The journey from Marrakech
The route follows the A7 motorway north across the plains between the two cities. You travel in an air-conditioned minibus with a professional driver, and motorway tolls are already covered in the price. Pickup and drop-off are at your hotel in Marrakech, so there is no meeting point to find early in the morning.
Because the drive takes up a large part of the day, this trip suits travellers who are comfortable spending several hours on the road in exchange for seeing a city that most visitors to Marrakech never reach.
Hassan II Mosque: outside and inside
The Hassan II Mosque was completed in 1993 and is built partly over the Atlantic. Its minaret rises 210 metres, and the open esplanade around the mosque, with the ocean on one side and the city on the other, can be visited without a ticket.
Going inside is different. Non-Muslim visitors can enter only on the mosque's own guided tours, which run at fixed times and last under an hour. The entry ticket is not included in the price of this trip and is bought at the mosque. Since tours run on a fixed schedule, an interior visit depends on the timing of the day and cannot be guaranteed on every departure.
If you plan to go inside, wear clothes that cover your shoulders and torso and reach below the knee. Shoes are removed before entering, and bags to carry them are provided at the entrance. The mosque publishes its current tour times and prices on its official website.
The Corniche and the Atlantic coast
West of the mosque, the Corniche runs along the ocean through the Aïn Diab district, with a long seafront promenade, beaches and cafés. After the heat of Marrakech, the sea air is often the part of the day people remember. Lunch and drinks are not included, so bring some cash for a meal in the city.
Other parts of Casablanca
Casablanca grew quickly in the twentieth century, and much of its character comes from that period. The Habous quarter was built in the 1930s as a new medina mixing Moroccan and French design, and the streets around Mohammed V Square are known for their Art Deco and Mauresque buildings. These are not fixed stops on every departure; the indicative itinerary above shows what a typical day covers.
Is this trip right for you?
Choose Casablanca if seeing the Hassan II Mosque is a priority and you do not mind a long day. If you would rather spend more of the day on the coast and less on the road, compare it with the Essaouira day trip, or for something much closer to Marrakech, the Agafay Desert.
