First time to Morocco - Casablanca or Marrakech?
 

My partner and I have a three-day window in advance of a flight back to the USA from Casablanca and are trying to figure out where we should go in Morocco beforehand. We like art and markets and cheap eats, which makes me think Marrakech might be the better option. Happy to provide more details if it would help others offer advice.

If you've never been, go to Marrakesh where you'll find most of this. Casablanca is a big city with some things worth seeing, like the Hassan II Mosque or the Habous neighborhood - the Corniche is good for a walk as well. But otherwise, it's shopping and good restaurants, that are primarily addressing upper class & expats, but not tourists. I'm not saying you won't have a nice time in Casa, but nothing more than what you could expect in any large, international city.

Marrakesh on the other hand, is a more "original" experience, though it's also full of tourist scams ;) Prepare beforehand where you want to go in the city, and avoid eating at Jemma El Fna square as hygiene is not ideal. The city, even if you're there for 3 days, is also a good place to explore the desert, or to consider exploring Essaouira (for 1 night) or Lala Takerskout lake (for the day).

Happy to recommend anything specific.

Marrakech for sure !

We did a tour a few years ago that started in Casablanca and went round the country in a big circle ending in Marrakech. For me, Casablanca was the least enjoyable city. Perhaps we had romanticised it too much thanks to Humphrey Bogart but it was a big port city with nothing much of interest (to us) other than the Hassan II mosque (which is spectacular). From Marrakech it would be easy to get to Essaouira (which was my favourite part of our tour) or to other reasonably close places like Ait Benhaddou. If you stay in Casa consider Rabat, Fes, Meknes, Volubilis. I don't know how doable all of these are in 3 days but each has its own beauty and interest.

Skip Casablanca.
Marrakech is too touristy for me.

There are nice cities in Morocco - Fez, and Rabat are both close to Casablanca.

Add me to the list of people who would recommend Marrakech. It's overly touristy (compared to other cities I visited), but still has more to offer and prettier than Casa.

Agreed with the others, in particular Palal. Casablanca is a corporate city. Yes there are some museums, ruins etc, but the main reason to go there is if you are on business. Marrakech is beautiful, lots to do, lots of culture, close to the desert - there is a reason it is so touristy - but it is very touristy. Having been to Morocco several times, I highly recommend Rabat, Tangier, Fes. It sounds like you are short on time, but Rabat is very close to Casablanca if you are flying into CMN.

Hi,
I am flying to Casablanca to go on a tour to Marrakech early next year.
I both fly into Casablanca and out again.
So we need to get to CMN from RAK - the RAM flight to LHR leaves at 1330 so time to get there .
Options are a car service direct but I would like to try the fast train and get to the airport from the station.
There is a local train that connects to the airport but connection time is 51 minutes.
Would it be safe and feasible to catch the train from Marrakech to Casablanca and taxi from there to the airport eg would taxis be easy to find , take USD or credit cards and would i avoid gypsy cabs etc. Any suggestion as to which station to do the connection?

There is no TGV from Marrakech to Casablanca, only from Casablanca to Tanger. There's a regular train from Marrakech to Casablanca

Thank you for that.

Trains between Casa and Marrakech are reasonably fast and comfortable, and travel through beautiful scenery. First class cars are much preferable. It's possible that the ticket office would not sell tix for 1st class though, and instead recommend an "upgrade" on the train (thus allowing conductors to collect the difference). When you board, just tell the conductor that you're buying the upgrade, then sit anywhere you want in 1st class. The conductor will stop by later to collect the difference in fare (~$6).