Most of Casablanca was filmed on Hollywood studio sets, not in Morocco. The movie was primarily shot at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California, with additional scenes filmed at Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles.

Quick Scoop: Where was Casablanca filmed?

  • Main filming location: Warner Bros. Studios , Burbank, California.
  • Key backlot set: “French Street” at Warner Bros., used to portray the streets of Casablanca and Rick’s CafĂ© AmĂ©ricain.
  • Airport scenes: Filmed at Van Nuys Airport (Metropolitan Airport) in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles.
  • The film is set in Casablanca, Morocco, but the cast never went on location; everything was recreated on studio stages during World War II.

Mini breakdown

Why not film in Morocco?

  • Casablanca was produced and released during World War II, which made overseas location shoots risky, expensive, and logistically difficult.
  • Studio filming in Burbank let the production reuse existing sets (like “Eastern” streets and a railway station from earlier movies), keeping costs low and giving full control over lighting and atmosphere.

Iconic scenes and their real spots

  • Rick’s CafĂ© AmĂ©ricain interiors and most street scenes: Built on soundstages and backlot streets at Warner Bros. Burbank.
  • Opening airport sequence and other airfield shots: Van Nuys Airport, Los Angeles.
  • Final foggy farewell on the tarmac: A stage at Warner Bros. (famously using a scaled-down airplane model and heavy fog to sell the illusion).

Forum-style note & “trending” angle

On classic-film forums and blogs, the question “where was Casablanca filmed” keeps resurfacing because many viewers still assume it was shot in Morocco, thanks to its convincing sets and atmosphere. Recent articles and videos continue revisiting the film’s production, highlighting how a largely studio- bound shoot became one of cinema’s most immersive depictions of a foreign city.

A common fan reaction goes something like:
“Wait
 they never even went to Morocco? That entire world was just Burbank and some fog machines?”

HTML table of key locations

[3][1][5] [1][3][5] [7][5][1] [5][1]
On-screen location Real-world filming place Notes
Streets of Casablanca French Street, Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank, CaliforniaBacklot “European” street dressed as Moroccan city.
Rick’s CafĂ© AmĂ©ricain (interiors) Soundstages at Warner Bros. BurbankCustom-built sets with arches, shadows, and smoke to create mood.
Opening airport scene Van Nuys Airport (Metropolitan Airport), Los AngelesUsed to represent the bustling transit hub into and out of Casablanca.
Final foggy runway goodbye Stage at Warner Bros. Studios, BurbankShot on a soundstage with miniatures and fog to hide the small plane.
**TL;DR:** When people ask “where was _Casablanca_ filmed,” the answer is: almost entirely on Warner Bros.’ Burbank lot, plus Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles—not in Casablanca, Morocco.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.