Hostels in CASABLANCA, MOROCCO

City Casablanca – Discover the Charm of the Largest Moroccan City

Located on the Atlantic Ocean, the city of Casablanca is the largest city and main port of Morocco. Though more popular as the economic and business centre of the country, Casablanca definitely possesses the charm of being a tourist destination.

History
It was in the 7th century that the present day Casablanca was inhabited by the Berbers fishermen and conquered by the Almoravids in the 11th century. Originally called Afna, the city served as a strategic port for the Phoenicians, Romans, and the Merenids. The Portuguese destroyed the place in 1468 to rebuild it as a military fortress in 1515. Also, the city’s name was changed to Casa Branca, which means White House in Portuguese. After it was ruled by the Spanish between 1580 and1640, the city again came under the control of the Portuguese, but was abandoned by them in 1755 due to its destruction by an earthquake. After being built by sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah, the city’s population grew tremendously. In the beginning of the 20th century, the city was colonized by the French. It was sued as a strategic port in the World War II and finally acquired independence from the French rule in 1956.

Accommodation Options
Clean and budget hotels can be located in the Old Medina and near the train station. Some good hotels can also be found near the airport. The luxury hotels in the city offer bars, restaurants, pools, fitness centre and live entertainment for the guests. Bed and breakfast facilities are also available in many parts of the city. Most of the people speak Classical Arabic and French, while English is spoken less commonly.

Popular Places
The Hassan II Mosque with the world’ tallest minaret is among the popular tourist sites of Casablanca. The city’s largest public park called Parc de la Ligue Arabe is famous for its Mauresque architecture style Cathédrale Sacré-Coeur. The Old Medina in the city’s north and the New Medina are other interesting places to visit. The Shrine of Sidi Abderrahman built on a rock off shore is among the favourite sites for the tourists. Casablanca Twin Centre with two skyscrapers is another popular place in the city. Place Mohammed V and the Jewish Museum should also be in your list of sites worth visiting.

Getting Around
Get around in petite taxis or grands taxis or using the regular bus services. One can also hire a car on rent and a guide to have convenient ride to various places in the city.

Places of Entertainment
Turkish Baths in the city are the places to relax and have an excellent experience. The Corniche is the area to find nightclubs and fast food restaurants. Also, a western style movie theatre is located in this area. Many ocean view cafes are also there to have some great moments. Pottery, leather goods, hookahs, geegaws and many other traditional items can be purchased in the city.

Currency
Moroccan Dirham is the official currency of Casablanca and one Dirham equals 100 centimes. Learn about the currency exchange rates from the news available online.

Casablanca group accommodation | Cheap Hostels & budget hotel