Casablanca Rabat Full Day Tour: Private 10-Hour Itinerary & Practical Guide

Itinerary

1. 1

   Hassan II Mosque

   Casablanca – guided visit

   The tour opens at Hassan II Mosque, whose 210 m minaret is the tallest in Africa. Non-Muslim visitors can enter on guided tours (check current times), admiring the retractable roof, hand-carved marble and zellij tilework that blends traditional craftsmanship with modern engineering. The mosque sits on a promontory over the Atlantic, so the setting is dramatic even from outside.

2. 2

   Square of Mohammed V

   Casablanca

   A brief drive-by stop at Mohammed V Square lets you see the cluster of 1930s art-deco administrative buildings — the Palais de Justice, Prefecture, and Bank al-Maghrib — that define colonial Casablanca’s centre. The square itself is a busy traffic roundabout, so you’ll likely view the architecture from the car or during a quick pavement pause.

3. 3

   Quartier Habous

   Casablanca

   Known as the New Medina, Quartier Habous was built by the French in the 1930s using traditional Moroccan layout and materials. Its arcaded streets hold olive-wood workshops, spice stalls and patisseries selling almond pastries. The area feels more orderly than the old medina, making it an easy place to browse for souvenirs without the intense haggling.

4. 4

   Movie-inspired stop (Rick's Café)

   Casablanca

   A short stop at Rick’s Café, a 2004 recreation of the film’s famous bar, lets you peek at the Art Deco interior or grab a coffee. It’s a tourist-oriented venue — not a historic site — but the piano music and period décor make for a fun photo if you’re a fan of the 1942 classic.

5. 5

   The Corniche

   Casablanca

   The Corniche is Casablanca’s beachfront boulevard stretching along the Atlantic. You’ll have time for a stroll past the string of hotels, restaurants and the landmark El Hank lighthouse. On a clear day the ocean views are wide, but the area can be busy with weekend traffic and the beaches are often crowded in summer.

6. 6

   Hassan Tower and Mohammed V Mausoleum

   Rabat

   In Rabat, Hassan Tower stands as an Almohad-era minaret left unfinished at 44 m when the sultan died in 1199. Beside it, the Mohammed V Mausoleum houses the tombs of Mohammed V and his sons, its white marble, green-tiled roof and intricate stucco work showcasing Alaouite craftsmanship. Both sites are in the same complex, so moving between them is easy.

7. 7

   Kasbah des Oudaias

   Rabat

   Perched above the Bouregreg River, the Kasbah des Oudaias is a 12th-century fortress with whitewashed alleys accented by blue doors — a quieter, more photogenic counterpart to Chefchaouen. Inside, the Andalusian garden offers shade and fragrant orange trees, while the ramparts give sweeping views over the river mouth and Salé across the water.

8. 8

   Chellah Rabat

   Rabat

   Chellah layers a Roman city (Sala Colonia) beneath a 14th-century Merinid necropolis. You’ll walk among column bases, a forum and bath complex, then pass through the monumental gate into the walled garden where storks nest on the minaret ruins. The site is peaceful, with fewer visitors than the main monuments, and the mix of eras is unusually tangible.

9. 9

   Royal Palace of Rabat

   Rabat

   The Royal Palace (Dar al-Makhzen) is the King’s official residence, so access is restricted to the exterior. You’ll see the grand gates, the ceremonial guard in traditional dress, and the expansive manicured gardens behind the walls. It’s a quick photo stop — allow 10–15 minutes — but the scale of the complex conveys the monarchy’s modern presence.

10. 10

    Bouregreg Marina lunch

    Rabat – lunch break (meal not included)

    The tour ends with a lunch break at Bouregreg Marina, a modern waterfront development with restaurants facing the river and the Hassan Tower silhouette across the water. Meals are not included, so budget 150–250 MAD for a main course. After eating, the driver returns you to Casablanca — about an hour on the highway.

For reference — the operator may change the order of stops.