Casablanca is an excellent base to explore the North of Morocco from. There are some fantastic places that you can explore from casablanca in just one day including Rabat, El Jadida and Meknes. At a push it is even possible to do a day trip to Marrakech although I would recommend spending longer there if you can. Here are some of my favourite day trips from Casablanca.
Day trip to Rabat
Rabat is the capital of Morocco and a great place to visit on a day trip from Casablanca. It is easy to get to by bus or grand taxi and there are plenty of things to do there. The Hassan II mosque is worth seeing. It is the largest mosque in the world after Mecca and can hold ten thousand people. It was opened in 1993 by King Hassan II, who was one of the most influential leaders in the Arab world during his lifetime. You can also see some of the old medina from when Rabat was an important trading port and a lot of this still exists today although it has been modernized somewhat. There are also some nice gardens near Rabat which you can visit if you have time.
Day trip to Meknes
Meknes is another city in Morocco that is worth spending a day visiting. It is about an hour and a half drive from Casablanca and it is possible to get there by bus or grand taxi. Meknes was the capital of Morocco for some time and it has a lot of historical significance. It has an old medina which is well worth exploring. There are also some nice gardens near Meknes which are worth visiting if you have time. You can also visit the Hassan Tower, which was built by the Merenid dynasty in 1350 AD and you can climb up to the top of it for great views over the city and surrounding area. The old town of Meknes is also quite interesting and it is definitely worth spending some time exploring.
Day trip to Fez
Fez is another city that is worth spending a day visiting. It is about an hour and a half drive from Casablanca and again you can get there by bus or grand taxi. Fez was the capital of Morocco for some time and it has a lot of historical significance. It has an old medina which is well worth exploring. There are also some nice gardens near Fez which are worth visiting if you have time. You can also visit the University of Al Quaraouiyine, which was founded in 859 AD making it one of the oldest universities in the world. The old town of Fez is also quite interesting and it is definitely worth spending some time exploring.
Day trip to El Jadida
El Jadida is another town that is worth spending a day visiting. It is about an hour and a half drive from Casablanca and again you can get there by bus or grand taxi. El Jadida was originally a Portuguese colony and it has some nice old buildings as well as some beautiful beaches. You can also visit the Rabat-Salé tramway which was built in the 19th century. The old town of El Jadida is also quite interesting and it is definitely worth spending some time exploring.
Day trip to Chefchouhen
The village of chefchouhen is located in the High Atlas mountains and it is a really nice place to visit. It is about an hour and a half drive from Marrakech and you can get there by bus or grand taxi. The village has a number of interesting sights including several old kasbahs. The views from the village are also quite breathtaking. You can also visit some nearby villages which are quite interesting as well.