Where to Stay in Casablanca (2026): Best Areas Guide
Casablanca skyline with views of Hassan 2 Mosque, and the Atlantic Ocean
If you’re wondering whether Casablanca is worth visiting or where to stay in Casablanca, read on. The best area to stay depends on your trip style. Downtown Casablanca near the Port is great for first-time visitors and short stays; Ain Diab is ideal for beach and sunset lovers; while the Art Deco districts, like Gauthier, offer boutique hotels and easy access to a walkable part of the city.
This guide breaks down the best areas to stay in Casablanca in 2026, with hotel recommendations for different budgets and travel styles.
Most long-haul international flights from the Middle East, the Americas, Africa, and Asia arrive in Casablanca. As Morocco’s largest city and economic hub, Casablanca has, until now, been reserved for business travellers or those on a brief overnight stopover. However, following heavy investment in the city, seen in the city’s new improved tramway system and several luxury hotel brand openings, it’s fast-becoming a popular 2 or 3 night stay. In this where to stay in Casablanca blog, I’ve included a new addition for 2026, Villa Sahrai.
Is Casablanca worth visiting? If you have time and are interested in visiting a modern Moroccan city with a buzzing nightlife and dining scene, as well as historic gems, I say yes. On my first visit to Casablanca, I was surprised by its wide avenues with four lanes of hectic traffic, a modern palm-tree-lined beachfront promenade, and affluent districts like Finance City and Californie, which reside alongside the historic Habbous Quarter and a densely packed Medina.
A personal highlight was an afternoon visit to the Hassan II Mosque, an incredible feat of Islamic architecture, and a rare chance to see inside a mosque; it’s the only mosque in Morocco open to non-Muslims. You can read more about what to do, where to eat, and how to navigate the city in this ‘First Time Guide to Casablanca’ that I wrote for the Lonely Planet.
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Where to stay depends on your itinerary, interests, and budget. Here’s a brief overview of where to stay in Casablanca in 2026:
Best Area for First-Time Visitors: Downtown / Port
Suite at the Royal Mansour Casablanca
Around the Port and along Avenue des FARS is one of the best areas to stay in Casablanca for first-time visitors. There are numerous four- and five-star hotels, including the King-owned Royal Mansour, which has raised the bar for luxury in the city. With rates around MAD7000/ GBP600 per room per night, it’s top budget, but if you’re looking for the celebrity treatment, this is the top luxury hotel in Casablanca! I was blown away by their impeccable service, lavish accommodation, and exquisite spa. Their fabulous dining options are open for non-residents, and the rooftop has some of the best city views.
City views from the Royal Mansour Casablanca rooftop
If you like five-star hotels and being in that location on Avenue des FARS, the Casablanca Marriott Hotel is across the street from the Royal Mansour. That’s where I stayed when visiting for Jazzablanca, the city’s Summer music festival. It was great being able to walk to the Old Medina, the Marché Centrale, and the Port train station. Safe and central, very easy to get taxis along Avenue des FARS. There’s a second Marriott Downtown so be sure to book the one in the location you prefer.
Best Area for Beach Hotels: Ain Diab
View of Four Seasons Casablanca pool and Ain Diab beach
As a surf and ocean lover, I loved to stay in Ain Diab, one of Casablanca’s best surf spots and trendy beach districts. La Corniche and the beachfront area around Ain Diab and El Hank get busy at the weekend and after work when the crowd congregates at beach clubs. Ain Diab hotels are for people who will appreciate watching the sunset over the Atlantic Ocean. There’s also a lovely view of the Hassan II Mosque across the foreshore. Lots of restaurants, cafés, and shopping at Anfa Mall, and further south, Morocco Mall. I stayed at the Four Seasons Casablanca, and loved it! For its oceanside location, outdoor pool, spoiling spa, amazing breakfast buffet, in-house dining, and Four Seasons style and service. Nothing was too much for the concierge. I was also excited to hear of a new opening in Ain Diab for 2026, Villa Sahrai, a boutique hotel with 56 rooms and suites, some with sea views. There’s a spa with an indoor heated pool, a well-equipped fitness room, a sauna, treatment rooms, and a hammam chamber. A choice of restaurants for in-house dining. The same brand has Hotel Sahrai in Fez. Easy walk to Ain Diab tram stop, and the beach.
Best Area for Art Deco architecture: Gauthier
Le Doge Hotel Casablanca
In the central Art Deco district, you can find a number of quirky hotels that give a sense of place in Casablanca. A personal favourite is Le Doge Hotel, part of the esteemed Relais and Chateaux group, which is renowned for gastronomy and service. Le Doge is a boutique hotel with quirky Art Deco interiors. Each room is completely different and themed in the style of a 1930s Art Deco artist. There are two fantastic in-house dining options: classic fine dining at Le Jasmine and a relaxed tapas/wine bar, Le Doge Café, on the rooftop. I loved the sunset vibes here, taking in the city’s skyline alongside beautifully presented tapas. It’s a small, service-oriented hotel in a central location. There’s a small spa for hammam and massages.
Le Jasmine (left) and Le Doge Café (right), Le Doge Hotel Casablanca
Map: Where to Stay in Casablanca
Practical Tips for Choosing Your Hotel in Casablanca
The tram is the easiest way to get around. Plan your journey here
Cherry red Petit taxis are plentiful and cheap; hail them on the street
Downtown is best for short stays
Ain Diab is better for relaxation than sightseeing
Friday traffic is heavy, as is rush hour in the week
Many hotels serve alcohol, but not all
Whilst you are in Casablanca, I highly recommend visiting Rabat, the country’s capital, an hour away by train. For further inspiration, read my “Things to do in Rabat” article. https://www.sallykirby.com/blog/15-things-to-do-in-rabat. And if you’re heading to Marrakech, check out the “What to do in Marrakech” guide.
Casablanca is often overlooked by travellers heading straight to Marrakech or Fez, but Morocco’s largest city has some of the country’s best hotels, architecture, and oceanfront dining. Whether you choose a luxury hotel in Ain Diab, a boutique stay in Gauthier, or a central hotel near the Port, choosing the right area for you will make a big difference to your experience of the city.
Overwhelmed by the amount of information online, and need help planning a trip to Morocco? I offer personalisedMorocco travel planning calls, 30 minutes for GBP50/USD65.
Sally Kirby is a UK-born travel writer based in Morocco. She co-authored Lonely Planet Morocco and DK Eyewitness guidebooks, writes regularly for Time Out, adventure.com, and The i Paper, and helps travellers bring their dream trips to reality through her consultancy services.