Habous Quarter
Habous Quarter — Casablanca Cruise Guide
Morocco's 'new medina' — planned lanes, artisan cooperatives and a gentler introduction to souk culture minutes from central Casablanca.
The Habous quarter (Quartier Habous) was built in the 1930s under French protectorate planning to create a medina-style neighbourhood with modern sanitation and orderly lanes. Today it offers cruise passengers a more navigable market experience than the old medina — olive souks, bakeries, bookshops and artisan cooperatives around the Royal Palace vicinity.
Habous sits southeast of the old medina, roughly 20–25 minutes from Port of Casablanca by road. The layout is grid-like compared to medieval medinas — easier for first-time visitors to orient without constant dead-end alleys. Olive vendors, honey sellers and leather goods shops line the arcades; prices are fixed in some cooperatives and negotiable elsewhere.
The nearby Mahkamat al-Pasha court building and Royal Palace exterior (viewable from outside only) add architectural interest. Allow 60–90 minutes for Habous alone, or combine with the old medina or central market for a market-focused port morning.
Our Moroccan food experience and old medina walking tour both route through or near Habous depending on operator schedule. Independent visitors should carry cash dirhams — smaller stalls may not accept cards.
Highlights
- 1930s planned 'new medina' layout — easier navigation
- Olive souks, bakeries and artisan cooperatives
- Royal Palace vicinity and Mahkamat al-Pasha architecture
- 20–25 minutes from Port of Casablanca
- Hidden Gem atmosphere without inland travel
- Pairs with old medina and central market same day
Practical tips
- Compare prices at cooperatives before haggling at private stalls
- Morning visits beat afternoon heat in uncovered lanes
- Combine with central market for fuller food-focused day
- See Moroccan shopping guide for argan oil and carpet etiquette
- Palace interior is not open — exterior photography only
Related guides
Casablanca Old Medina — Cruise Passenger Guide
Working souks and unfiltered daily life — Casablanca's medina rewards walkers who want authentic Morocco without leaving the cruise port city.
Moroccan Shopping Guide for Cruise Passengers
Haggling, cooperatives and souvenir sanity — how to shop Casablanca's medina and Habous without regret back on the ship.
Casablanca Central Market — Cruise Passenger Guide
Produce pyramids, seafood counters and the daily shopping rhythm of Morocco's largest city — essential context for food-focused port days.
Moroccan Food Guide for Cruise Passengers
Tagines, couscous, mint tea and Atlantic seafood — what to order when your Casablanca shore excursion includes appetite.
Habous Quarter — Casablanca Cruise Guide — FAQs
Should I visit Habous or the old medina first?▼
Habous suits first-time souk visitors who want gentler navigation; old medina suits those wanting rawer atmosphere. On a long port day, do Habous then old medina.
Is Habous a tourist trap?▼
More polished than the old medina but still functioning — locals shop here daily. Prices can run higher than neighbourhood souks; haggling remains appropriate.
How far is Habous from Hassan II Mosque?▼
Roughly 25–30 minutes by road depending on traffic — pairing both on one port day is possible but tight without a guided tour.