Visiting Mohammedia in one day from Casablanca: kasbah, corniche and beaches, without luggage

For many Casablancans, Mohammedia means the Sunday beach. For a traveller, it is a small coastal town about twenty minutes away by train, with an 18th-century kasbah, an airy palm-lined centre, a port with a surprising history and several sandy beaches. It works very well as a day trip, either there and back from Casablanca or as a stop on the way to Rabat. Here is how to get there, what is really worth seeing, a realistic itinerary and how to avoid dragging your suitcase around. Short answerTake an ONCF train (TNR shuttle or Al Atlas) to Mohammedia station. In the morning, the Fedala kasbah (about 400 m from the station), the church and the centre, then the park and the port; in the afternoon, a beach (Monica or Les Sablettes) by petit taxi. If you have a suitcase, leave it at BoxSpot's Troplo Coffee Hassania point, about 2 km from the station, from 9 MAD per hour and never more than 59 MAD for the day. Getting there by train from Casablanca (or Rabat) Mohammedia sits on the ONCF line between Casablanca and Rabat. The TNR rapid shuttles between Casablanca and Kenitra and some Al Atlas trains stop here; the Al Boraq high-speed train does not. From Casablanca the ride takes roughly twenty minutes to half an hour depending on the train and the departure station (Casa-Voyageurs or Casa-Port). From Rabat, allow about 35 to 50 minutes. Frequencies and fares vary by day and season: check oncf-voyages.ma or the ONCF app before you go, especially for the last evening train. The station is in the centre, which is handy: the old town is a few minutes' walk away. What to see The Fedala kasbah Before it was Mohammedia, the town was called Fedala. In 1773 Sultan Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah had a kasbah built here to house grain warehouses and traders' shops. The ramparts and the entrance gate are still standing, along with the Al Atik mosque, attributed to the same sultan. Do not expect a restored monument: it is a lived-in neighbourhood with weathered walls, best explored at a gentle pace and with discretion. The kasbah is about 400 metres from the station. The church and the town centre Right nearby, the Church of Saint James, built in 1934, overlooks the main square with its white bell tower. It is mostly something to admire from outside. The centre, with its palm-lined avenues, still shows the town that grew up around the port in the early 20th century. Twin Towns Park and the corniche About 1.5 km from the station, the Parc des Villes Jumelées (Twin Towns Park) is a good shady break before you head to the seafront. The corniche then follows the coast towards the port. The port, and a bit of history The port made the town. A port company was founded in 1914, and in 1951 Fedala became a major oil port, long linked to the Samir refinery, which closed in 2015. On 8 November 1942, American troops also landed on Fedala's beaches during Operation Torch. The town was renamed Mohammedia in 1960 in honour of King Mohammed V. The port area is about 2.5 km from the station. The beaches The beaches stretch out to the north-east of town. Approximate distances as the crow flies from the station: Mannesmann beach: about 2.5 km.Monica beach: about 3.4 km.Les Sablettes beach: about 4.9 km. A petit taxi is the easiest way. In summer and at weekends they get very busy. Before swimming, ask locally about the sea: the Atlantic can be rough. A realistic itinerary for the day Times are a guide; adjust them to your train: 10am: arrive at Mohammedia station. If you have a suitcase, a petit taxi to the BoxSpot point, then back to the centre.10:30am: the kasbah on foot, its ramparts and its gate.11:30am: the Church of Saint James and the centre, then Twin Towns Park.12:30pm: the corniche to the port area, and lunch nearby.2:30pm: a taxi to Monica or Les Sablettes, and the afternoon by the sea.5:30pm: back to the point to collect the suitcase, then the station. What about your luggage? If you are simply going there and back from Casablanca, the smart move is to travel light. Already checked out in Casablanca? BoxSpot has a point near Casa-Voyageurs that opens at 7am on weekdays. If instead you are stopping in Mohammedia on the way to another city, or staying there, leave the suitcase at BoxSpot's Mohammedia point: Troplo Coffee, Hassania district, open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 10pm and Sunday from 10am to 10pm. An honest note: this point is about 2 km south of the station, while the kasbah and the beaches are to the north. So allow for a short taxi detour. All the route details are in our guide to luggage storage in Mohammedia. At drop-off, the partner scans your QR code and photographs your bags; they are only handed back against that same code. What it costs The rate is 9 MAD per hour per bag, with a 4-hour minimum (36 MAD). For the day described above, drop-off around 10:15am and collection around 5:45pm, so more than 7 hours: the booking is capped at 59 MAD for one bag. Two people with one suitcase each: 59 + 49 = 108 MAD. For a shorter 5-hour stop: 45 MAD. Payment is online, in dirhams, by card. The point is shown on the Mohammedia luggage storage page, and every other point in the country on the explorer. Heading on to the capital? Read Rabat in one day, without your luggage. Explore Mohammedia hands freeTroplo Coffee, Hassania district: open Monday to Saturday 9am to 10pm, Sunday 10am to 10pm. From 9 MAD per hour per bag, never more than 59 MAD for the day.Book in Mohammedia