Casablanca

From the airport

Train: trains depart every hour to Casa Voyageur from 6.50am to 10.50pm.

Shop

The first of its kind in Morocco, Les Domaines sells 100% Moroccan natural produce: dairy products, meat and fish, fruit and vegetables, honey and olive oils, natural cosmetics.
For three generations, the Azuelos family have been designing stunning jewellery. The beautiful collections combine classic Moroccan emblems with contemporary forms. 

Boulevard Ghandi stretches for about a kilometre. You will find spas, cafes, restaurants, furniture and home interior stores dotted along it, and the city's main tennis club is not far away.

Cinema Rialto is not only somewhere to enjoy films but it is also somewhere to enjoy the surrounds of classic 1930s art-deco architecture.

The Habous quarter offers a pleasant medina experience. Moroccan crafts are available and there is also a specialist olive market and the famous Bennis bakery.

During August, the temperature really heats up and many Casablancans leave the city in search of quieter beaches. Why not join them and head to Ain Dhab, less than 10 kilometres away, for white sand and clear waters.

Day trip

Tamaris. The biggest aqua park in Morocco, Tamaris boasts many slides, a 200-metre river and Amazonian swimming pool with big waves. It also has a games room, small train and mini go-karting, as well as restaurants. Open from 10am to 6.30pm.
Rabat. Althought smaller and much quieter than Casablanca, Rabat is the country's capital city. Only an hour away by road or train, there are plenty of attractions to see. Check out the Andalusian Gardens, the Chellah and Kasbah des Oudaias.

Tangier

Tangier's galleries are full of talent. Great photographs and paintings are for sale at the kasbahs Dar Nour and Volubilis, Dar D'art behind the Boulevard, and Lineart near the Wilaya.

Maison de l'Artisanat, a government-sponsored centre, is where you can find the best quality Moroccan tile, leather, metal and woodwork at higher but sometimes negociable prices (next to M'sallah)

For the best ice cream around, head to La Fuga on Place du Koweit where a four-page ice cream menu will entice you with creative and decadent cold treats.

Les Passagers de Tanger is a cafe overlooking the Grand Socco. It is one of the few establishments around that offers real Sunday brunch with alcohol (4 Place du 9 Avril)

The Atlantic coast past Cap Spartel boasts a number of beaches. Take a taxi to Robinson Plage, where the beach curves around the Mirage Hotel to kilometre-long coast-line. The beaches get crowded in summer at the weekend.

After gazing at the map collection at the fascinating American Legation Museum, go into the uncharted territory of Old Town bazaars around Petir Socco, recalling Ali Baba's Cave. Hit Cafe Central for a breather and the chance to admire your purchases afterwards.

February is the month for Iris Tingitana, the rare purple flower that blooms in every vacant lot and field of Tangier. Buy some as a memento.

Day trip

Asilah. Located about 40 minutes drive south of Tangier, this cute fishing village offers galleries, restaurants and long expanses of beach. The 20th-century palace (which belonged to the infamous bandit Raissouni) is a museum and cultural centre. Take a white taxi or bus from the bus station or train. 
Moulay Abdessalam. A place of pilgrimage for the eponymous saint, a father of a branch of Sufism, and for its natural beauty, this village is an idyllic base for a hike up Jbel Al Alam.