Many people will advise you to skip Casablanca. Though it’s the largest city in the country and a hub for international flights, it offers few tourist diversions. While I enjoyed my time there, I agree that it’s not for everyone. The best part about Casablanca is the new Royal Mansour hotel, a glittering sanctuary with stunning views of the city. 

I worked with the Travel Office to set up a customized tour to explore the Hassan II Mosque, art deco architecture and other historic corners of the city. I won’t go so far as to say that Casablanca’s reputation is entirely undeserved, but I found it to be surprisingly rewarding and almost entirely devoid of tourists. And at no point were we hassled by shopkeepers or unscrupulous guides.

Hassan II Mosque

Our tour began at Hassan II Mosque, the most famous attraction in Casablanca and the only mosque in the country that’s open to non-Muslim visitors. The massive structure, with space for 25,000 worshippers, sits on a peninsula near La Corniche, towering over the coastline. It’s not a historic building — it was completed in 1993 — but it’s an impressive display of classic Moroccan craftsmanship. Inside, sparkling chandeliers hang from the soaring ceilings, and a marble fountain runs the length of the prayer hall. There’s also a retractable roof, along with glass flooring that reveals a lower level filled with fountains for washing. It’s absolutely magnificent and well worth a visit. At the museum near the entrance, you can inspect replicas of the mosque’s intricate tile mosaics and carved woodwork.