A shop of lanterns, rugs and leather in the Habous quarter of Casablanca

Old Medina & Habous Quarter

The walled old town and the planned 'New Medina' in one morning

Half day · Starts 09:00 · Private

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Photo: Omalihy, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Skip the day

09:00 to 12:00.

09:00 · CasablancaHotel pickupDriver collects you and heads to the old medina by the port.
09:30 · Casablanca old medinaOld Medina walkWander the original walled town: spice stalls, fishermen's lanes and the clock-tower gate.
10:45 · Quartier des HabousHabous quarterThe arcaded New Medina, Mahkama du Pacha, the pastry shop and craft workshops.
12:00 · CasablancaDrop-offBack at your hotel by midday.

The Jamaa Ould al Hamra mosque in the old medina of Casablanca

A half-day on foot through Casablanca's original walled medina and the elegant 1920s Habous quarter — the 'New Medina' built in Moorish style — with its arcades, bakeries and craft shops.

Casablanca has two medinas. The old medina by the port is the city's original 19th-century walled core — narrow, lived-in, free of tourist polish. The Quartier des Habous, built by the French in the 1920s and 30s, is the elegant counterpoint: a planned 'New Medina' of arched arcades, ordered streets, olive and book sellers, and the Mahkama du Pacha courthouse with its Hispano-Moorish ceilings.

We walk both in a single relaxed morning with a guide, comparing the organic old town with the designed Habous, stopping at the famous Bennis Habous pastry shop, the royal palace gates and the craft workshops where you can watch brass and leather work.

Highlights

The lived-in 19th-century old medina by the port
The arcaded 1920s Habous 'New Medina'
Mahkama du Pacha courthouse (Moorish interiors)
Bennis Habous, Casablanca's legendary pastry shop
Royal Palace gates and the craft souks

Photos

A shop of lanterns, rugs and leather in the Habous quarter of CasablancaPhoto: Omalihy, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Jamaa Ould al Hamra mosque in the old medina of CasablancaPhoto: Farid mernissi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Glasses of Moroccan mint teaPhoto: Mbarak Nafa, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Included

Private hotel pickup and drop-off
Guide on foot
Bottled water

Not included

Tips for the guide and driver
Pastries and personal shopping

What to bring

Comfortable walking shoes (medina cobblestones)
Layers — even desert nights can drop to 5°C
Sun hat, sunglasses, SPF 30+
Modest cover-up for mosques and conservative areas
Reusable water bottle (we refill on the road)
Adaptor for Type C/E plugs (220V)

Places on this tour

Casablanca guide

Photo credits

A shop of lanterns, rugs and leather in the Habous quarter of Casablanca. Photo: Omalihy, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Jamaa Ould al Hamra mosque in the old medina of Casablanca. Photo: Farid mernissi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Glasses of Moroccan mint tea. Photo: Mbarak Nafa, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Questions about this tour

Is "Old Medina & Habous Quarter" private or a group tour?

100% private. Just you and the people you book with — your own driver, vehicle and pace from start to finish. We never pool travellers.

Can I change the dates or itinerary?

Yes. Every itinerary is a starting point. Add a day, swap a riad, change the start city — we'll re-quote within 24 hours and confirm the price in writing before any deposit.

How fit do I need to be?

Easy. Light walking on medina cobblestones, plus optional activities you can opt in or out of on the day.

When should I book?

For high season (Oct–Apr) and any trip involving the Sahara or hot-air balloon, book 8–12 weeks ahead. Last-minute (under 14 days) is usually still possible with a phone call.