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Casablanca Layover Tips For Flight Attendants | WOC

Casablanca Layover Tips For Flight Attendants | WOC

Casablanca, Morocco’s largest city, is a cosmopolitan Atlantic port, an alluring blend of tradition and progressiveness. With Roman roots, French city planning and a Portuguese name that dates to the 16th century, the city retains a midcentury elegance with modern touches, including a sleek tram system across its center. In the oldest part of town, wanderers can buy strawberries and eggs off wheeled carts, eat sandwiches fried on the spot outside the mosque, and engage with locals, who always seem willing to share their pathways through the city’s history and geography.

What to do in Casablanca for 24h to 48h?

What to see in Casablanca ?

Hassan II Mosque

Layover Casablanca- Hassan II mosque

There are very few mosques in Morocco that non-Muslims are allowed to enter. The Hassan II Mosque is one of them. It rises 210 meters into the air. It is the largest and one of the most ornate mosques in the maghreb. Much of the surface of the mosque is covered in ornate, traditional Moroccan tile work, woodcarving, and stucco work.Of particular note is the vast, decorative prayer hall and the glass floor revealing the Atlantic beating on the rocks below.

WOC Tip : To visit the Hassan II Mosque, you must be dressed appropriately. Men should wear pants and shirts, no shorts or tank tops. Women must cover their heads, arms and legs.

Art Deco

One of the most interesting, rich historical aspects of Casablanca is the Art Deco architecture left by French colonialists through downtown Morocco. Many of these buildings are in various states of disrepair, but an absolute must-see for Art Deco enthusiasts is the Cinema Rialto on rue Mohammed Qorri. This particular neighborhood is rich with examples of Art Deco and is worth an afternoon stroll. Not far from from Cinema Rialto is the Catholic Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.

Ain Diab

Layover Casablanca- Ain Diab

Ain Diab and la Corniche, popular beachfront spots for those looking for a bit of sun and sand. Casablanca’s proximity to the Atlantic and southern latitude are a near-guarantee for beach weather year-round. The locals flock to the beaches cool off in the waters and play a little football on the beaches.

WOC Tip: For quieter beaches, it’s necessary to go a bit further south, along the coast.

Parc de La Ligue Arabe

The Parc de La Ligue Arabe, the city’s largest green space, sits behind a wide tree-lined boulevard filled with cafes. Its central esplanade, stocked with palms and flowering bushes, provides a respite from the urban traffic and grit. There are kids in colorful jerseys practicing soccer on one end, grandpas playing a lively game of pétanque on the other. The only noise is birds chirping and the thwack of balls.

Shopping in Casablanca

The Morocco Mall

Layover Casablanca-The morocco Mall

This mall is an elaborate take on the American-style mall with a mix of some local color. The mall sports largely upscale shops, such as Fendi, Dolce and Gabbana and Louis Vuitton, as well as some French shopping standards like H&M, Zara, Virgin Records, FNAC, and Galleries Lafayette, though there is a small “souk” on the upper level full of traditional Moroccan goods and meant to reflect the traditions of Moroccan shopping. Most visitors will be better off exploring other parts of Morocco, but for those here on business, needing a quick change of clothes or maybe wanting a western-style break after traveling through the rest of the country, this mall may be the ticket.

Central Market

Layover Casablanca- morocco Markets

Unlike the overflowing mazes in Fez and other Moroccan cities, Casablanca’s central market is small and manageable. White-walled stalls with green clay tile roofs dotted with foliage make for all the Instagrammable backgrounds you’ll ever need. Vendors sell produce, nuts and dates and, in one stand, argan oil, the traditional Moroccan elixir for most everything. Linger long enough and eventually you will see the vendors line up for the call to prayer, and then join them in a quick tagine lunch, served at outdoor tables.

Quartier Gauthier

The Quartier Gauthier is a high-end shopping strip, with designer furniture stores, galleries, salons and international boutiques like Hugo Boss clustered along Rue Jean Jaurès. Window-shop or spend some dirhams with the well-heeled here; keep an eye out for discounts on hip denim lines, manufactured in Casablanca.

Where to eat in Casablanca?

Espace El Frutero

Cafes are traditionally the province of Moroccan men, who linger over mint tea and strong coffee. The brightly colored Espace El Frutero juice bar, near the market, is a prime meeting spot for gaggles of young women, friends and students. Fruit and nuts hang from the ceiling in sacks, and you can custom-order a mixed fruit cocktail

Rick’s Cafe

Layover Casablanca- Rick's Cafe

Built to bring the famous Rick’s Cafe from the movie, Casablanca, to life, the real Rick’s Cafe that abuts the old medina walls of the real Casablanca, is something of an anomaly.

The Mood Café

With its sleek look — silver barstools, pendant lights – the Mood Café, in the trendy Quartier Gauthier. Hip young Casablancans congregate with their laptops at the white tables and bright chairs, taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi and the light fare — sandwiches and fresh juices — on the menu. The house salad is a Moroccan take on a chef’s salad, with ham, Brie, corn, olives and walnuts in a creamy dressing; somehow, it works. The restaurant also has a popular brunch special with a smoothie menu, in lieu of a stateside mimosa.

Flight Attendants discounts in Morocco

World Of Crew gets you a few awesome deals only for cabin crews in Casablanca. Have a look into these and let us know if you manage to visit them during your layover!    

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Any Cool Experience to share in Casablanca

How was your layover in Casablanca? Did you discover any new places? If so, please do share these useful tips with your fellow cabin crew, by commenting below!

Have a wonderful layover !

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