💰 This page covers the street-level details of spending money in Casablanca: card acceptance by neighborhood, where to find ATMs, how to pay for the tram and taxis, and what to carry for medina visits and mosque tours. For Morocco-wide ATM tips, tipping norms, and exchange rate advice:
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Order MAD → CEI Currency ExchangeDo You Need Cash in Casablanca?
Yes. While Casablanca is Morocco's most modern and cosmopolitan city, cash remains essential for everyday spending. Malls, upscale restaurants, and hotels accept cards, but medina shops, petit taxis, street food vendors, and smaller restaurants all require Moroccan dirhams. More card-friendly than Marrakech or Fez, but still cash-first. Carry MAD 200–500 when exploring.
Where You Will Need Cash
Old Medina and Habous Quarter shops. Petit taxis (metered, cash only). Street food vendors (snail soup, msemen, fresh juice). Smaller restaurants and cafes outside malls. Tram tickets (coins at machines). Tips at restaurants and for services. Mosque tour tickets (cash accepted as backup).
Where Cards Work Fine
Hotels at all levels. Morocco Mall and Anfa Place (fully card-friendly). Corniche restaurants and beach clubs. Hassan II Mosque ticket office (card accepted). Supermarkets (Marjane, Carrefour, Acima). Train tickets (card at stations or oncf.ma). Rick's Cafe (the famous Casablanca-themed restaurant, cards accepted). Modern Casablanca is approaching European card levels.
Paying by Card in Casablanca
Card acceptance is better in Casablanca than anywhere else in Morocco. Visa and Mastercard work at modern establishments. Amex has limited acceptance (international hotels). Contactless payments work at newer terminals in malls and chain restaurants. The divide is clear: modern Casablanca takes cards, traditional Casablanca runs on cash.
Corniche & Ain Diab
The beachfront strip has excellent card acceptance. Beach clubs (Cabestan, La Corniche) accept cards. Restaurants along the Boulevard de la Corniche take cards. Morocco Mall (Africa's largest mall) is fully card-friendly with international brands and a large food court. The Ain Diab lighthouse area has upscale dining, all card-friendly.
City Center & Place Mohammed V
The Art Deco downtown has a mix. Rick's Cafe (MAD 250–400 dinner, cards accepted) is a must-visit. Hotel restaurants and upscale cafes accept cards. Smaller cafes and street-level shops along Boulevard Mohammed V prefer cash. The Central Market (Marché Central) food vendors are cash-only. Budget MAD 100–200 in cash.
Old Medina
Casablanca's medina is smaller and less touristy than Marrakech or Fez. Shops selling leather, spices, and textiles are cash-only. Haggling is expected but less aggressive than in tourist cities. Local restaurants serve tajine and couscous for MAD 30–60 (cash). Budget MAD 100–200 for a medina visit.
Habous Quarter (New Medina)
Built in the 1930s as a "modern medina." Patisseries (Moroccan pastries, MAD 5–15 per piece) are mostly cash. Olive and spice shops prefer cash. Larger leather and carpet shops may accept cards for big purchases. The Royal Palace exterior is free to view. A pleasant, walkable area with less hassle than the old medina. Bring MAD 100–150.
Anfa & Racine
Casablanca's upscale residential and business district. Restaurants along Boulevard d'Anfa and Rue Tahar Sebti accept cards. Anfa Place mall is card-friendly. Hotels (Hyatt Regency, Four Seasons) accept all major cards. The Villa des Arts gallery (MAD 40, card accepted) is here. A modern, card-friendly area popular with business travelers.
ATMs in Casablanca
For Morocco-wide ATM advice, see the Morocco guide.
Look for these logos. Moroccan bank ATMs accept foreign Visa and Mastercard.
Attijariwafa
BMCE
Banque PopulaireATM Locations
Boulevard Mohammed V: Multiple bank ATMs along the main commercial street. Morocco Mall: ATMs inside the mall. Casa Voyageurs station: ATMs near the entrance. Mohammed V Airport (CMN): ATMs in the arrivals hall. ATMs dispense MAD 100 and MAD 200 notes. Request smaller amounts for better change options at markets.
⚠ Avoid Airport Exchange Counters
Exchange counters at Mohammed V Airport offer poor rates. Use the airport ATMs instead (Attijariwafa and BMCE have machines in arrivals). In the city, exchange offices on Boulevard Mohammed V and near Place des Nations Unies offer competitive rates. Always decline DCC at ATMs.
Paying for the Tram, Taxis & Trains
Casablanca Tram
Two tram lines serve the city center, Casa Voyageurs station, and the Ain Diab area. A single ride costs MAD 6. Buy a rechargeable card at station machines (MAD 5 for the card) or single tickets (coins). The tram is clean, frequent, and the easiest way to get between central Casablanca and the Corniche.
Petit Taxis
Casablanca's red petit taxis are metered and cash only. The flag drop is MAD 2.50 (MAD 3.50 at night). Most rides within the city cost MAD 15–30. Insist the driver uses the meter. From Casa Voyageurs to the Hassan II Mosque: MAD 20–30. From the city center to Morocco Mall: MAD 30–40. Keep MAD 10 and MAD 20 notes for taxi fares.
