Visitors to Casablanca, Morocco might be disappointed to find that Humphrey Bogart is not on the local currency nor is his presence very evident at all. The Moroccan capital, forever brought to the attention of moviegoers through the 1942 film starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, is far from the sleepy outpost portrayed on the big screen.
Modern day Casablanca is home to 3.1 million people. It is the chief port and economic hub in North Africa. Its skyline is dominated by slick, glass high rises that would not look out of place in the world’s wealthiest countries. Its amenities are first class and navigating the city’s public transportation system is relatively easy.
While modern Casablanca is bustling and familiar, there are still sections of the city that cling to the traditional past. The Old Medina is not as touristy as the ones found in Fez or Marrakech, but it still has its charms and it is worth a visit to walk inside the old town’s mud walls.
Getting to Casablanca is fairly easy with frequent flights directly from Europe. Iberia Ailines even has deals where you can fly to Casablanca round trip from the United States for less than $800.