7 Best things to do in Chefchaouen
In November 2022, we made a 16-day Road trip in Morocco going all around and driving over 2 500 km (in a Fiat 500! What an adventure).
Our trip started and ended in Fes, and we made a loop in order to visit this magnificent country. Our itinerary went through the main cities, the Sahara Desert, the seaside and the mountains of Morocco.
We personally rented a car at the airport and did the following: Fes, Chefchaouen, Rabat, Casablanca, Essaouira, Marrakesh, Imlil, Telouet, Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, Tinghir, Merzouga, Ifrane. However, you don’t need to follow it by the dot, you can use it to make your own plan.
Chefchaouen was our third stop and even though it was out of the way, we decided to get there as looked so amazing. And we were right, Chefchaouen is one of our top cities to visit in Morocco.
Chefchaouen, or Chaouen is located between Fes and Tangier in the Rif Mountains. It’s mostly known for its blue-washed buildings making it the blue city. While leather and weaving workshops line its steep cobbled lanes.
In this article, we will tell our story going around all the best things to do in Chefchaouen. So, if you too are planning a trip to Morocco and to Chefchaouen, then let ‘s dive in these best things to do in Chefchaouen
Here is our complete video from this trip :
Table of Contents
Mapping the day
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Getting there
Getting to Chefchaouen is not the easiest of task. By car it will take you around 2h15 if you come from Tangier, 4h from Fes or Rabat. We personally reached it from Fes while stopping at Meknes and Volubilis on the way.
You can easily park in Chefchaouen near the city center. There is a street parking near the restaurant “bab Souk”. It cost 20 dh per night and someone there is telling you where to park.
PS: We tried bargaining for the parking and playing on the number of days we stayed which was 1.5 days so 30 dh but it ended in a small argument there. So, for 2 nights it is 40 dh.
If you do not have a rental car, then the best way would be by bus. There are bus going from Tangier, Fes or Rabat directly to the blue city. You can check them out at https://ctm.ma/
Moving Around
Once you are in the old city center, everything can be reach by walking. At least for the city. After if you want to go on hiking or see the landscapes around, the best way could be by tour if you do not have a car.
But for Chefchaouen itself, no transportation needed. We actually parked our car and didn’t touch it for the whole duration of our stay.
When to Visit
You can visit Chefchaouen all year round but be aware that temperature varies from the extreme 36°C in summer to fresh 5°C in winter.
The touristic season runs from May until October usually, yet since covid-19, November is also more and more visited. That’s when we were there, and the weather was quite pleasant. In beginning of November, it was still warm to be in short and end of November was colder, especially at night.
The best time then to visit Chefchaouen is then from May to June and then September to November. July and August being super-hot as well as the peak season for local.
Where to Stay
- (€): Casa Sabila
- (€€): Casa La Hiba
- (€€€): Casa Amina
We stayed 2 nights in Chefchaouen at Casa la Hiba and it was amazing. The accommodation was unique, super well located and the food delicious. Plus, we really enjoyed the rooftop terrace.
You could consider staying longer and add more night, but we would recommend more than that. It is quite a small city and it quickly become the same things over.
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
Introduction
We woke up early. Got super scared by the morning prayer call. Actually, I did, I was hearing it and was fine but then all of the sudden it became much louder, and I almost jumped out of bed hahaha.
We then chilled a bit in the room and did yoga. I love to do stretch in the morning and Tina did mediation.
After that we went for breakfast on our rooftop, and it was super yummy. Huge traditional breakfast that cost 30 dg per person and 10 dh more for an extra coffee. Plus, the person working there were super friendly.
Bab El Onsar
We then started by going to the Spanish mosque. Which was also the occasion of beginning to see the blue city and then go out of the city using the old gate of Bab El Onsar
Spanish Mosque
To reach the Spanish mosque it is a 30min easy walk along the edge of a mountain outside of Chaouen. From there the view was amazing. And funny thing was that when we took our rental car In Fes, there were 3 German girls there as well. We talked a bit with them and helped them with a sim card. But we didn’t expect to meet them there again.
The mosque was built by the Spanish in the 1920s, but it was never used. It quickly fell into disrepair and remains closed, but it makes the perfect place to behold the blue city or watch sunset.
Ras El Ma
We then walk back to the city center of Chefchaouen but before entering back the city we stopped at the source of the Ras El Ma which is the only source of drinking water for the town. And a bit lower, lots of coffee shops and restaurants are located. Unfortunately it was a dry year and there wasn’t much water going out.
Chefchaouen Medina
From there we entered the city and just stroll around. At some stairs, a guy took some pictures of us and told us that if we want, we can give something in the basket. As it was nice, we left 2 dh. That’s how it works on some street there
If you want to get more of the medina and the history of Chefchaouen, you can also consider a Private Guided Tour of Chefchaouen
Plaza Uta el Hamman
Our next stop was the Plaza Uta el Hamman which is the bustling heart of the medina. Plaza Uta el Hamman is the main square of Chefchaouen and is lined with cafes and restaurants. But it is also where we found the kasbah and Grand Mosquée.
Chefchaouen Kasbah
So obviously next was the Alcazaba of Chefchaouen which is also a Kasbah, an old fort with a little garden inside and a tower. It cost 60 dh per person. However, it was quite nice and the view from the tower is quite worth it.
The Kasbah was built by Mulay Alí Ben Rachid and then restored by Mulay Ismail at the end of the 17th century to defend the city first from the Portuguese, then from the rebellious Berber tribes and finally from the Spanish.
Lunch
We then strolled more. Took some time to visit a few shops. And take some more videos.
At one point, some woman told a man to tell us that we should give her some money for taking a picture in some stairs. But there wasn’t much there, and it was just a street with no decoration. As that was rude, we left. Especially that we had no proof she even was from this street.
We then bought a magnet for 20 dh but it wasn’t possible to negotiate the price. We tried few places it was always the same.
We then stopped by our accommodation to rest for a while. Tina has an online class at 7pm, so, we also booked our dinner for 6pm.
And after that we went back to Cafe clock for a small bite. I actually had a mint tea and the avocado toast, Tina had an avocado, beetroot and fig smoothy. It cost us 95 MAD and 5 tips. We also found back the German girls there
Al-Hawta Square
Some more strolling around. Finally, we stopped by Al-Hwata square and chilled for a while on a bench. It is a super nice and cute square in the middle of the Medina.
End of the day
After, we stopped to buy some groceries. 2 water bottles, 1 pack of biscuit and 300g of peanuts for 40 dh.
We then went back to our accommodation, took shower, rest some more from the constant hustle of people there that want to sell you stuffs, weeds or whatever and keep calling you, my friend.
At 6pm we went on the rooftop of our accommodation. The food was already ready and waiting for us. We opted for a Moroccan salad (rice, tuna, corn, carrots…) and a vegetable tajine. It was delicious and served with local and fresh bread. It cost 30 dh for the salad and 40 dh for the Tajine.
Plus, the view of the mountain from Casa La Hiba was a real bonus.
And to finish, a mint tea (10 MAD)
More things to do in Chefchaouen
If you want more things to do in Chefchaouen, you can consider:
- Jebel El-Kelaa Summit
- Waterfalls Akchourاقشور
For the waterfall, you can get there by car or even consider the 4h God’s Bridge Hike or the 7h Akchour Waterfalls Hike
An amazing 3-day 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 Akchourاقشور
ضرب الحديد ماحدو سخون Strike the iron while it’s still hot. (Take advantage of the opportunity before it passes you by)
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