Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Casablanca
Experience authentic local culture on a shoestring budget with hostels, street food, and public transport
Daily Budget: 260-630 MAD ($26-63) per day
Complete breakdown of costs for budget/backpacker travel in Casablanca
Accommodation
100-250 MAD ($10-25) per night
Dorm beds in small hostels and bare-bones budget guesthouses cluster near the Medina and the city center rail stations. The salty Atlantic breeze drifts through open windows at night. Pack earplugs. Shared bathrooms stay basic but functional. Expect 30 to 60 dirham per night.
Browse budget/backpacker accommodation →Food & Dining
80-180 MAD ($8-18) per day
Harira soup steams from street-side pots at dusk. Msemen flatbreads crisp on griddles. Kefta sandwiches sizzle at market stalls. Mint tea pours sweet and fragrant at working-class Casablanca cafes. Eat standing. Pay in coins.
Transportation
30-70 MAD ($3-7) per day
Casablanca's tram network covers the main corridors cheaply. A single ticket costs 6 dirham. Petit taxis fill gaps the tram does not reach. Haggle politely. Carry small bills.
Activities
50-130 MAD ($5-13) per day
Walk the Hassan II Mosque esplanade for free. The Atlantic crashes below the seawall. Wander echoing lanes of the Old Medina. Corniche strolls cost nothing. Some museums charge 20 dirham entry.
Currency: MAD Moroccan Dirham
Money-Saving Tips
Eat where working-class Casablancans eat. Medina interior lunch spots cost half to two-thirds less. No-frills neighborhood cafes serve better harira. Corniche prices double. Follow the locals.
Ride the tram along its city center corridor. Petit taxis cost several times more. Standard sightseeing needs no cabs. Buy tickets at machines. Validate inside.
The Hassan II Mosque exterior is free to view. Atlantic wind carries salt off the ocean. Paid interior tours run 130 dirham. Worth doing once. Not daily.
Book accommodation two to three months ahead of December-through-February peak season. Rates drop well below last-minute prices. Winter stays mild. Reserve early.
Buy fresh produce, olives, and flatbreads at the municipal market. Cook one self-catered meal daily. Savings compound over a week. Kitchen access helps. Shop mornings.
Ramadan closes many street stalls by day. Iftar spreads unlock communal dining. Prices stay low. Quality soars. Arrive hungry. Respect fasting hours.
Common Budget Mistakes to Avoid
Taxis for every ride cost several times tram fare. Over a multi-day stay the gap covers one night of accommodation. Walk short distances. Use public transit.
Tourist restaurants along the Corniche charge double. Medina cafes cook better kefta for less. Same smell. Different bill. Skip the strip.
Book the Hassan II Mosque interior tour early. Last-day rushes cause regret. It is the one paid attraction worth scheduling first. Slots fill fast.