As an essentially commercial city rather than an overt holiday destination, Casablanca has very few specific tourist attractions. The appeal, rather, is the overall ambience of the place and the counter-pointing of stridently modern buildings with vestiges of the French colonial days, much of it set on broad and pleasant avenues that make walking a delight.

Glorious examples of art deco and Moroccan revivalist (‘Mauresque') architecture can be seen at every turn, while a host of pavement cafés beckon visitors to stop awhile, take a cup of strong Arabic coffee, sweet mint or strong gunpowder tea and watch the world go by. 

Many fine public buildings, built between 1916 and 1937, are grouped around the huge Place Mohammed V (formerly Place des Nations Allies). Outstanding among them are the General Post Office, Préfecture, Palais de Justice law courts and the French Consulate. Over it all towers an impressive 50m (164ft) campanile (bell tower). 

The bustling activities of the port make a fine backdrop to a city that interlaces the spaces between its broad boulevards with a maze of backstreets, and if you want to escape the bustle and grime there is the popular beach suburb of Aïn Diab within 30-minute's walk, and several hammams in which to relax and get pampered.

Syndicat d'Initiative
98 boulevard Mohammed V
Tel: (022) 221 524.

ONMT Délégation Générale du Tourisme
55 rue Omar Slaoui.
Tel: (022) 271 177.

Website: www.visitcasablanca.ma or www.casablanca.ma

Other useful websites for tourism in Morocco include: www.tourisme.gov.ma, www.tourism-in-Morocco.com, which details tourist activities and attractions; www.lexicorient.com/morocco, for general information, maps and links; and www.morocco.com a directory of useful Moroccan websites.

There are no special tourist discount passes available for sightseeing in Casablanca at present.