FESTIVALS, HOLIDAYS AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS IN Casablanca

There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Casablanca each year. The main ones are listed below.

For New Year's Eve (December 31 to January 1), Casablanca offers many evening entertainments with local food, spices, oriental music, and dance. The splendours of the Oriental night unfold in restaurants and nightclubs throughout this largest of Moroccan cities.

Casablanca hosts many festivities as Morocco celebrates the 1944 signing of the Proclamation, which symbolises the end of colonisation and the start of independence.

On this day, festive events are organised alongside traditional trade union marches in the city centre.

Morocco celebrates the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, during which the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Fasting begins each day at sunrise and ends at sunset. For the entire month, Casablanca operates at a slower pace during the day and stirs into action at nightfall.

In Islam, this day marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan and is a time for family celebrations and great feasts bringing together all family members.

A day of national celebration commemorating the enthronement of King Mohammed VI. This holiday is marked by major festivities: parades, ceremonies, official speeches, fireworks…

This holiday marks the return of the Saharan provinces to Morocco in 1949. With great fanfare, hundreds of Sahrawi representatives mandated by the population of Oued Ed-Dahab (Rio de Oro), travel from the extreme southern province to pledge allegiance to the Moroccan king.

A symbolic day recalling the deportation of King Mohammed V after his dismissal by the French authorities in 1953. Military parades, fireworks, and flags flying from windows everywhere… Moroccans celebrate, in a very festive manner, their love for their king.

Moroccan youth is celebrated on the anniversary of the birth of King Mohammed VI. Performances, dances, happenings—Casablanca's children pour their hearts out on the streets of the city.

It is considered the most important of the yearly Muslim holidays and honours Ibrahim as a model for all believers. This is also an occasion for sumptuous family gatherings, for which it is recommended to multiply offerings and gifts.

Inaugurated by Hassan II, this holiday commemorates the strategic march of 350,000 Moroccans in 1975 to the Spanish Sahara, to force Spain to hand over the province.

On this day of national celebration, Morocco celebrates its acquisition of statehood in 1955, and the end of its status as a French protectorate.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN Casablanca

Month	Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Average Rains (MM)	Best Time to Travel
January	8/46	17/63	65/2.5	Not the best period to go
February	8/46	18/64	63/2.4	Not the best period to go
March	10/50	20/68	65/2.5	Not the best period to go
April	11/52	22/72	42/1.6	Not the best period to go
May	14/57	23/73	27/1.0	Good period to go
June	16/61	25/77	8/0.3	Good period to go
July	18/64	28/82	0	Good period to go
August	18/64	28/82	0	Good period to go
September	17/63	27/80	10/0.4	Good period to go
October	15/59	25/77	47/1.8	Good period to go
November	12/53	21/70	83/3.2	Not the best period to go
December	9/48	18/64	85/3.3	Not the best period to go

The Mohammed V International Airport

The Mohammed V International Airport is located about 30 kilometres south of Casablanca.

• 3 terminals
  • T1
  • T2 (Air France)
  • T3

• By car
  • The airport is accessible by car via the A7 motorway. Allow approximately 30 minutes to reach the city centre.
  • The airport has two car parks in terminals 1 and 2. The price is MAD 5 per hour.
  • Many car rental companies are located in the arrivals area of Terminal 2.

• Bus
  • The bus company CTM connects the airport to downtown in about an hour. They run every hour from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. A ticket costs 20 MAD.

• Taxi
  • Parked at the arrival level, white taxis take passengers to downtown Casablanca for MAD 250. The trip takes about 30 minutes.
• Train
  • Trains run to the city centre (Casa Port) from the railway station in the arrivals hall (level -1) every hour between 4:00 a.m. and 11:45 p.m., 7 days a week. The trip takes about 45 minutes and costs MAD 43.

