Published on October 16, 2026 · Updated on October 16, 2026
The Hassan II Mosque is, hands down, one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen in my life.
I will be honest: Casablanca did not particularly wow me as a sightseeing destination. Compared with places like Fes, Chefchaouen and the Sahara, there was not much that made me want to linger. The Hassan II Mosque, though? I would go back to Casablanca just to see it again.
It is also one of the few mosques in Morocco that non-Muslims can actually enter, as long as you join a guided tour. And unlike some famous attractions where the inside does not live up to the outside, this one absolutely does.
Here is everything you need to know about visiting, including tickets, opening hours, the dress code, and what I thought of the guided tour.
The essentials: non-Muslims can only go inside on a guided tour, at set times that vary by season (so confirm before you go). Tours take around 45 minutes to an hour and cost 140 MAD (about 13 euros) for foreign adults. Dress modestly, no shorts or sleeveless tops, but you do not need to cover your hair.
Why the Hassan II Mosque is worth visiting
First, there is the location. The mosque sits right on the edge of the Atlantic, with part of the complex built out over the water. Its minaret, at 210 meters, is one of the tallest in the world, and the whole building is enormous.
But what really got me was the craftsmanship. The hand-carved plaster, the intricate zellige tilework, the painted cedar ceilings, and all that marble. Everywhere I looked there was another detail I wanted to photograph, and the sheer scale of it is hard to grasp until you are standing inside.
I have visited plenty of beautiful religious buildings around the world, and this one genuinely stopped me in my tracks. Photos do not do it justice, which is saying something coming from someone who spends half her life taking them.
Can you visit the Hassan II Mosque as a non-Muslim?
Yes, and this is part of what makes it special. Most mosques in Morocco are closed to non-Muslims, but the Hassan II Mosque is one of the few you can go inside, as long as you join a scheduled guided tour. You cannot wander in on your own, and there are no independent guides for the interior, everyone goes in with a group at set times.
Hassan II Mosque opening hours and tour times
This is the one thing you really need to plan around, because you cannot just show up whenever you like. Non-Muslims can only enter during scheduled guided tours, and the timetable shifts with the season, religious holidays, and prayer times.
The official visitor schedule looks like this:
Winter (16 September to 14 March)
- Saturday to Thursday: 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, and 15:00
- Friday: 9:00, 10:00, and 15:00
Summer (15 March to 15 September)
- Saturday to Thursday: 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 15:00, and 16:00
- Friday: 9:00, 10:00, 15:00, and 16:00
During Ramadan
- Saturday to Thursday: 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, and 14:00
- Friday: 9:00 and 14:15
One honest heads up: the mosque’s own website currently shows slightly different times on its homepage than on its detailed visitor page, so treat the above as a strong guide rather than gospel. Check the latest schedule on the official Hassan II Mosque website before your visit.
A couple more things worth knowing:
- Fridays have fewer slots and no late-morning tour, because of midday prayers.
- Mornings have the most options and, in my opinion, the best light on the marble.
- Arrive 20 to 30 minutes early to buy your ticket and find the entrance.
Tickets and cost
You buy tickets at the ticket office by the mosque, and the price includes the guided tour. The official rates are:
- Foreign adults: 140 MAD (about 13 euros)
- Foreign students: 70 MAD
- Children aged 6 and over: 30 MAD
- Children under 6: free (the site is not fully consistent on the exact age cut-off, so confirm when you buy)
- Private VIP visit (up to 10 people): 2,200 MAD
Groups of 100 or more get 50% off. If you want a more private experience, that VIP visit is the official way to do it, otherwise you join a standard group tour. You can also book “skip-the-line” or combined Casablanca city tours through third-party platforms, which cost more but can bundle in transport.
What the guided tour is actually like
I genuinely loved the guided tour, and not just because the building is beautiful.
Our guide was excellent. He explained the architecture, the materials, and the craftsmanship, but also talked about Islam more broadly, which I found fascinating. I have been on plenty of tours where I spend half the time wishing I could wander off with my camera instead. This was not one of them. I actually enjoyed listening, learned a lot, and came away with a much better understanding of the building and what it means.
The tour takes you through the vast main prayer hall and the ablution hall downstairs, where worshippers wash before prayer. Allow around an hour for the visit itself, plus a little extra to explore and photograph the exterior.
Dress code and rules to know
The mosque is a working place of worship, so there is a dress code and a few rules. For clothing, you need your shoulders, torso, and knees covered. Shorts and sleeveless tops are not allowed.
One thing that genuinely surprised me: I did not have to cover my hair. I had brought a scarf because I assumed I would need one, but it stayed in my bag the entire time. The dress code is about covered shoulders, torso, and knees, not headscarves for visitors, so bring one if it makes you more comfortable, but do not stress about it.
A few other rules worth knowing before you go:
- You take your shoes off before going inside, and bags are provided at the entrance to carry them with you.
- No smoking, and no food or drinks during the visit.
- Stay with your group and keep quiet, out of respect for the space.
- Still photos are generally fine. Video cameras and sound or recording equipment are not allowed inside, and anything beyond ordinary travel photos may need authorization.
- Do not cross the chains around the seguia, the long water channel, for safety.
Where is the Hassan II Mosque, and how do you get there?
The mosque sits right on Casablanca’s Atlantic waterfront, a little way out from the center. If you are staying centrally, the easiest way there is by taxi or a ride-hailing app. Walking is possible from some neighborhoods, but Casablanca is far more spread out than somewhere like Marrakech or Fes, so do not assume everything is strollable.
I visited as part of a half-day Casablanca city tour, which worked really well: we could combine the mosque with a few other stops without organizing transport in between. If you only have a few hours in the city, I would prioritize the mosque over trying to squeeze in everything else.
If you are planning the whole country, Casablanca and the mosque are the opening stop on my 2-week Morocco itinerary.
FAQ
Can you visit the Hassan II Mosque for free?
You can admire it from outside and wander the huge public square without a ticket, though access can be limited during religious events or for security. To go inside, non-Muslim visitors need a paid guided tour.
Do you need a tour to see the Hassan II Mosque?
To go inside as a non-Muslim, yes. The interior is only open to visitors on a scheduled guided tour. You can admire and photograph the exterior and the huge square around it any time, for free.
When is the best time to visit?
A morning tour, both because the schedule favors mornings and because the light is gorgeous. Avoid assuming you can go on a Friday around midday prayers or during Ramadan without checking the reduced hours first.
Do women have to cover their hair to visit?
No. I did not have to cover my hair for the tour, which surprised me. You do need shoulders and knees covered, and you remove your shoes inside.
How long does the visit take?
The guided tour runs around 45 minutes to an hour. Allow a little extra for buying tickets, security, and the exterior and museum.
Can you take photos inside?
Yes, still photography is allowed. Video cameras are not, and neither are sound or radio devices. Just be considerate of the space and anyone praying.
One last thing
Casablanca was not my favorite stop in Morocco. But the Hassan II Mosque? Absolutely worth it. I have seen plenty of beautiful buildings on my travels, and this one is still up there with the best of them, the scale, the craftsmanship, and that location right on the Atlantic. It is one of those places where you put your camera down for a minute and just look. And coming from me, that is saying something.
