Travel to Casablanca
Flying to Casablanca
Royal Air Maroc operates direct flights to Casablanca from the UK and the USA. An alternative if you're travelling from the UK is to travel via Madrid with British Airways or Iberia.
Flight times
From London - 3 hours 15 minutes; New York - 8 hours 05 minutes; Los Angeles - 16 hours (including stopover); Toronto - 9 hours 30 minutes (including stopover); Sydney - 25 hours (including stopover).
Travel by road
Traffic in Casablanca drives on the right and the minimum driving age is 18 years. Morocco’s roads are generally well surfaced and engineered, with light traffic. Speed limits are 60kph (37mph) in towns, 100kph (62mph) outside urban areas and 120kph (75mph) on motorways. A 4-wheel drive vehicle is advisable for driving on the unpaved, gravelled pistes that access remote mountains and desert areas. You must carry your driving licence and passport at all times.
Emergency breakdown services
There is no nationwide breakdown service. However, the network of local garages and body-shops found in even the smaller villages has excellent mechanics who will usually manage to get you going again.
Routes
You can access Casablanca with your own vehicle by driving down through France and Spain and catching the regular car ferry service that cross from Algeciras to Tangier or the Spanish North African enclave of Cueta in two hours. Ferry companies operate multiple daily crossings and there is no need to book in advance.
Coaches
National operator CTM (tel: +212 800 090 030; www.ctm.ma) and a number of private companies offer long-distance coach services linking Casablanca with destinations throughout Morocco. It's worth buying tickets in advance to ensure a seat. Train operator ONCF also runs comfortable Supratours express buses that connect with rail services (tel: +212 537 731 061; www.supratours.ma). The CTM terminal in Casablanca is at 23 Rue Léon l’Africain. The Ouled Ziane Gare Routière, 4km (2.5 miles) southeast of the centre, is the main terminal for private long-distance buses.
Time to city
From Marrakech - 2 hours 40 minutes; Tangier - 3 hours 30 minutes.
Travel by Rail
Services
Casablanca is served by several reasonably fast, efficient and comfortable intercity trains originating from Tangier, Marrakech, Meknès and Fès and terminating at the Casa Voyageurs station, 2km (1.25 miles) from the city centre.
Most Rabat trains arrive at the downtown Casa Port station. First and second-class accommodation is available. The word 'express' usually refers to comfort levels rather than speed. Second-class fares are slightly more expensive than equivalent bus tariffs. Couchettes are available on night services.
A high-speed line is under construction between Tangier and Casablanca, but is not expected to be operational until summer 2018.
Operators
National rail company ONCF (tel: +212 890 203 040; www.oncf.ma) operates intercity trains to Casablanca. There are multiple options and pricing for travelling to Morocco by train from other European countries.(using the ferry from Gibraltar to Tangier). Rail Europe (www.raileurope.com) can advise.
Journey times
From Rabat - 1 hour; Marrakech - 3 hours 10 minutes; Fès - 3 hours 45 minutes; Tangiers - 5 hours.
