Chefchaouen Travel Guide: The Blue City of Morocco and How to Combine It with the Sahara

Chefchaouen Travel Guide – Things to do in the blue city, where to stay, how to get there and how to continue to the Sahara desert in Merzouga.

Chefchaouen, often simply called Chaouen, is a small town in the Rif mountains of northern Morocco, famous for its medina painted in every shade of blue. It is calm, green and very photogenic, and it is the perfect contrast to the busy imperial cities and the golden dunes of the Sahara.

How to get to Chefchaouen

From Fes: about 3.5 hours by car through olive groves and the Rif foothills.
From Tangier: about 2 to 2.5 hours by car.
From Marrakech: too far for one day (around 8 to 9 hours); most travelers combine it with Fes.

What to see in Chefchaouen

The blue medina: get lost in the stairs and alleys of the old town; the most beautiful streets are around the Rif Andalous area.
Outa el Hammam square and the red-walled kasbah with its small museum and garden.
Ras el Ma, the spring at the edge of the medina where locals still wash and gather.
The Spanish Mosque on the hill: a 30-minute walk for the best sunset view over the blue town.
Local products: goat cheese, woven blankets and wool from the Rif.

How long should you stay?

A day trip from Fes is possible, but one night lets you enjoy the medina early in the morning and in the evening, when it is quiet and the light is soft. Two nights are perfect if you want to hike in the Talassemtane National Park nearby.

Combining Chefchaouen with the Sahara

The classic north–south route goes Tangier – Chefchaouen – Fes – Merzouga – Marrakech. It works well in 7 to 10 days. See our desert tours from Tangier, our 7-day Morocco itinerary or the 10-day Morocco tour.

Tips

Respect the residents: many blue alleys are people’s homes, so keep your voice low and ask before photographing people.
Wear comfortable shoes; the medina is full of steps.
Evenings in the Rif can be cool, even in spring and autumn.

Want to include Chefchaouen in a private tour to the desert? Contact us and we will build the route around your dates.

Top Things to Do in Chefchaouen

Wander the blue lanes of the medina early in the morning, before the day visitors arrive, when the light is soft and the streets are quiet. Visit the kasbah museum and its garden on Outa el Hammam square, follow the stream to the Ras el Maa spring where locals gather, and walk up to the Spanish Mosque on the hill for a sunset view over the whole blue town.

Day Trip to Akchour

If you have an extra day, the waterfalls and natural bridge of Akchour, in the Talassemtane National Park, are a beautiful half-day hike through the Rif Mountains, with clear pools and shaded paths.

How to Get to Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen lies in the Rif Mountains, about 2 hours from Tangier and around 4 hours from Fes by road. That is why it fits perfectly into a journey from northern Morocco to the Sahara: you spend a night in the blue city, continue to Fes, then cross the Middle Atlas to the dunes of Merzouga.

Best Time to Visit

Spring and autumn bring mild weather and green hills. Summer is warm but more pleasant than the south of the country, while winter can be cool and rainy in the mountains.

Tours That Include Chefchaouen

Our tours from Tangier visit Chefchaouen on the way to the desert, with a night there on the 5-day tour, and our 10-day itinerary from Casablanca also includes a night there; see our tours from Casablanca.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is one night enough in Chefchaouen? One night lets you enjoy the medina at sunset and in the quiet morning; two nights let you add Akchour.

Can we add Chefchaouen to another tour? Yes, every itinerary is private and can be adapted.

Is Chefchaouen good for photography? Yes, early morning and late afternoon give the best light on the blue walls.

Chefchaouen Travel Guide: useful information

With Merzouga Packages, “Chefchaouen Travel Guide” is a private experience run by a local Berber team that lives in Merzouga, at the foot of the Erg Chebbi dunes. The program adapts to your pace, with pick-up from your hotel or riad, an experienced driver-guide and hand-picked accommodation.

For more ideas, see also these pages: Morocco Tours and FAQ. To learn more about the places you will visit, read the article on Chefchaouen on Wikipedia.