Casablanca: the beginning of a beautiful friendship, by Said Aboury

Responsible for Iberia’s operations in African airports, Said Aboury is the Regional Airports Manager in Africa. Casablanca is his hometown and residence, and where he started out his professional life with Iberia in 1989 as a traffic agent. There’s no one better to help us enjoy his city to the maximum. Casablanca is an Arab metropolis surrounded by incredible beaches, and mixes the traditions of its former medina with many more modern attractions. 

The best views: The colossal Hassan II Mosque on the shores of the Atlantic has an automated sliding roof. With its lovely candelabra and cedarwood carvings, it’s an incredible showcase for Moroccan craftsmanship. Views of the ocean from the Habous Quarter and La Corniche will also leave you speechless.

A walk: A special bus tour visits the city’s historic monuments, such as the Habous neighbourhood and its handicrafts, the Great Mosque and its pharaonic arches and the Casablanca Cathedral.

A museum: I can’t decide on one. My favourites are the Museum without Walls and the Jewish Museum.

Shopping: In the Nueva Medina market in Habous, you’ll find shops selling the country’s finest handcrafted items: dresses, carpets, jewellery, slippers, djellabas, caftans and more. There’s also a market here dedicated to copper that’s ideal for buying our traditional trays and teapots with arabesque motifs.

If you travel with family: Casablanca has a lot of outdoor places to enjoy with children.Perhaps the most obvious one is the Sindibad Parc, a mixture of classic zoo and amusement park.

You can't miss: Enjoy the authentic Arab baths. The most popular hamman is Le Pacha.