Casablanca

Casablanca is Morocco's largest city and economic capital, a major Atlantic port and the country's main commercial and industrial hub. It blends modern business districts with a French colonial past and traditional Moroccan life, making it the country's most dynamic urban centre.

The city's history stretches from the ancient Berber settlement of Anfa to its rebuilding as ad-Dar al-Bayda, the "white house", in the 18th century. French Protectorate-era planning created the Ville Nouvelle with Art Deco and Mauresque architecture, while the Old Medina and the Arab-Andalusian Quartier Habous preserve a more traditional character. The Hassan II Mosque, partly built over the Atlantic, is the city's defining landmark.

Neighbourhoods each have a distinct feel: the central Art Deco grid around Place Mohammed V, the upscale residential Anfa and Ain Diab waterfront, the commercial Maârif district, and older working-class areas further east. Museums such as the Museum of Moroccan Judaism and galleries across the city add cultural depth, while the Corniche offers beaches, cafés and nightlife.

As Morocco's economic powerhouse, Casablanca hosts the country's main port, the Casablanca Stock Exchange and many national and international companies. Its business events, conferences, finance sector and trade exhibitions make it a key destination for corporate travel, while its coastal setting, food scene and architectural heritage attract leisure visitors.

For travellers, Casablanca works as both a gateway and a destination: it is the arrival point for Morocco's busiest airport and a base for exploring the country, yet it rewards a longer stay with its markets, monuments, restaurants and Atlantic coastline.