Hassan II Mosque Esplanade, Casablanca

In the room

The experience

The mosque is built on a platform that hangs above the Atlantic, and during high tide the waves break directly under the prayer hall. The esplanade can hold 80,000 worshippers; in late afternoon the muezzin's voice goes out over the water and comes back off the city, doubled. Inside, when permitted on the guided tour, the ceiling slides open mechanically to the sky, the floor is heated, and the mihrab is cut from the same Atlas marble as Volubilis.

Gallery

Four frames

A tiled horseshoe-arched corridor in the mosque — Tinuzzo, CC BY 4.0

The wet stone plaza in front of the mosque, with the city skyline beyond — FuriousYogi, CC BY-SA 4.0

A black-and-white view of the sea wall with the minaret in the distance — Nabil Elminaoui, CC BY-SA 3.0

A road with palm trees leading toward the mosque minaret — Jürgen Schneider, CC BY-SA 3.0

Insider tip

Walk in knowing

Time a visit for the post-Asr golden hour, esplanade-side. Non-Muslim guided tours run several times a day except Friday.

Why it fits

Why it is in the atlas

The single most cinematic religious-architecture venue on the continent.

Plan the trip

When to go, hours, getting there

Best time to go

Sunset, any clear evening. The mosque is built half over the Atlantic and the seaward plaza catches the western light. Cultural performances are programmed irregularly, check the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Casablanca site. Guided tours run hourly during the day (closed Friday mornings).

Hours

Open to non-Muslim visitors via guided tour, daily Saturday to Thursday 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 14:00, 15:00. Friday tours afternoon only. Mosque is open to Muslim worshippers for the five daily prayers.

Getting there

Tram T1 from Casa-Voyageurs to Place Mohammed V, then 15-minute walk west to the coast. Taxis from anywhere in Casablanca, 30 dirham. From Mohammed V airport, train to Casa-Voyageurs (45 minutes) then tram. The mosque is on the Atlantic coast at the north end of central Casablanca.

Straight from the source

Official site and tickets

Official site and tickets →

Dates and tickets come from the venue itself. Opens fmh2.ma in a new tab.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Where is Hassan II Mosque Esplanade?

Hassan II Mosque Esplanade is in Casablanca, Morocco. Coordinates: 33.6086, -7.6326.

What kind of music is at Hassan II Mosque Esplanade?

Hassan II Mosque Esplanade programmes Quranic chant, Sufi, Andalusian. Africa's second-largest mosque, inaugurated 1993, built half over the Atlantic Ocean. The 210-metre minaret is the world's second tallest. Cultural performances programmed on the seaward plaza.

When is the best time to visit Hassan II Mosque Esplanade?

Sunset, any clear evening. The mosque is built half over the Atlantic and the seaward plaza catches the western light. Cultural performances are programmed irregularly, check the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Casablanca site. Guided tours run hourly during the day (closed Friday mornings).

How do I get to Hassan II Mosque Esplanade?

Tram T1 from Casa-Voyageurs to Place Mohammed V, then 15-minute walk west to the coast. Taxis from anywhere in Casablanca, 30 dirham. From Mohammed V airport, train to Casa-Voyageurs (45 minutes) then tram. The mosque is on the Atlantic coast at the north end of central Casablanca.

Why is Hassan II Mosque Esplanade in the Sonic Paths atlas?

The single most cinematic religious-architecture venue on the continent.

On the atlas