, which is unusual because Relais & Châteaux properties are usually exceptional.

Transportation |

The trains I’ve traveled on in Morocco are clean, easy and affordable. Al Boraq is the high-speed line; Al Atlas covers the conventional routes. But don’t take it from me: this guy is the undeniable expert.
Travel time from Rabat to Casablanca is about an hour and 15 minutes.

Pro Tips |