Car Hire Casablanca

Casablanca Mini Guide

Casablanca will forever be associated with the movie of the same name which starred Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart. Arriving there today the city does not have the same star qualities of many other conurbations in Morocco but it remains atmospheric nevertheless.

The largest of Morocco’s cities, Casablanca has four million inhabitants and the wealthy and well dressed mix uneasily with the poor and under privileged. Despite this tension Casablanca is a very liberal city and so attracts some real characters. Casablanca can also claim to have the world’s largest artificial port and it has come quite a way from its foundations as a small fishing village.

Flying in you will arrive at Mohammed V International airport and you can get here from many African countries as well as destinations in Europe and North America. Pick up your Rhino car and enjoy the freedom of having unlimited mileage. You may wish to visit the other beautiful and exciting Moroccan cities of Marrakech and Tangier. It also saves you having to haggle with taxi drivers who will inevitably try to rip you off.

While in Casablanca don’t leave without see the King Hassan II mosque which is the largest in Morocco and among the world’s biggest mosques. Non Muslims are allowed to go into this impressive structure which contains a huge hammam and other water features. Though the hammam here is not in use there is another good bath which you can visit in the town known as the Solidarite Feminine. This establishment is clean and well run with proceeds from the entrance fee going to a charity helping single mothers.

Of course Casablanca is a great place to look for bargains and you may wish to brave the large souk in the Derb Ghraleef district in search of gifts and souvenirs to take back home. Wandering through Casablanca you will come to the once lively but now rather dilapidated Cornice district of town and continue along to the Shrine of Sidi Abderrahman, though this can only be admired from afar as it is off limits to non-Muslims. Another pretty area is the old walled town of Medina which is contained within the city.

Arabic and French are the main languages spoken here and also the main food types. You will find restaurants to suit different budgets and tastes as well as international cuisine served by Yo Sushi and the Thai Gardens restaurant.

Casablanca at a glance

Casablanca doesn’t live up to the romantic image of it presented by Humphrey Bogart, mostly because the old town has been swamped by the huge expansion of the new city. Still, there are some notable things to see and in a city this size, a hire car is going to be the best way of getting around.

Start with the Old Medina, small but still atmospheric and where the city sprang from. From here, head to the corniche, which although in need of some TLC, is still a great place to cool down in the evening breeze off the sea.