Things to do · Casablanca
Casablanca's Atlantic seafront runs along the Ain Diab district, where the Corniche promenade links beach clubs, pools, seafood terraces and open sands. Anchored by the Hassan II Mosque at the water's edge and the Morocco Mall at its far end, here is how to spend time on the city's coast.
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Casablanca's main seafront promenade stretches through the Ain Diab district along the Atlantic. Lined with cafes, restaurants, pools and beach clubs, it is the city's favourite place for an evening stroll, with sea breezes and wide ocean views.
The main city beach lies along the Ain Diab seafront below the Corniche. Its sands and Atlantic waves draw locals for swimming, surfing and sunbathing, with beach clubs and seaside cafes close at hand.
Completed in 1993 on a promontory partly over the Atlantic, the Hassan II Mosque marks the eastern end of the seafront, its 200-metre minaret visible along the coast. It is one of the few mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslims, by guided tour outside prayer times, and its ocean-edge esplanade is free to walk.
Ain Diab is known for its day-use beach clubs, where seafront pools, loungers and terraces line the shore. They offer a calmer swim than the open Atlantic surf and a relaxed base for a full day by the sea, typically for an entrance fee.
Facing west over the Atlantic, the Ain Diab Corniche is one of the best places in the city to watch the sun set. Crowds gather on the promenade and terrace cafes as the light drops over the ocean and the mosque's minaret catches the last sun.
The Corniche and nearby port make fresh Atlantic seafood a Casablanca strength. Seafront restaurants and terraces along Ain Diab serve grilled fish, prawns and tagines with an ocean view, a natural way to round off a day on the coast.
At the western end of the Corniche sits Morocco Mall, one of Africa's largest shopping centres, with a giant aquarium and an indoor souk. After dark, its seafront musical fountain stages free shows of water, light and music on the plaza facing the ocean.
The Atlantic breaks along the Ain Diab coast give Casablanca a local surf scene, with several beach breaks within the city. Conditions vary with the swell and season; beginners can find lessons and board hire near the beaches.
A walk along the seafront links the Ain Diab Corniche with the Hassan II Mosque esplanade further east, following the line of the Atlantic. It is a flat, breezy route that strings together the beaches, the promenade and the city's great landmark.
The Corniche runs along the Ain Diab district on Casablanca's Atlantic seafront, west of the city centre. It links the Hassan II Mosque at its eastern end with the Morocco Mall at its western end, passing the beaches, beach clubs and seafront cafes in between.
Yes. The Ain Diab beaches along the Corniche are used for swimming, surfing and sunbathing, though the open Atlantic can be lively. Many visitors prefer the seafront beach clubs, whose pools offer a calmer, more sheltered swim than the surf.
Yes. The Hassan II Mosque stands on a promontory at the water's edge, built partly over the Atlantic at the eastern end of the seafront. Its esplanade is free to walk, and non-Muslims can go inside on guided tours scheduled outside the five daily prayer times.
Late afternoon into evening is the classic time, when locals come out to stroll, the sea breeze cools the heat and the west-facing promenade catches the sunset over the Atlantic. Morocco Mall's musical fountain then adds free evening shows at the western end.
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