Africa > Morocco > Casablanca (CMN)
The Car or no Car advice for Casablanca can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Casablanca ; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Casablanca ?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Casablanca?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
✈️ One of Africa’s earliest airport rail links
Casablanca Mohammed V Airport is widely regarded as one of the first airports in Africa to gain a proper railway link. Instead of relying on shuttles alone, the airport has a railway station directly adjacent to the terminal. You walk across, board the train, and continue straight into the city.
🚋 Trams, commuter lines, and rail-based movement
Once you’re in the city, the tram network becomes the backbone of everyday travel. Lines run to major business areas, the port, and the landmark railway stations. East–west coverage is solid, while neighbourhoods to the west receive less attention. Even so, for anyone based in central districts, the tram plus buses and taxis cover almost every journey you are likely to make.
Casablanca’s two principal stations — Casa Port and Casa Voyageurs — offer frequent departures to Rabat, Tangier, Fès, Meknès, and Marrakech. If you have flown in, arriving at either station by train is stress-free and fast.
🚄 Morocco’s high-speed future, with Casablanca as the hinge
Morocco already runs the first high-speed passenger service in Africa, currently on the Tangier–Rabat corridor. Although high-speed trains do not yet run directly through Casablanca, engineering and construction work is under way. Future plans include both a bypass route and a city connection. In time, services will extend towards Marrakech, tightening travel times and making rail even more compelling.
Even before that upgrade completes, rail remains ideal for major intercity routes. Getting to Rabat, Tangier or Marrakech by train is straightforward, fast and comfortable. So, if your travels stick to Morocco’s main highlights, there is no pressure to drive.
🚗 When a rental car comes into its own
Inside central Casablanca, driving can feel cramped. Traffic is dense, parking is awkward, and the city layout rewards pedestrians and tram users more than motorists. So a car adds little for museum visits, business districts, the Corniche or the port.
However, if you want remote road trips, rural villages, or long Atlantic coastal drives, then a rental car begins to shine. Mountain journeys are possible too, although Marrakech is usually the more logical base for exploring deeper into the Atlas — with easier access to Ouarzazate, the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, and high-valley viewpoints. From Casablanca, the coast is the more natural direction for self-drive adventures.
🎯 Conclusion
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🚶♀️ Skip the car if you plan to explore central Casablanca, travel by tram, and use rail for intercity routes.
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❔ Consider renting a car in Casablanca only if you want long coastal drives or rural tours beyond the reach of rail and tram services.
