7 Best things to do in Chefchaouen, Morocco, in 2 to 3 days

Introduction

We set out on a road trip across Morocco, covering thousands of kilometers and exploring everything from the Sahara Desert to the Atlantic coast, the Atlas Mountains, and the country’s most vibrant cities. Along the way, we also made time for Chefchaouen—and we’re so glad we did.

Although it was slightly off the beaten path, Chefchaouen quickly became one of our favorite places in Morocco. Known as the Blue City, it sits in the Rif Mountains between Fes and Tangier and is instantly recognizable for its blue-washed streets and steep cobbled lanes. Beyond its charm, the town is also home to traditional leather and weaving workshops that keep its craft heritage alive.

In this article, we’ll share the best things to do in Chefchaouen, along with tips from our own visit. If you’re planning a trip to Morocco, make sure to add this mountain town to your itinerary—it’s one of those places that truly lives up to the hype.

Read: Our complete 2-week Morocco Road Trip Itinerary

Getting there

Reaching Chefchaouen isn’t the quickest trip, but it’s worth the effort. By car, it takes about 2h15 from Tangier, 4 hours from Fes, and around the same from Rabat. We personally drove from Fes, stopping at Meknes and Volubilis on the way, which made for a great road trip.

Parking in Chefchaouen is straightforward. You can leave your car near the city center, close to the restaurant Bab Souk. Parking costs about 20 dh per night, and someone will usually guide you to a spot. We tried bargaining since we only stayed 1.5 days, but it turned into a small argument, so it’s easiest to just pay the standard 20 dh per night (40 dh for two nights).

If you don’t have a rental car, the easiest option is to take a bus. Direct buses connect Chefchaouen with Tangier, Fes, and Rabat, and they’re affordable and reliable. Another alternative is to book a private day trip from Fes, which gives you more flexibility without worrying about transportation.

We recommend to rent a car through Discover Cars with free cancellation. Book your rental car here.

Moving Around

Once you’re inside the old city, everything in Chefchaouen can be explored on foot. The medina is compact, and wandering its blue-painted alleys is the best way to enjoy it. We parked our car when we arrived and didn’t use it again until we left.

If you want to go beyond the town—whether for a hike in the Rif Mountains or to see more of the surrounding landscapes—you’ll either need your own car or join a local tour. But for Chefchaouen itself, no transportation is needed.

Tip: This tour is great if you want to avoid driving yourself to Chefchaouen

When to Visit

Chefchaouen can be visited year-round, but the experience changes a lot with the seasons.

• Spring (March – May): Spring is one of the best times to come. Temperatures usually range from 12°C to 24°C (54°F to 75°F), making it perfect for walking through the medina and hiking in the surrounding Rif Mountains. The days are sunny, the town feels lively, and it’s not yet too crowded.
• Summer (June – August): Summers in Chefchaouen are hot, with daytime highs often reaching 30°C (86°F) or more, though the mountain setting keeps nights cooler at around 18°C (64°F). The medina can feel busy during these months, but evenings are magical once the heat fades.
• Autumn (September – November): Autumn is another ideal season, with pleasant daytime temperatures between 15°C and 26°C (59°F to 79°F). The weather is still warm, the light is beautiful, and the crowds start to thin compared to the summer.
• Winter (December – February): Winter is mild but cooler, with daytime highs around 12–16°C (54–61°F) and nights dropping close to 6°C (43°F). You might need a jacket, especially in the evenings, but the medina is quieter and accommodation is cheaper.

Tip: Spring and autumn are the most comfortable times to visit. If you want fewer crowds, winter is a good choice, while summer is best if you don’t mind the heat and want to combine it with hikes in the mountains.

Check our Google Map of Morocco

Where to Stay

Chefchaouen has plenty of charming guesthouses and riads, many of them tucked right into the medina. Staying inside the old town means you’ll be within walking distance of everything, and most places have rooftops with incredible views over the blue streets and surrounding mountains.

Here are a few options depending on your budget:

• (€):  Casa Sabila: A cozy and budget-friendly guesthouse with traditional décor and a welcoming atmosphere.
• (€€):  Casa La Hiba: Where we stayed for two nights, and we loved it. The location was perfect, the food was delicious, and the rooftop terrace became our favorite spot to relax after exploring the medina.
• (€€€): Casa Amina: A more upscale choice offering stylish rooms, great service, and beautiful views. Perfect if you want to treat yourself.

You could easily spend two nights in Chefchaouen, which gives you enough time to wander the medina at a slow pace and enjoy the atmosphere. Staying longer is possible, but since the town is small, two nights felt just right for us.

Here are all your accommodation options in Chefchaouen

What to Eat

Morocco has lots of traditional dishes and quite the tasteful cuisine. Our go-to dishes are:

• Tajine: Named after the earthenware pot in which it is cooked. This dish is basically mixed vegetables cooked for 1h or more inside the tajine pot. It can be only vegetable or with meat.
• Couscous: Made with a base of steamed wheat semolina, topped with vegetables, chickpeas, dry fruits and sauce. Plus, in option meat.
• Harira: soup of tomato, lentils, and chickpeas
• Moroccan Salad: There are lots of recipes. But it mostly includes rice, tomatoes, carrots, green peas…

Those can be found anywhere. So, be ready to go for them for the whole trip 😊

Alcohol cannot be found easily in Morocco, and it can only be drunken in a licensed restaurant or bar (which isn’t many). But you will be able to enjoy the most traditional drink of all: Teas. Mostly Mint tea mixed with green tea. Moroccans drink it at any time and everywhere. It is even for some a real ritual.

We mostly took breakfast and dinner in our accommodations. This was the easiest especially that in November, night would come early. But a good place we would recommend is:

• Cafe Clock

There have a great variety of food, have vegan/vegetarian option and live music.

