Chefchaouen: How to Visit Morocco's Blue City
How to Get to Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen has no train station, so you arrive by bus or taxi from a nearby city. From Fez, the CTM bus is the most reliable option, taking about 4-5 hours and costing roughly 110-140 MAD (about 11-14 USD), with several daily departures. Shared grand taxis are faster but cost a bit more, around 150-200 MAD per seat.
From Tangier it is quicker and cheaper: the CTM bus takes about 2.5 hours and costs roughly 50-80 MAD (5-8 USD), with shared grand taxis around 70 MAD per seat. Book CTM tickets a day ahead at ctm.ma in summer, when the town is busy, and arrive at the station about 30 minutes before departure.
What to See and Do
The main attraction is simply wandering the blue-painted medina, where almost every wall, door and staircase is washed in shades of blue. The Plaza Uta el-Hammam, with its kasbah and cafes, makes a good central base for exploring on foot, and the small streets are easy and safe to get lost in.
For a view over the whole blue town, climb to the Spanish Mosque viewpoint, especially beautiful at sunset. Chefchaouen is also a gateway to the Rif Mountains, with options for short hikes, and to the Akchour waterfalls a short drive away for a half-day nature excursion.
Day Trip or Overnight?
Many companies sell Chefchaouen as a day trip from Tangier or Fez, but the town is genuinely worth at least one night. The blue lanes are at their most magical in the early morning and late evening, when the tour buses have left and the light is soft, leaving the medina almost to yourself.
Staying over also lets you enjoy the relaxed mountain-town atmosphere, sample local goat cheese and Rif cuisine, and shop for the area's distinctive woven wool goods without rushing. Accommodation runs the full range from cheap guesthouses to charming small riads.
When to Go and What to Pack
Spring and autumn are ideal, with comfortable temperatures for walking the steep lanes. Summer is popular but busy and warm, while winter in the Rif can be cold and wet, so pack layers and check that your guesthouse has heating if you visit in the colder months.
Bring comfortable shoes for the cobbled, hilly streets, and a light jacket for cool mountain evenings even in shoulder season. As elsewhere in Morocco, dress modestly, ask before photographing locals, and carry small cash for cafes, taxis and the souks.
Frequently asked
How do you get to Chefchaouen?
By bus or taxi, as there is no train. CTM buses run from Fez (about 4-5 hours, 110-140 MAD) and Tangier (about 2.5 hours, 50-80 MAD). Shared grand taxis are a faster alternative.
Is Chefchaouen worth visiting as a day trip?
It is doable but rushed. Chefchaouen is best with at least one overnight, since the blue medina is most magical and least crowded in the early morning and evening.
Why is Chefchaouen blue?
Theories range from keeping mosquitoes away to symbolizing the sky and a historic Jewish tradition. Whatever the origin, the town keeps its walls vividly blue today, making it a photographer's favorite.