Trains
ONCF trains from Casa Voyageurs station connect to Rabat (1 hour, MAD 50–80), Marrakech (2.75 hours, MAD 150–250), Fez (3.5 hours, MAD 150–200), and Tangier (2 hours by Al Boraq high-speed, MAD 200–300). Cards accepted at station ticket windows and online at oncf.ma. Trains are comfortable and the best way to travel between Moroccan cities.
Airport Transfers
Mohammed V Airport (CMN) is 30 km south of the city. Train: MAD 50–70 to Casa Voyageurs (30 minutes, card at station). Grand taxi: MAD 300 fixed rate (negotiate, cash). Petit taxi: not allowed from the airport. Careem: available in Casablanca (card via app, MAD 200–250). The train is cheapest and most reliable.
Tipping in Casablanca
The Morocco guide covers general norms. In Casablanca: Restaurants: 10% is appreciated (not usually included). Cafes: round up or leave MAD 2–5. Taxi drivers: round up to the nearest MAD 5. Hotel porters: MAD 10–20 per bag. Hassan II Mosque guides: MAD 20–30 after the tour. Always tip in cash.
Prices in Casablanca
Casablanca is Morocco's most expensive city for dining, but still very affordable by international standards. Street food and local restaurants are cheap. Western-style restaurants and the Corniche are pricier.
| Item | Price (MAD) | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Mint tea | MAD 10–15 | $1–1.50 |
| Fresh orange juice | MAD 5–10 | $0.50–1 |
| Tajine at a local restaurant | MAD 40–70 | $4–7 |
| Coffee (cafe) | MAD 12–20 | $1.20–2 |
| Lunch (mid-range) | MAD 80–150 | $8–15 |
| Dinner at Rick's Cafe | MAD 250–400 | $25–40 |
| Tram ride | MAD 6 | $0.60 |
| Petit taxi across town | MAD 15–30 | $1.50–3 |
| Hassan II Mosque tour | MAD 130 | $13 |
| Train to Rabat | MAD 50–80 | $5–8 |
| Train to Marrakech | MAD 150–250 | $15–25 |
| Moroccan pastries (box) | MAD 30–60 | $3–6 |
| Budget hotel (per night) | MAD 300–600 | $30–60 |
USD estimates based on approximately MAD 10 = $1. Rates fluctuate.
Day Trips from Casablanca
Rabat (1 hour by train)
Morocco's capital. Train from Casa Voyageurs costs MAD 50–80 (card at station). The Kasbah of the Udayas (free), Hassan Tower (free), and Chellah (MAD 70) are the highlights. Rabat is card-friendly at restaurants and museums. The medina is less touristy than Marrakech. Bring MAD 100–150 in cash for medina shopping and taxis.
El Jadida (1.5 hours by train)
A coastal town with a Portuguese-era fortified city (UNESCO World Heritage). Train costs MAD 40–60. The Portuguese Cistern (MAD 10) is the main attraction. The medina is small and pleasant. Seafood restaurants along the waterfront prefer cash. A quieter, more authentic alternative to the big tourist cities. Bring MAD 100.
Marrakech (2.75 hours by train)
Train costs MAD 150–250 (card at station or online). Marrakech is much more cash-dependent than Casablanca. The Jemaa el-Fnaa square, souks, and riads are heavily cash-based. A long but doable day trip, though an overnight stay is better. Bring MAD 300–500 in cash for a full day in Marrakech.
Casablanca Quick Reference
| Destination | Cards? | Cash Needed? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morocco Mall / Corniche | ✅ Everywhere | Not needed | Fully card-friendly |
| Hassan II Mosque | ✅ Cards accepted | MAD 30 tips | MAD 130 tour, tip guide |
| Old Medina | ❌ Cash only | MAD 100–200 | Haggling expected |
| Habous Quarter | ❌ Cash mostly | MAD 100–150 | Pastries, olives, spices |
| Petit taxi | ❌ Cash only | MAD 20–40 | Insist on meter |
| Tram | ❌ Coins / card | MAD 6 per ride | Rechargeable card or coins |
| Rabat day trip | ✅ Train by card | MAD 100–150 | Medina shopping in cash |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need cash in Casablanca?
Yes. Malls, hotels, and upscale restaurants accept cards, but medina shops, taxis, street food, and smaller restaurants require dirhams. More card-friendly than Marrakech or Fez, but still cash-first. Carry MAD 200–500.
How much does the Hassan II Mosque cost?
MAD 130 for a guided tour (set times, Saturday to Thursday). Card accepted at the ticket office. The only mosque in Morocco open to non-Muslims. Casablanca's top attraction.
How do I pay for the tram?
Buy a rechargeable card (MAD 5) at station machines or use coins for single tickets. A ride costs MAD 6. Two lines cover the city center and Corniche area.
Is Casablanca cheaper than Marrakech?
For tourist activities, yes. Restaurant prices are similar for local food, but Casablanca has more Western-style options. Accommodation is cheaper outside luxury hotels. The medina has more honest prices.
Can I use euros in Casablanca?
Some hotels accept euros at poor rates. Morocco uses the dirham (MAD). Use ATMs for the best rate. The dirham is not freely convertible outside Morocco.
How do I get to Marrakech?
Train from Casa Voyageurs takes 2.75 hours (MAD 150–250, card at station). Regular trains and CTM buses are also available. Train is most comfortable.
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