• Services
  • shops, bars, restaurants, free Internet access (Wi-Fi), currency exchange, banks, ATMs, post office, souvenir shops, first aid centre and hotels available in the airport.
  • Website: www.onda.ma/
  • Telephone: +212 (0)522 53 90 40

GETTING AROUND Casablanca

Traffic in Casablanca is often chaotic for cars, buses, and even pedestrians. The tram, which serves the main roads of the city, is the ideal way to explore.

Car

Some tourists can use their driving licenses in Morocco. But beware: finding a place to park in the city centre can often be difficult. Expect to pay around MAD 2 for half-hour daytime and around MAD 30 from 8:00 p.m. to 9 a.m.

Bus

The M'Dina bus company has more than 45 bus lines in Casablanca.
Buses run from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. On average, there is a bus every 10 to 15 minutes.
You can buy your tickets directly on the bus for MAD 5.

Tramway

Inaugurated in 2012, the Casablanca tramway is the safest and fastest way to get around the city. The 31-kilometre line connects the most important points of the city: universities, ONCF stations, historic centres and the Art Deco district, the business district, hospitals, and the Derb Ghallef shopping district. Tickets are MAD 6 and on sale in kiosks and tram station distributors. The ticket allows you to make connections in the hour following the first validation. For more information on fares, schedules, and points of sale, visit the official website (www.casatramway.ma/, in French and Arabic only). The tram runs from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., 7 days a week, every 5 to 15 minutes (depending on peak hours).

Taxi

In urban areas, the ‘little red taxis' are easily available: you can flag one down on the street. It is possible that other passengers will already be aboard: in Casablanca, taxi sharing is common. The price of a trip in the city is set by the meter (make sure it is switched on when you board). A city trip should not be more than MAD 20. From 10:00 p.m., the price per kilometre is increased by 50%. The base price MAD 3.50.

Visitor information

Once you arrive in Casablanca, don't hesitate to get in touch with tourism professionals for information and help in organising your stay.

Offers practical information and useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.).

• Adress: 61, bis avenue Hassan-II Casablanca
• Telephone: + 212 (0)522 20 62 66
• Website: www.visitcasablanca.ma

Offers practical information and many useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.).

• Address: Place Mohammed V

Currency and Exchange Rates

The currency used in Morocco is the Moroccan dirham (MAD).

1 € = 10,80 MAD

1 MAD = 0,09 €

The above exchange rate is given for information because is variable.

Medical information

See your doctor before you travel. It is also recommended to take out insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation. Casablanca counts several hospitals and medical institutions as well as medical practitioners.

No vaccine is mandatory to stay in Casablanca. However, it is recommended that travellers be vaccinated for hepatitis A and B, and typhoid.
For more information, contact the Air France Vaccination Centre:

• Address: 38, quai de Jemmapes 75010 Paris
• Website: www.vaccinations-airfrance.fr
• Telephone: +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00
• To make a vaccination appointment:
  • online : vaccinations-airfrance.fr/eappointment/form
  • Telephone : +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00

Tap water is safe to drink in Casablanca.

Administrative formalities

Entry requirements for Morocco

Most nationalities visiting Morocco do not require a visa and are allowed to stay in the country for 90 days, provided the individual has a valid passport (30 days for citizens of Hong Kong and Singapore).

However, some foreign nationals are subject to visa formalities before entering Morocco. For more information, visit the website of Morocco’s Consular and Social Affairs:

http://www.service-public.ma/en/web/guest/home

Useful addresses

To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Morocco, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.

Essential phrases

Good to know

00 212

+ phone number without (0)

-1 : 00
of time difference with
Brussels

Daylight Savings Time start date: last Sunday in March
Daylight Savings Time end date: last Sunday in October

Generally Monday to Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 or 4:00 p.m. (9:15 a.m. to 2 or 2:30 p.m. during Ramadan)

Generally Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. (9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. during Ramadan)

220 V/ 50 Hz

Tipping
In Morocco, the tip is not included in the bill. It is therefore customary to leave a 10 to 15% tip. As salaries are relatively low, tipping the hotel's housekeeping staff (maids, porters, etc.) is an appreciated gesture.