The 9 Best Day Trips to Take From Casablanca

Marrakech is also located around 240 kilometres from Casablanca. The one-way trip takes approximately two hours and forty minutes. While Marrakech boasts numerous attractions that can keep visitors busy for a few days, day-trippers can still leave satisfied after just a day in the previous imperial city. The city is especially known for its sprawling medina and vibrant souks that sell a wide array of traditional items. There are several excellent museums and art galleries, and historic sites include Koutoubia Mosque, the Saadian Tombs, and two old palaces.

El Jadida is located 110 kilometres south of Casablanca along the Atlantic Coast. The drive takes around 40 minutes one way. Mazagan Fortress stands in elegant ruin overlooking the sea. Built by the Portuguese, it is today a UNESCO-listed site. Rusty cannons point out over the water and the high walls are a great vantage point for looking out over both the ocean and the surrounding streets. Descend underground into the old water cisterns and wander through the medina, with its European-like architecture. The sandy beaches are popular with locals during the summer months.

Azemmour also sits along the Atlantic coast, around 95 kilometres south of the country’s financial centre of Casablanca. Wandering through the town lets you experience local life, and the walls of the old medina are covered with interesting street art and graffiti. The medina’s Portuguese-era walls are attractive from the outside, belying the gracefully shabby streets inside.

Oualidia is 188 kilometres from Casablanca; the one-way journey takes around two and a half hours. Chill out on the golden beaches and soak up the pretty views of the arched lagoon. Colourful boats bob on the waves. The wetlands are a haven for bird life and if you visit in spring or autumn you can admire the flock of pink flamingoes that takes up residence there.

On this private day trip from Casablanca, take advantage of the freedom to freely explore Chefchaouen at your own leisure without having to worry about getting around or using public transit. You may unwind while your driver drives you to this charming “Blue City,” where you’ll have time to stroll around the medina’s streets and see sights like the Spanish Mosque, the Kasbah, and Outa el Hammam Square.

Rabat is just 87 kilometres from Casablanca. The two cities are connected by a well-maintained highway, and the journey should take around an hour and ten minutes. Marvel at the exquisite details of the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, soldiers standing smartly to attention outside, and see the nearby Hassan Tower. Take a stroll through the atmospheric Kasbah of the Oudayas. Admire the pretty gardens and old architecture of Chellah. The beaches are ideal for relaxing, and some spots attract keen surf enthusiasts.

Sale sits next to Rabat, on the opposite side of the Bou Regreg River. Seeing few international visitors, Sale is a great place to absorb the local way of life. Unhurried and relaxed, children play in the streets, men chat over coffee in one of the chilled-out cafes, and fishing boats sail along the river. There are several interesting woodworking factories, and other highlights include the Great Mosque of Sale and the monumental gate of Bab el-Mrisa. The town is just over 90 kilometres from Casablanca; the journey takes around and hour and a quarter.

The UNESCO-listed Volubilis is widely believed to have once been the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Mauretania. The large site is famous for its Roman ruins, with mosaics, foundations, pillars, walls, carvings, arches, and more. It is a little over 260 kilometres from Casablanca. The drive takes around three hours, though the stunning site makes the long journey worthwhile.

Meknes is almost 240 kilometres from Casablanca. The drive to the former imperial capital will take around two hours and forty minutes. Although Fes is generally a better base for exploring Meknes and surrounding areas, if time is short and you’re spending most of your time in Casablanca, a day trip is long enough to enjoy the highlights. Snap a photo of the beautiful gate of Bab el-Mansour. Wander through the old medina. Admire the details in the Museum of Moroccan Art, housed within Dar Jamai. Soak up the splendour of the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail and Bou Inania Madrasa.