Casablanca is Morocco's largest city and its business capital: a working city on the Atlantic, with Art Deco streets, a long ocean Corniche and the Hassan II Mosque. Most visitors come for work, family, a flight or the start of a tour of Morocco, and an apartment suits all of those: more room than a hotel, a kitchen, a washing machine and a quarter you can live in. We host apartments and studios in Maarif, Gauthier, Bourgogne, 2 Mars, Abdelmoumen and next to Casa Voyageurs station. This guide explains each quarter, plus Anfa and Ain Diab by the ocean, and how to get around.
The short answer
| If you want | Stay in | Stays we host |
|---|---|---|
| Shops, cafés and a base for work | Maarif | Studio 01, Studio 09, Studio 07 |
| Central, walkable, Art Deco streets | Gauthier and Racine | Two-bedroom Gauthier flat |
| The Hassan II Mosque and the Corniche close by | Bourgogne | One-bedroom Bourgogne flat |
| Everyday Casablanca, with spas and hammams | 2 Mars | Cozy Central |
| The airport train, Rabat, Tangier, Marrakech | By Casa Voyageurs station | Belvedere |
| A family flat with a crib ready | Abdelmoumen | Abdelmoumen Family Haven |
| The ocean and beach clubs | Anfa and Ain Diab | A taxi ride from the quarters above |
Maarif
Maarif is Casablanca's commercial heart: boulevards of shops, cafés, restaurants and offices around the Twin Center towers. It is not the prettiest part of the city, but it is practical and well connected, and you can get almost anything on foot. It suits work trips and anyone who likes to step out for coffee and dinner without planning.
Our Maarif studios are built for that kind of stay: fast Wi-Fi, air conditioning, a kitchen corner and a washing machine. Studio 01 and Studio 09 each have a separate bedroom and heating as well as air conditioning; Studio 07 is open-plan, with parking available. Each sleeps up to three.
Gauthier and Racine
Gauthier is the central quarter people walk around for pleasure: Art Deco buildings, galleries, independent shops, cafés and restaurants, with the Arab League Park on its edge. Neighbouring Racine is just as popular for its restaurants and cafés. Together they make the easiest first base in Casablanca.
Our two-bedroom Gauthier flat sleeps up to five (a king bed and two singles), with two bathrooms, air conditioning, a fireplace and a large patio.
Bourgogne
Bourgogne is a residential quarter west of the centre, with a local feel: neighbourhood cafés, local shops and bakeries, and the Hassan II Mosque and the start of the Corniche close by. Stay here if the mosque and the ocean walk are high on your list, or if you want calm streets within reach of the centre.
Our one-bedroom Bourgogne flat has a queen bed, a compact kitchen and air conditioning, and sleeps up to three.
2 Mars
2 Mars, on the Mers Sultan side of the centre, is everyday Casablanca: apartment buildings, cafés, pharmacies and shops, with beauty institutes, spas and hammams among them. Our guide to spa, massage and hammam in 2 Mars explains how to choose one.
Our two-bedroom Cozy Central flats in 2 Mars sleep up to four, with two queen beds, a dishwasher and air conditioning.
By Casa Voyageurs station
Casa Voyageurs is the city's main station. The airport train stops here, the Al Boraq high-speed trains leave for Rabat and Tangier, and the trains to Marrakech run from here too. The T1 tram stops outside. If you have an early train, a late arrival or a day trip to Rabat, sleeping next to the station saves a lot of time.
Belvedere is a one-bedroom flat in front of the station, with a queen bed, air conditioning and heating, and a washing machine. It sleeps up to three.
Abdelmoumen
The Abdelmoumen area, around the boulevard of the same name, sits between Maarif and the centre. It is residential and handy, with cafés, supermarkets and parks within walking distance.
Abdelmoumen Family Haven is a two-bedroom flat for up to five, made for families: a crib is ready, the bedrooms have blackout curtains, and the kitchen is fully equipped.
Anfa and Ain Diab
Anfa is the upscale residential hill above the ocean, with large villas and quiet streets. Ain Diab, below it, is the Corniche: the ocean, beaches, beach clubs, restaurants and nightlife, with the T2 tram running to its end. Both are good for the ocean; for shops, cafés and transport, the central quarters above are easier. The apartments we host are in those central quarters, a taxi ride from the Corniche.
Arriving and getting around
- From the airport: the airport train reaches Casa Voyageurs in about 30 minutes and continues to Casa Port. Petit taxis don't serve the airport; take a grand taxi from the official rank and pay the posted fare.
- Petit taxis: Casablanca's are red. They run on the meter, the compteur, so ask the driver to switch it on.
- Tram and busway: four tram lines, T1 to T4, and two busway lines cover much of the city.
- On foot: within Maarif, Gauthier or Bourgogne, walking is easy; between quarters, take a taxi or the tram.
- Trains: Marrakech is about two hours forty minutes from Casa Voyageurs. Check times on the ONCF website.
What a city apartment should have
- Air conditioning and heating: summer days are warm and winter evenings cool, so ask for both.
- The floor and the lift: ask which floor the flat is on and whether there is a lift, especially with luggage or a pushchair.
- Parking: street parking in central Casablanca is hard. If you drive, choose a flat with parking; not all have it.
- House rules: quiet hours and no parties are standard in residential buildings.
- ID for every guest: Moroccan law requires hosts to declare each guest, so you will be asked for passports or ID cards before arrival. We send the address once the booking is paid and every ID is in. Our guest registration guide explains why.
Ready to choose? Pick your dates in Casablanca to see which apartments are free and the exact price. For a comparison with Marrakech, read how to choose a holiday rental in Casablanca and Marrakech.
Frequently asked questions
Which area of Casablanca is best for a first visit?
Gauthier or Maarif: both are central, walkable and full of cafés and restaurants, with taxis and trams to everything else.
Where should I stay for an early train or the airport?
Next to Casa Voyageurs station. The airport train stops there, and so do the trains to Rabat, Tangier and Marrakech.
Is Casablanca walkable?
Within a quarter, yes. Between quarters, the distances are long, so take a petit taxi or the tram.
Do you host apartments by the ocean?
Our apartments are in the central quarters: Maarif, Gauthier, Bourgogne, 2 Mars, Abdelmoumen and next to Casa Voyageurs. The Corniche is a taxi ride away.
Do I need to send my passport before arrival?
Yes. Every guest's passport or ID card is needed before arrival, because Moroccan law requires hosts to declare each guest.