Best things to do in Chefchaouen

Bab El Onsar

A great way to start your visit to Chefchaouen is by heading up to the Spanish Mosque. The walk begins at the old gate of Bab El Onsar, where you’ll leave the medina behind and slowly start to see the Blue City from above. The path is straightforward and only takes about 20–30 minutes, and once at the top you’re rewarded with one of the best views over Chefchaouen, especially at sunset.

We usually travel with Airalo eSIMs, but when we need unlimited data for work, we go with Holafly.

Spanish Mosque

One of the best viewpoints in Chefchaouen is the Spanish Mosque, perched on a hill overlooking the medina. It’s about a 30-minute easy walk from Bab El Onsar, following a clear path along the hillside. The climb isn’t difficult, and once you reach the top the views of the Blue City and the surrounding Rif Mountains are incredible—especially at sunset.

The mosque itself was built by the Spanish in the 1920s but was never used. Today it’s abandoned and remains closed, but the terrace outside has become a popular spot to watch the light fade over Chefchaouen. We even ran into three German girls we had first met back in Fes when renting our car—proof that Morocco has a funny way of bringing travelers back together.

Tip: We use the DJI Action 4 to film our vlogs — compact, durable, and perfect for capturing every adventure.

Ras El Ma

Just before re-entering the medina through Bab El Onsar, you’ll come across Ras El Ma, the natural spring that provides Chefchaouen with its drinking water. It’s a popular spot where locals come to fill bottles, and you’ll also find small cafés and restaurants set along the stream a little further down.

When we visited, it was a particularly dry year so there wasn’t much water flowing, but it’s still worth stopping by for a short break before heading back into the medina. On hotter days, the sound of the stream and the shade make it one of the most refreshing corners of the Blue City.

Here are all your accommodation options in Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen Medina

The real charm of Chefchaouen is simply wandering its medina. The steep cobbled streets, the endless shades of blue on walls and doors, and the quiet corners make it one of the most beautiful towns in Morocco to explore on foot. Don’t rush—getting lost here is part of the experience.

Now and then, you’ll come across locals offering little experiences, like someone who might take your photo at a pretty spot and then ask for a small tip. It’s all part of the medina’s rhythm, and usually just a couple of dirhams is enough.

If you want to go beyond just strolling and really understand the history and culture of the Blue City, consider joining a guided tour of Chefchaouen. It’s a great way to discover hidden spots you might otherwise miss and learn more about the stories behind the blue streets.

Check our Google Map of Morocco

Plaza Uta el Hamman

At the center of the medina, Plaza Uta el-Hammam is the main square and the beating heart of Chefchaouen. Surrounded by cafés and restaurants, it’s the perfect place to pause, enjoy a mint tea, and watch the flow of daily life in the Blue City.

The square is also home to two of Chefchaouen’s most important landmarks: the Kasbah, a 15th-century fortress with a small ethnographic museum and peaceful gardens, and the Grand Mosquée, recognizable by its distinctive octagonal minaret. Even if you don’t step inside, the square is worth lingering in—it’s where the city feels most alive.

Here are all your accommodation options in Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen Kasbah

On one side of Plaza Uta el-Hammam stands the Kasbah of Chefchaouen, a 15th-century fortress built by Mulay Ali Ben Rachid and later restored by Sultan Moulay Ismail in the 17th century. Its role was to defend the city—first from the Portuguese, then rebellious Berber tribes, and later the Spanish.

Today, the Kasbah is open to visitors (60 dh per person) and makes for a peaceful break from the medina. Inside, you’ll find a small garden, an ethnographic museum with local artifacts, and a tower you can climb for views over the square and the surrounding blue streets. The museum itself is modest, but the setting and the view from the tower make it well worth a visit.

Al-Hawta Square

Tucked away in the medina, Al-Hawta Square is one of the smaller and quieter squares in Chefchaouen. Surrounded by traditional blue-washed houses, it has a relaxed atmosphere that makes it a nice spot to take a break on a bench and simply watch daily life go by.

It’s not a major attraction, but part of the charm of Chefchaouen lies in these little corners—you never know when you’ll stumble upon a picturesque square like this while wandering the medina.

Check our Google Map of Morocco

Jebel El-Kelaa Summit

For panoramic views over Chefchaouen and the Rif Mountains, you can hike up to the Jebel El-Kelaa Summit. The trail is about 10 km (6 miles) round trip and takes around 4–5 hours, starting from the medina and climbing steadily into the mountains. It’s a challenging walk, but once at the top you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views of the Blue City far below and the dramatic peaks all around. If you’re looking for more than just strolling the medina, this is the best hike to do in Chefchaouen.

Waterfalls Akchour

About 45 minutes from Chefchaouen lies Akchour, a lush valley famous for its waterfalls and natural pools. The hike to the falls is fairly easy, taking about 2–3 hours depending on how far you go, with plenty of shaded paths along the river. You’ll find small cafés and spots to rest along the way, making it a great day trip if you want to swap the blue alleys of the medina for some greenery. In summer, it’s especially refreshing to dip your feet in the cool water.

Here are all your accommodation options in Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen Itinerary

Day 1:

• Arrive in the evening in Chefchaouen
• Stroll around the city at night
• Dinner at Café Clock

Day 2:

• Explore Chefchaouen Medina
• Pass the Bab El Onsar
• Hike to the Spanish Mosque
• Check out Ras El Ma
• Stroll to Plaza Uta el Hamman
• Visit the Chefchaouen Kasbah
• Chill at Al-Hawta Square

Day 3: (Extra)

• Waterfalls Akchour

Read: Our complete 2-week Morocco Road Trip Itinerary