Chefchaouen is found nestled in the Rif Mountains of Northern Morocco. It’s a magical town and it feels like a scene from Aladdin, the narrow alleyways, blue buildings and the gorgeous mountain backdrop.
It’s truly one of the most special place’s not only in Morocco but in the world. It’s known as The Blue City and its charming character will mesmerise you, get lost in the blue Medina, the vibrant colourful markets and the amazing smells of different foods and spices, it will certainly awaken your senses. Let’s jump into this guide so you can start planning your trip to the blue city!
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Chefchaouen is either Spring or Autumn, these seasons offer the perfect weather and temperatures for exploring.
The weather is cooler and more bearable during these times of year, the Moroccan sun is no joke and during the summer temperatures can soar to over 50°C. During spring and autumn, the days are warm and sunny but with less intense heat, it’s what you’ll want for days of walking around the Medina and discovering this charming city.
Weather and Climate
- Spring (March to May): Temperatures range from 15°C to 25°C, the days are cooler but gradually getting warmer as the season goes on. It can be a bit rainy but spring is an ideal time for adventuring around Chefchaouen, the surrounding mountains are blooming with wildflowers, it’s one of the most scenic times to visit.
- Summer (July to August): Temperatures range from 22°C to 30°C, Chefchaouen is cooler compared to other parts of Morocco as it’s in the mountains, but during the peak of summer the sun is still intense and extremely hot. Evenings tend to be cooler. Exploring early morning and evening would be ideal.
- Autumn (September to November): Temperatures range from 15°C to 25°C, this is a lovely time of year to witness the transitional change of nature, easing into its warm autumnal colours. It can be cooler in the evenings, but during the day it’s still lovely and warm to explore.
- Winter (December to February): Temperatures range from 5°C to 17°C, during the winter in Chefchaouen it’s cooler and this mountain area gets rather cloudy and the chances of rain are higher.
How to Get to Chefchaouen
As Chefchaouen doesn’t have a train station or airport nearby, it requires you to drive or catch a bus. We personally drove our camper van all the way from London, so if we can drive in Morocco so can you!
From Tangier
It’s a 2 hour drive from Tangier to Chefchaouen, you can rent a car from Tangier Airport or in the city, or perhaps you’ll be coming from the ferry port in your own vehicle, there’s a ferry terminal in Tangier city and in Tangier med.
You can also catch a bus from Tangier, companies such as CTM have numerous buses throughout the day, you can book online or in person at the bus terminal.
From Fes
The route from Fes takes around 4 hours, you can self drive, hire a car or jump on a local bus. It’s a scenic route passing lot’s of captivating landscapes. The road gets windy when you’re
approaching Chefchaouen.
Driving Tip: There are many corrupt police officers in Morocco and they will try and fine you for absolutely nothing. Be sure to follow the speed limits and pay attention to police signs, make sure you stop before you approach the stop sign, have your documents ready and wear your seat belts at all times.
Where to Stay
In Chefchaouen there’s a range of accommodation to choose from depending on your budget, hostel’s or boutique guest houses in riads. We were in our camper, so we found a spot using the Park4night app. It wasn’t anything glamorous just inside a car park outside of the Medinas.
You can check booking.com or Airbnb for a range of listings, check out our article, 7 Airbnb Hacks, so you can save some money!
Things to See and Do in Chefchaouen
Get lost in the Blue Medina
This enchanting blue medina is what draws thousands of tourists throughout the year to Chefchaouen, it’s something out of a Disney film, Aladdin to be specific. The narrow streets twist and turn, like a maze that leads you to vibrant markets, filled with all sorts of colourful, handmade Moroccan crafts, paintings, clothing, endless amazing gifts to treat yourself or a loved one.
It was the best Medina in Morocco, something so special about the washed blue old buildings, cobbled streets and crooked stairs leading you further into the magical blue city. It really captured our hearts, so did all the darling stray cats, they seemed to be looked after and we noticed people leaving food out, but it breaks our heart seeing stray animals, we wish we could take them all in the van.
Plaza Uta el-Hammam
The heart of the town, Plaza Uta el-Hammam, is the place to be for people watching and feeling the buzz of the city, its cobbled streets are lined with cafes, restaurants and shops. It’s the best place to grab a traditional mint tea on one of the terraces of the restaurants, it doesn’t get much better. The plaza also overlooks a 15th century castle, just to add to the idyllic scene.
Kasbah Castle
Found in the middle of the medina, this Kasbah (castle) was built in the 15th century, the ruins can be explored today offering a look into Chefchaouens history. There’s a tower you can climb and get panoramic views of the blue city and the powerful mountains. The fortress also has an ethnographic museum and community gardens.
Hike to the Spanish Mosque
If you’re up for a 45 minute hike, the abandoned Spanish Mosque, the Bouzafer Mosque, offers breathtaking views overlooking the town. It’s perched on a hill and it’s worth the hike, the backdrop of Rif mountains and the blue city makes for quite the sight.
Akchour Waterfalls and God’s Bridge
The Akchour waterfalls and God’s bridge are located 45 minutes from Chefchaouen, it would make a great day trip to escape into nature. The rugged landscape leads to stunning cascades and a natural rock archway. It’s incredible to soak up the Moroccan nature, and you can swim in many of the natural pools. Perfect way to keep cool under the Moroccan sunshine.
