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World Travel Guide > Guides > Africa > Morocco > Casablanca

Local time Casablanca

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Travel to Casablanca

Flying to Casablanca

Royal Air Maroc operates direct flights to Casablanca from the UK and the USA. An alternative if you're travelling from the UK is to travel via Madrid with British Airways or Iberia.

Flight times

From London - 3 hours 15 minutes; New York - 8 hours 05 minutes; Los Angeles - 16 hours (including stopover); Toronto - 9 hours 30 minutes (including stopover); Sydney - 25 hours (including stopover).

Travel by road

Traffic in Casablanca drives on the right and the minimum driving age is 18 years. Morocco’s roads are generally well surfaced and engineered, with light traffic. Speed limits are 60kph (37mph) in towns, 100kph (62mph) outside urban areas and 120kph (75mph) on motorways. A 4-wheel drive vehicle is advisable for driving on the unpaved, gravelled pistes that access remote mountains and desert areas. You must carry your driving licence and passport at all times.

Emergency breakdown services

There is no nationwide breakdown service. However, the network of local garages and body-shops found in even the smaller villages has excellent mechanics who will usually manage to get you going again.

Routes

You can access Casablanca with your own vehicle by driving down through France and Spain and catching the regular car ferry service that cross from Algeciras to Tangier or the Spanish North African enclave of Cueta in two hours. Ferry companies operate multiple daily crossings and there is no need to book in advance.

Coaches

National operator CTM (tel: +212 800 090 030; www.ctm.ma) and a number of private companies offer long-distance coach services linking Casablanca with destinations throughout Morocco. It's worth buying tickets in advance to ensure a seat. Train operator ONCF also runs comfortable Supratours express buses that connect with rail services (tel: +212 537 731 061; www.supratours.ma). The CTM terminal in Casablanca is at 23 Rue Léon l’Africain. The Ouled Ziane Gare Routière, 4km (2.5 miles) southeast of the centre, is the main terminal for private long-distance buses.

Time to city

From Marrakech - 2 hours 40 minutes; Tangier - 3 hours 30 minutes.

Travel by Rail

Services

Casablanca is served by several reasonably fast, efficient and comfortable intercity trains originating from Tangier, Marrakech, Meknès and Fès and terminating at the Casa Voyageurs station, 2km (1.25 miles) from the city centre.

Most Rabat trains arrive at the downtown Casa Port station. First and second-class accommodation is available. The word 'express' usually refers to comfort levels rather than speed. Second-class fares are slightly more expensive than equivalent bus tariffs. Couchettes are available on night services.

A high-speed line is under construction between Tangier and Casablanca, but is not expected to be operational until summer 2018.

Operators

National rail company ONCF (tel: +212 890 203 040; www.oncf.ma) operates intercity trains to Casablanca. There are multiple options and pricing for travelling to Morocco by train from other European countries.(using the ferry from Gibraltar to Tangier). Rail Europe (www.raileurope.com) can advise.

Journey times

From Rabat - 1 hour; Marrakech - 3 hours 10 minutes; Fès - 3 hours 45 minutes; Tangiers - 5 hours.

A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

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Featured Hotels

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Riad Jnane Sherazade

For a traditional Moroccan riad experience, stay in the plush Riad Jnane Sherazade. Although this renovated 1950s era hotel is a bit distant from Casablanca's main sights, the hotel's affordable pricing, 400 sq m garden, terrace restaurant, hamman, winter lounge, and sunroom are worth the travel time.

Hotel and Spar Le’doge

A Relais & Châteaux property in an old art deco residence. Centrally located in the heart of Casablanca, minutes from Parc de la ligue Arabe. Just 16 uniquely decorated rooms with free wi-Fi and air-con, onsite Hamam (Turkish steam bath) and rooftop terrace.. Ideal for an extremely luxury experience.

Hôtel du Centre

Hôtel du Centre is basic but clean and one of the best options for cheap hotels in Casablanca, with just 32 rooms and a good location in the Old Medina.

Hotel Galia

Conveniently set right in front of the central market, this is one of the cheapest hotels in Casablanca with clean, comfortable rooms and a staff that speaks English and French as well as Arabic and Berber!

Hyatt Regency Casablanca

This high-end Casablanca hotel boasts 255 bedrooms and suites, an outdoor pool (summer only), a gym, squash courts, a sauna, hammam baths, three restaurants and the Casablanca nightclub, which is themed on Rick's Place from the 1942 Bogart/Bergman movie. Rooms are spacious, luxurious and air-conditioned. It is big and therefore slightly impersonal, but when you want service it is meticulous.

Hôtel Transatlantique

Edith Piaf once stayed in this 1922 colonial time-warp that has been sympathetically refurbished to preserve its nostalgic ambience. The guestrooms are nicely furnished and there's a bar and restaurant plus nightly cabaret shows.