Cheap Flights to Casablanca

City overview

The port town of Casablanca on the northwest coast of Morocco is the country’s largest city, with a population of more than five million. It’s Morocco’s industrial giant; a very Western city, full of shopping malls and office buildings. Travellers may book flights to Casablanca hoping to find the town of the famous film. In fact, this was shot entirely on location in the United States and bears very little resemblance to the actual city. But among the city’s commercial core, older, traditional Moroccan buildings remain. 

The most famous of these is the huge Hassan II mosque, a must-visit for any tourist. The old medina has recently been restored and is now attracting more tourists than it used to, though it is still not as impressive as those in Marrakech or Fez. The French New Town, however, is one of the most beautiful in Morocco, with many stunning Art Deco buildings. Many holidaymakers arrive from Casablanca flights as a stop-off to other destinations such as Rabat or Fez. The town is a convenient departure point for much of north or western Morocco, but is well worth exploration in its own right for a few days at least.

Casablanca climate

Thanks to its location on the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, Morocco’s climate is moderate year-round. Winters can be fairly cold and the summers very hot.

Getting around Casablanca

The cheapest way to travel around Casablanca is by bus, but services can be chaotic and crowded, especially at rush hours. Make sure you have small change to pay for your ticket on board. There are also many red petit taxis available for hire. They can be flagged down on main streets or boarded at designated waiting spots and are the best way to travel outside of the city’s centre. Make sure your driver has the meter turned on. While inexpensive, be aware that you will be charged an extra 50 per cent at night. Grand Taxis, white painted minibuses, are a good way to share rides with up to six people on regular routes. They can also be hired for travel out of the city and often take less time than the bus or train. If you’re just staying in the city’s centre, grab yourself a good map and explore on foot.

Getting from the Airport to the City

The white painted minibus-style vehicles known as grand taxis offer a shared service, carrying up to six passengers and following regular routes. They are also an inexpensive option for journeys outside the city – often with shorter travel times than the train or bus.

Casablanca airport overview

Mohammed V International Airport is located 30km (19 miles) outside of Casablanca. The airport is the former site of a USAF Air Force base, and many locals still refer to it by that name: Nouasseur.

Processing more than seven million passengers each year, flights to Mohammed V International Airport come from a number of destinations, including London, New York, Dubai, Cairo, Rome, Paris, Amsterdam, Montreal, Lisbon, Zurich, Istanbul, Brussels and Madrid. There are a few domestic routes within Morocco as well, however there are no direct flights to Mohammed V International Airport from Asia, Australia, or South America.

Make sure you pack a lot of patience, as the service at this airport is notoriously slow and unfriendly. The busiest airport in Morocco, the queues can be long and slow-moving, and many of the employees speak only Arabic.